Nothing transforms a house into a home like upholstered furniture. Yet, upholstery is different than other types of furniture because you can’t see the actual parts that make up the frame, springs and cushions. Therefore, it is often tricky for shoppers to know about the quality of the furniture they are buying.
When you shop for cabinetry, the quality is apparent in how the drawers are constructed and how consistently the finish is applied. However, most of the quality issues of upholstered furniture are hidden beneath the textile.….and there’s a lot more to nice upholstery than a great shape and a beautiful fabric.
There are several key words associated with quality, including Eight-Way Hand-Tied Springs and Kiln-Dried Wood. But, what they mean and why they are significant to you require explanation. Once you understand how upholstery is manufactured, you’ll have the tools necessary to make decisions about what is right for you and your home.

The life of a piece of upholstered furniture begins with its frame. Lasting furniture must be constructed of the proper kinds of wood that have been processed with quality in mind. Additionally, the frame needs to be well reinforced using any of several age-old techniques of joining, blocking, fastening and doweling.

WOOD: You may never see the wood used to create the frame of your bed, sofa, chair or ottoman. But, you really should know whether a hardwood or softwood was used. Avoid Softwoods because they aren’t sturdy enough to hold the joinery that is required for good quality furniture. The tight graining of Hardwoods allows for pegs, screws and nails to be set securely so they won’t come loose over time. Hardwoods include Oak, Alder and other woods with tight graining. Hardwood laminates are often used for blocks and braces because laminates are actually stronger than solid wood in these applications.

You also want to know that the wood in your furniture has been kiln-dried. Kiln-drying is an extra process in which the wood is heated in an industrial oven to yield several benefits:

- It removes excess sap and moisture, which can cause frames to warp. - It prevents wood from absorbing any moisture in the future that may cause the frame to swell, shrink or change shape, which can loosen joints and fastenings. - It minimizes bending, torquing, mildewing and rotting during the life of the piece.