Buying a sofa

• How to buy upholstered furniture
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• Buying a sofa

Choosing Fabric

When supplying your own fabric, it is important to ensure it is rated for upholstery use and is fire-retardant. Textured and patterned fabrics are more forgiving than plain, light colours and smooth finishes, and you should avoid loosely woven fabrics that can "give" too much and quickly look shabby. Large patterns will invariably create a lot of waste as the pattern will have to be centred or matched on all sides, of the back, seat and cushions. Order a large swatch of potential fabrics and view them in situ in both natural daylight and artificial light.

Added Protection
It is always worth spending a bit extra on stain retardant, and if you choose not to, do keep a stain removal kit handy for speedy removal of food, oil or ink stains. Always blot with white cloths, to avoid colour transference, and mop up as much of the stain as possible before using any upholstery cleaning products. By law, all upholstered furniture must be fire-retardant; a square swing ticket with a green edge indicates that it is resistant to a smouldering cigarette and a lit match; a triangular swing ticket with a red edge shows that the cover is not match-resistant, but that it has a suitably fire-resistant interlining beneath.

Other Options

Reviving Old Sofas
If your seating is well made and structurally sound but looks a little tired, think about reupholstering. Replacement cushion fillings can also help restore the original crispness. Contact The Association of Master Upholsterers & Soft Furnishers.

Loose Covers
These are practical for families and more affordable, but getting cushions in and out is a chore. Buy a spare set with the sofa and dry-clean if possible, cleaning all covers to avoid uneven fading. Covers are usually cut by making a template or pattern on the furniture in your own home, which is then made up in your chosen fabric by the workshop. Upholstery firms, such as Plumbs, hold patterns for brand-name furniture companies such as Parker Knoll, Multiyork and Marks & Spencer.

Tailor-Made
Many sofas are "made to order" to suit your requirements. This can take between 6 and 12 weeks.

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