furnishing your home

«0 Buying Upholstered

Furniture

Buying Upholstered Furniture

Today’s upholstered furniture comes in a widevariety of styles, sizes, qualities and prices. Whenyou get ready to select a chair or sofa, you mustdecide which piece will best serve your needs andfit your budget. The choice of style is determinedby the general atmosphere you wish to create inyour home, your personal preference and thefurnishings you already have.

Consider the size of your house, floor space andthe persons who will be using the furniture whendetermining the size pieces you’ll need.

Quality in upholstered furniture is difficult tojudge. There are some features you can see andtest carefully. However, much of what you donot see affects the quality of upholstered furni-ture. This means you must rely upon the integrityof the manufacturer and the dealer. Some infor-mation will be included on the label. A reliabledealer should be able to answer most your ques-tions, but you need to know what to look for inorder to shop wisely.

Check Outside FeaturesThe quality of workmanship and materials on

the outside is an indication of the general qualityon the inside. Since the outside part is exposed todaily scrutiny, there are some features you shouldcheck carefully.

TAILORINGGood tailoring is an indication of high-quality

workmanship throughout.

GRAINThe fabric should be cut and placed so that the

weave or grain line will look even. This means thatthe crosswise threads will run parallel to the bot-tom edge of the frame; the lengthwise threadswill be perpendicular to the base of the frame.

0 Hems and pleats—Hems and pleats shouldbe even and hang straight. Check grain linecarefully.

- Pattern—Fabric patterns, whether large orsmall, should be centered and carefully placed.The placement of pattern, particularly boldpatterns, on the back, cushion, front and armsshould be placed to best advantage.

0 Welting—The cording or welting should besmooth, straight and firmly stitched.

° Cushions—Cushions should fit snugly intoseat corners and with adjoining cushions. Re-

versible cushions will help distribute wear.0 Use of fabric—In better quality furniture theareas under the cushions and across the backare of the same quality fabric as that used forthe more exposed areas.

0 Decorative detail—Tufting, trapunto, buttonsand other decorative details add to the costof furniture. They give the individuality oneexpects in the more expensive and high-quality furniture.

UPHOLSTERY COVERINGSYou may purchase a piece of furniture already

covered but more often you will select a style andthen have a choice of upholstery fabrics. Yourchoice of fabric may completely change the gen—eral appearance of the piece of furniture. Thefabrics shown for the same piece of furniture canvary considerably in quality and price.

FABRICUpholstery fabric should be strong and closely

woven. Pull it both lengthwise and crosswise tosee that the threads do not shift. Or scratch thefabric with your fingernail to see if there arethreads that will catch or pull easily.Most upholstery has a backing finish which is

rubber, a synthetic rubber or one of the newerfoam products. This helps make the upholsteryremain smooth and firm over the padding. It alsomakes it easier for the upholsterer to handle.Learn about the fiber content as each fiber has

certain characteristics that help determine wear.Fabrics sold by the yard must be labeled accord-ing to fiber content. This does not apply to furni-ture that is already upholstered. However, a re-liable dealer can get this information for you.You cannot tell about the fastness of color by

appearance. This information also should be ona label. One of the most critical tests for up-holstery is whether or not the fabric is color-fastto light.

Finishes are available to add spot- and stain—resistance to all fabrics regardless of fiber con-tent. Some protect against water-borne stains;some protect against water and oily stains. Theyalso give increased resistance to wear. If a fabrichas been treated for spot- and stain-resistance,this information is usually included on the label.Permanent mothpro-ofing prevents moth damageto wools and wool blends.

«~L~..e.1937.... All of the classic types of fabric are being madeand used—tapestry, damask, brocade, homespun,bouclé, frieze and plush as well as velvet, tweedsand chintz. See fabric glossary page 5. Each ofthese fabrics is made in a number of differentfibers or combination of fibers. Many of the newerfabrics are described by textures, color combina-tions or the country of origin.

LEATHERLeather is an excellent though expensive up-

holstery material. Improvements have madeleather softer, thus making beautiful tailoring de-tail easier. Leathers are available in a lovely rangeof colors and textures.

VINYL PLASTICSThere are many qualities of vinyl plastics. Some

look like leather; some like fabric. Some have afabric backing; others do not.

Low-quality vinyl tears at the corners and Splitsat the seams. It also has low resistance to stainsand fading.

Vinyl is easily cleaned. It is waterproof. Vinylis difficult to repair once it breaks.

EXPOSED SURFACESIf a piece of furniture has legs or a frame that

is not covered, examine the finish carefully. Thewood should have an even color and rich texture.Any carving or ornamental detail should be re-fined and smooth. The upholstery should be fittedattractively and joined evenly to exposed woodsurfaces.

Check Inside FeaturesThe quality of features within the piece of

furniture determines serviceability, durability andcomfort. You need to know something about theway upholstered furniture is made in order to askquestions about the piece you are considering. Youcan learn much about quality from comparing up-holstered pieces.

FRAMEWORKThe basic frame must be designed and con-

structed to withstand stress and strain over along period of time. A hardwood that is free fromimperfections and that has been kiln dried is mostdesirable. Hackberry, elm, gum, maple and oak

Figure 1. Good piece of furniture pointing out what to look for.

are most commonly used. The frame must holdscrews and nails securely.The joints of quality furniture are usually

double dowel construction. Corners should be re-inforced with triangular blocks carefully fitted andfastened with glue and screws. Metal plates areoften used to strengthen corners.

In some of the newer furniture the completeframework is being made of metal.

THE SPRINGSBands of webbing are interlaced and tacked to

the frame of most sofas and chairs. Woven juteis commonly used for webbing because it is strong,durable and resilient. Sometimes steel bands orrubber are used. Webbing is not needed for thosesprings attached directly to the frame.

Springs are used to add resilience to seating.For durability they should be made of temperedsteel and placed close together. Better qualityfurniture may have twelve coils per seat, and noless than eight.

Springs are attached to the webbing or steelbands. Proper tying is important to keep thesprings firmly in place and to provide proper re-siliency. In the best quality furniture, springs areplaced on jute or rubber webbing and tied eighttimes with flax twine. On steel webbing or bandsthey should be wire clipped. You can tell some-thing about spring construction by the way thesprings feel from underneath the dust cover.A layer of burlap, cotton felt or rubberized

sisal should be placed over the springs to separatethem from the padding and to help support andkeep filling materials in place. In some lightscaled upholstered pieces, flat springs (zigzag orarch type) are used instead of coil springs. Thesesprings do not need the support of webbing nordo they need to be tied.

PADDING AND FILLINGA quality piece of furniture has an ample

amount of filling selected and applied so that thepiece retains its shape for a long time. Inferiorquality is evident when the filling shifts, mats,lumps or distorts the shape rather quickly.

Various fillings are available and are oftenused in combination. Many states require a labelto identify the filling content. However, the labeldoes not indicate the grade or quality of fillingmaterial and this can vary widely for each type.Goose down is a favorite because of its luxuri-

ous softness. Goose down or a combination of downand goose feathers is found in many expensiveupholstered pieces.

Rubberized or curled hair is used in medium-and low-cost furniture. It has a fair amount ofresilience, is cool, nonabsorbent and odor-free.Rubber foam is durable, comfortable and resil-

ient. It is lightweight and retains its shape. Gen-erally speaking, it is used in the medium- andhigher-priced furniture.Urethane foam is resilient, lightweight and

does not absorb water, perspiration and cleaningfluids. It can be cut, sliced, stitched or glued andhas high resistance to tearing.Man-made fiberfills such as a Dacron polyester

and Acrilan acrylic are used as complete fillingor wrapping for other filling. They are resilient,and resist insects, mildew, drycleaning solventsand alcohol. If properly made, they need no fluff-mg.

Natural hair remains resilient over a longperiod of time. Horse hair is best but cattle andhog hairs are also used.

Moss, kapok and sisal have a relatively shortlife expectancy. They are used in the lower qualitygrades of furniture.

Cotton padding is often used in combinationwith other materials. It has little resiliency butit does provide a firm, smooth surface.

Figure 2. Cutaway of upholstered piece.

ComfortYou depend on upholstered furniture in your

home for comfort in sitting and sometimes sleep-ing. Therefore, when selecting a piece of furnitureyou should consider the people who will be usingit most often.A seat that slants toward the back is usually

most comfortable. It should be the right heightso a person can rest his feet comfortably on the

floor and the right depth so he has good back sup-port.

Additional references in Furnishing Your Home

The height, width and slant of the seat and the Serles:back should be tested carefully. The height of thearms will also affect comfort. Try sitting in chairs H.E. 75 .. Begin with a Planand sofas of different heights, with and withoutarms. Then make your choice in terms of the HE. 78: Buying Case Goodspurpose the piece will serve.No upholstered piece of furniture should be se- H,E_ 80: Arranging Furniture

lected hurriedly. Each piece deserves careful studyand thought. That way you will select the piece H.E. 79: The Furniture Story: Periods andthat best suits your needs. Styles

Glossary

Appliqué: A pattern that is cut out and sewed orapplied on the surface of another material.

Bouclé: An irregular, tightly looped yarn thatgives a rough, nubby appearance when woven.

Brocade: A kind of weave, also a finished cloth,which, although made on a loom, resemblesembroidery. It is woven on a Jacquard loom.A relief pattern is produced by the fillerthread.

Brocatelle: A heavy fabric resembling a damask,except that the pattern appears to be em-bossed.

Chintz: Fabrics woven in a plain weave andfinished with a glazing process to create asoft, lustrous appearance and hand.

Crewel embroidery: A kind of embroidery with apattern of varicolored wools worked on un-bleached cotton or linen. The designs are ofteninspired by the East Indian “tree of life”motif.

Frisé (free-zay): A looped pile fabric with designscreated by cut or uncut loops, by use of dif-ferent colored yarns.

Guimpe (gamp): A braid made of heavy yarnsused as a finish, particularly for joining up-holstery to the frame or exposed wood sur-face.

Matelassé: A woven fabric with a distinct puffdesign that creates a cushion effect.

Mohair: A particularly heavy and durable pileupholstery fabric made from the hair ofgoats.

Moiré (m6’ r‘a): A fabric that has a watered grainor a wavy appearance achieved by a finishingprocess.

Needlepoint: A type of embroidery on canvas us-ing diagonal stitches of wool.

Pile: The family name for any of a group offabrics having a surface with upright endsthat are looped or cut. Included in the pilefamily are velvets, velours, freizes, plush.

Quilted fabrics: Any fabric that has been sewn toa filling material, such as polyester or cotton,and backed with a lightweight canvas ormuslin. This gives a puff-ed effect in an alloverdesign or an outline of the fabric pattern.

Suede cloth: A woven fabric with a close nap thatgives the effect of suede leather.

Tapestry: Fabric designs depicting historic orother scenes woven on Jacquard loom.

Trapunto (tra-poTn’ to): A type of quilting inwhich the pattern is outlined to give a highrelief effect. Only the quilted part of the de-sign is padded.

Tweed: The family name for a large group of tex-tured fabrics characterized by the use of twoor more colors used in weaving.

Welt: The covered cording used to join sectionsof upholstery or to make a neat finish whereupholstery joins exposed wood surfaces.

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Grateful acknowledgement is given for critique of manuscript by panel members of Southern Furni-ture Manufacturers’ Association and by Miss Elizabeth Hathaway, Professor of Home Economics ofthe University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The art work was provided by S. F. M. A.Prepared by:

Housing and House Furnishings Specialists

Published byTHE NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE

North Carolina State University at Raleigh, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State Uni-versity at Greensboro, and the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperating. State University Sta-tion, Raleigh, N. C., T. C. Blalock, Director. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of KMay 8 and June 30, 1914. The North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service offers its programs toall eligible persons regardless of race, color, or national origin, and is an equal opportunity em-ployer.5-80-3M (reprint) Home Economics 81