By Amanda Rogers
\nWhen my husband and I got married, our lives and
\n\t\t
\nour furniture blended — his, mine and ours.<\/p>\n
We had his stereo, my bed, his dad’s newspaper rack and my great-grandparents’ dining room table and chairs, circa 1960.<\/p>\n
Since then, we’ve brought in our own pieces, mostly antiques tough enough to stand up to our three sons.<\/p>\n
Unlike our parents’ leftovers and the antiques, though, the couches we’ve bought over the years haven’t stood up as well.<\/p>\n
The blue-and-white striped sofa bed we bought 15 years ago looks like we found it dumped on the interstate — after it had been hit by a couple of cars. One leg is broken off and has to be propped under the corner; the frame is cracked on one side so it sags to the left; there’s a hole in the fabric along the back; and it smells funny, either from the boys or the dog.<\/p>\n
If I could get it through the door, I’d dump it on the curb right now. And my husband would help me. Unfortunately, then we wouldn’t have anything to sit on.<\/p>\n
We know it’s time to go furniture shopping. But how do you know what’s inside a couch and whether it can hold up?<\/p>\n
Ask someone who knows what’s inside. Louis Benavidez of Arlington has been upholstering furniture for 24 years. He’s seen the inside of more couches than I will ever sit on. He gave me the basics of furniture shopping.<\/p>\n
You want a solid wood frame, not “hardened wood” or particle board. But without gutting the couch and looking inside, how can you tell?<\/p>\n
Pick it up. If it’s heavy, it’s a good piece, Benavidez says. Of course, my couch is heavy because there’s a fold-out bed inside. You need to take that into consideration.<\/p>\n
Check out the cushions. If you sink into them, they’re made of low-density foam. Nice and soft, but it’s not going to last long. You want medium- or high-density foam if you want the couch to last awhile or if it’s going to be used a lot.<\/p>\n
Take the cushions off and check out the springs. They’ll be covered in fabric, but you should be able to tell if they’re no-sag springs (which go front to back) or circular springs (which go up and down). The circular springs are tied together like a spider web and will last longer, Benavidez says.<\/p>\n
Look for the tougher, thicker fabrics. Benavidez favors tapestries and dark denims. The popular new microfibers are pretty good, too, he says.<\/p>\n
And don’t be afraid to ask questions. Salespeople should know how their furniture is made. Is the frame glued well?<\/p>\n
You get what you pay for with furniture. A cheap piece is a quick fix, but you’ll probably be looking for furniture again soon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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