Upholstered furniture - armchairs, sofas

It is difficult to imagine a cozy house without upholstered furniture, which gives us warmth, a sense of dimensionality and comfort. Upholstered furniture - armchairs, sofas, designed to relax the owners of the house, as well as their guests. Upholstered furniture allows us to relax, talk with relatives and friends, play with kids, watch TV, read, and of course, sleep.

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Upholstered furniture - sofas and armchairs

The sofa is one of the main places in every family. Usually it is located in the living room, and small sofas are also placed in children's rooms.

A sofa can be bought both complete with armchairs or poufs, or separately - because it all depends on the availability of free space in the apartment and your desire. Modern furniture stores offer an unlimited range of upholstered furniture - armchairs and sofas for relaxation. To choose a model of furniture suitable for you, you need to familiarize yourself with the types of interior items that are available for sale on the modern market.

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Types of sofas by type of transformation

There are a lot of variations in the designs of sofas today, but among them one can single out upholstered furniture - sofas of more or less familiar, already literally classic models. Each of them is in constant demand.

Sofa book

This is the most common furniture design, since you can not only sit on it, but also sleep, even if the sofa is complicated. To lay out the furniture, it is necessary to raise the seat, and after hearing a characteristic click of the mechanism - lower it. You can fold the furniture in the same way, raising the seat until it clicks and returning it to the lower position.

Important! The disadvantages of this design include the following:

After collecting the structure, the sofa must be moved to the wall so that there is no free space between the back and the wall, and when unfolding, the sofa also needs to be moved away from the wall, otherwise it will not decompose.

Sofa “Click-gag”

Such upholstered furniture (sofa) is a more advanced model of the previous type. She got the name by the type of sound that occurs when the sofa is unfolding.

Important! Advantages of this model:

• Unlike a sofa-book, it has three positions: sitting, lying and half-sitting.
• Some designs of the model have side parts that can be easily transformed into armrests or head restraints.
• Even when unfolded, they take up little space, so it is ideal for small apartments.

Sofa “accordion”

This model is very popular and in demand on the market, due to the compactness and simplicity of the transformation mechanism. A berth of this type of model has three parts. One of them is the seat, and the rest are folded as a back.

To lay out furniture with this type of mechanism, it is necessary to push the seat forward and lay the double back in the same plane as the seat.

Important! The advantages of this type include the fact that the piece of upholstered furniture - the sofa does not need to be moved aside when folding, and due to its compactness, it is suitable for any small room.

Sofa "dolphin"

This model of upholstered furniture consists of two parts, and the design of the mechanism is very simple.To decompose it, it is necessary to push to the end a special block, which is under the seat, and then up and on itself. Already from it, put forward the second part of the berth.

Important! This model fits perfectly in small rooms (even in the kitchen) and looks great in large rooms.

Sofa eurobook

The model of upholstered furniture of the “Eurobook” sofa has a very simple transformation system, due to which both children and elderly people can spread it. To open the eurobook, the seat must be pulled over and, in the vacant space, lower the backrest. This model of furniture can be placed both in the middle of the room and against the wall.

Important! In addition to the simplicity of the transformation system, the model has a number of advantages:

• The sofa has large drawers for linen.
• The berth has a wide and completely flat surface.
• This model, due to its simplicity and ease of use, will last much longer than other types of folding sofas.

Roll-out sofa

The transformation mechanism of this model has three parts: the distant part in the folded state is in the back, and when unfolded, it becomes the head.

To lay out the furniture, you need to pull the seat and pull out, thus, all parts of the sofa. Use the reclining backrest or attached cushions to level the resulting plane.

Important! This model is also called a sofa with a telescope mechanism. It, like the spyglass, unfolds due to the fact that all the parts are pulled out from the inside.

Sofa "cougar"

The design of upholstered furniture of this type of sofa compares favorably with other types of folding sofas by the simple, convenient and original folding principle. To lay out the furniture, you need to raise the front of the sofa and gently move it forward, and then put it on a support. It is necessary to raise the second half of the bed to the free space.

Important! The “cougar” transformation model has the following advantages:

• High reliability.
• Due to the special synchronization of the system, furniture is convenient to use daily.
• The model is quite compact, so it fits easily into any, even the smallest areas of the room.

Pantograph sofa

The design of the sofa has not only all the advantages of the Eurobook model, but also has its own way of transformation. The design of this model does not use rollers, and the seat with a pantograph mechanism, when unfolding, does not touch the floor. Thanks to this device, this type of sofa is also called “walking”. The berth easily moves away from the back, which is then lowered to a horizontal position.

Important! The design of the sofa is distinguished by its simplicity, convenience and resistance to wear.

Sofa bed

The design of this model works on the principle of a rolling scroll. Sofa mattress (thin foam rubber), as well as a folding bed are cleaned inside the sofa. To lay out the furniture, just pull the special loop. There are several types of this model:

• “French” sofa bed. To decompose such furniture, it is necessary to remove the seat cushions, and to lay out the mattress in three stages.
• “Italian” folding bed. The most reliable, but also more expensive option, as it does not require prior removal of pillows.
• “American” clamshell. To turn the sofa into a sleeping place, you need to expand the cot in two stages.

Sofa with mechanism “Lit”

This model of upholstered furniture is very compact and can be easily transformed into a comfortable single bed. The armrests of the furniture can be laid out at any angle. The sofa seats are a berth, and the back is not moving.

Important! If you expand one of the armrests, you can get a small berth for a child, and if you expand the furniture completely, you get a single bed.

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Types of sofas by design

The following forms of furniture are distinguished:

• Corner sofas.This model is installed in the corners of the rooms and lean against the wall. Sofas occupy a minimum of usable area, and are suitable for small apartments.
• Island sofas. Models differ in a rounded shape. They cannot be leaned against a wall or placed in a corner. This type of sofa should occupy a central place in very spacious rooms.
• Classic straight sofas.

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Types of sofas for the intended purpose

All items of upholstered furniture can be conditionally classified according to purpose:

• Office sofas.
• Furniture for kitchen.
• For the living room.
• For a children's room.
• Sofa in the hallway.

Important! The types of sofas, as well as their mechanisms, may vary depending on the specific model, location, and purpose of use.

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Types of furniture according to the number of seats and sizes

All upholstered furniture - chairs and sofas can be divided into compact models designed for 2-3 people, and large structures for 5 or more seats. You can also choose an interior item, which is a huge building, consisting of a dozen autonomous elements. At the same time, there is no single standard for the size of sofas. One manufacturer produces a double sofa 1.6 m long, and the other - 1.9 m.

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Types of materials for upholstered furniture

The life of upholstered furniture - armchairs and sofas, depends not only on the quality, price of the product, manufacturer, but also on the upholstery, as well as the materials used in the manufacture of sofas. The materials used in the manufacture of upholstered furniture can be conditionally assigned to the following groups:

• Materials for frames.
• For stuffing.
• To cover the surface.

Frame materials

Furniture frames are made of natural wood (expensive models) or combinations of metal elements, wood boards (particleboard, fiberboard, MDF), plywood, in various combinations.

Important! Advice:

• If the furniture frame is made of natural lumber, it is very important that the tree is well-dried, because, otherwise, during operation, the structure will quickly crack or begin to creak.
• If the frame is made of chipboard or other types of plates, then a layer of protective paint or a special coating should be present on top. This protects you from the release of harmful formaldehyde resins.

Stuffing materials

Types of packing are very different:

• Foam rubber.
• Synthetic winterizer.
• Polyurethane foam (PPU).
• Durafil.
• Sintepuh.
• Spandbond.

The last 3 varieties of synthetic materials are produced on the basis of environmentally friendly, elastic fiber - holofiber.

Important! The most expensive and best “stuffing” of the sofa consists of batting, felt and a spring block (our ancestors had such sofas). The best types of upholstered furniture - sofas and armchairs, are stuffed in the form of natural down or feather.

Upholstery Types

Furniture upholstery must be selected based on the following characteristics:

• Abrasion resistance.
• Strength.
• Resistance to fading.
• Environmental friendliness.
• Fire resistance.
• The content of natural (artificial) fibers.

Important! The criteria for choosing the upholstery of upholstered furniture - sofas and armchairs can also be operating conditions. For example:

• if animals live in the house that can damage the furniture material, then try to choose the most dense fabric for upholstery;
• if the sofa serves as a bed and is located in a children's room, then give preference to natural, breathable materials that do not contain bright dyes.

Consider the most common upholstery materials:

• Flock. This is the most popular synthetic coating. To the touch reminiscent of velvet, but in contrast to the noble old material, more durable and durable in use. In the composition of fabrics, synthetic threads is up to 65%, and natural cotton up to 35%. The flock is easy to care for, cleaned with a brush, washed with neutral products and can even be gentle washed. Advantages of the material:
  1. Not prone to fading and fading in the sun.
  2. Not sensitive to temperature extremes.
  3. Not sensitive to moisture.
  4. Good for use in a home with animals.
  5. It is treated with dirt and moisture repellent impregnations, as well as hypoallergenic compounds.
  6. Silicone coating gives the fabric softness and tenderness.

Important! The only restriction for this material is that it is not recommended to use a flock for upholstered furniture - armchairs, sofa beds, as it can gradually take hold and lose its original appearance.

• Tapestry is a natural material made from cotton. In the manufacture of tapestry can also be used silk and wool threads. The popularity of this material is due to the sophistication of its appearance, thanks to a special technology of weaving threads. A tapestry is a fairly dense, of thick threads, strong and wear-resistant, lint-free fabric. The material is easy to care for: you can clean, vacuum and even wash it. The fabric has a stable color and antistatic property, which allows you not to attract dust.

Important! Tapestry disadvantage: since the material is made using the technology of weaving threads, it is very difficult to remove stains from the tapestry upholstery.

• Jacquard. The composition of the fabrics includes cotton and synthetic fiber in different proportions. The fabric is smooth, very dense, and even stiff. Jacquard is easy to clean: it does not absorb stains, does not fade and has water repellent properties.
• Velours. High-quality velor is quite luxurious. On a sofa with such upholstery it is very comfortable to relax. It has a pleasant structure and is not inferior to velvet in popularity and appearance. The fabric has a longer pile than velvet, consists of three types of threads: woolen, cotton and silk. Manufacturers add synthetic fibers to the fabric, which increase the stability of the fabric. The basis of velor in its structure is resistant to deformation. However, during the operation of this upholstery, it is necessary to take into account the features of delicate velor pile.

Important! When leaving, only gentle cleaning with a soft brush and gentle washing at low temperatures is allowed.

• Microfiber - refers to the group of flock tissues. Pleasant to the touch material has a small pile and has one of the highest strength categories. Quite often, manufacturers apply a teflon coating to the fabric, which has antistatic and moisture repellent properties, which further increases the strength of the microfiber. The fabric is able to “breathe”, passes air well. The material is unpretentious in care. You can clean it with either a soft brush or a vacuum cleaner, and stains can be removed using cleaning products. Dry cleaning is allowed. Today, the most common type of upholstery. Widely used for living room sets, and children's furniture, and for other items of upholstered furniture - armchairs, sofa beds. The composition of the material includes natural and artificial fibers: cotton, viscose, polyesteracrylic. The material is quite durable and wear-resistant, but prefers dry cleaning (brush or vacuum cleaner), as it is quite sensitive to moisture.
• Leather is the most noble and luxurious material. Leather looks great as an element of decoration of executive furniture and is very suitable for living rooms in a modern style. The material is not inferior in terms of comfort to other natural materials. It adapts very well to temperature changes and perfectly breathes. The skin is very durable, comfortable and fairly easy to clean daily material, however, use chemical agents to remove stains should be very careful.
• Cotton, linen - an environmentally friendly, hypoallergenic natural material. Cotton and linen upholstery is ideal for a child’s room. Cons of natural fiber fabrics: vulnerability, lower strength, faster wear (service life is several years).Natural fabrics need gentle care and protection against moisture, as well as an unacceptably rude mechanical effect.

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Types of armchairs

Typically, armchairs are included in a set of upholstered furniture, however, if desired, you can purchase a pair of armchairs separately, because in modern furniture stores, many sellers offer to dial a set piece by piece. Armchairs can be comfortably placed in the living room near the fireplace or pulled to a table with cups of coffee. To make your stay complete, manufacturers and designers of upholstered furniture - armchairs, make every effort to improve the model day by day. Let us dwell on several options that deserve your attention.

Classification of seats for the intended purpose

1. Armchairs for the living room. Traditional models are intended primarily for home recreation. The most modern chairs are equipped with various devices. For example, extra pillows or a footrest. All modern items of upholstered furniture - chairs that are equipped with additional devices are called transformers.
2. Office chairs - designed to work at a computer or desk. There are models for employees, for visitors or company executives.
3. Child seats. Models are designed specifically for children of different ages. Furniture promotes proper posture and ergonomic design.

Armchairs by type of construction

1. Traditional armchairs. The design of such furniture consists of a back, seat, armrests and legs. The frame of models can be both hidden and open. In the furniture store you can pick up models with high armrests, as well as miniature models with hinges.
2. Armchairs beds. Models suggest the possibility of folding the chair, turning it into a full-fledged berth for one person.
3. Rocking chairs. In such a model, it’s nice to relax, swinging a nap, wrapped in a warm blanket. The design of the rocking chair models is characterized by the presence of a pair of semicircular base legs. This is ideal for those who have trouble sleeping, and also just love being alone with themselves. Rocking chairs are also popular among young mothers, because they don’t need to walk around the apartment with the baby in their arms, rocking him, but just sit in the rocking chair and enjoy a pleasant swing.
4. Transforming armchairs. The design of the models is not fixed. Optionally, you can change the angle of the backrest, as well as the seat height of the chair and its other parameters.
5. Frameless armchairs. The design of the models does not imply the presence of a rigid traditional frame.
6. Massage chairs. They have many functions: vibration, rubbing, tapping, heating, etc. The backrest has the ability to be adjusted by changing the tilt of the seat, which allows you to conveniently sit in it and relax.

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Stock footage

Thinking over what upholstered furniture - armchairs, sofas to purchase, focus on your personal feelings, desires. When buying, try to sit down, lie down on different models of sofas and armchairs. Choose the model in which you feel most comfortable. Have a nice rest and good emotions!