how to make a sofa bed more comfortable
Has your sofa seen better days? Are your cushions shapeless? It may be time for a new seat cushion filling.
The gateway to comfort, seat fillings are the core component of a plush sofa. That’s why it’s essential to know what ‘just the right amount’ of softness means for you. For instance, are you a ‘sit and sink’ kind of snoozer, or do you prefer a bouncier seat for relaxing in front of the television?
Read on to see which seat cushion filling suits your sitting preferences.
The firmest cushion filling is foam. Known for being as affordable as it is comfortable, foam retains its shape well, even with frequent use. You’ll often find foam cushion fillings in upholstery which requires neat, clean lines – like wingback sofas.
For us at Plumbs, our Dacron-wrapped foam is one of the most popular fillings we offer. Made with a foam core and wrapped in a stockinette of hypoallergenic dacron fibre, this material feels as snug as memory foam (but without the hefty price tag). It also has the added benefit of holding in warmth.
If you prefer a softer seat cushion, we also offer rolled fibre. Made with a fire-retardant corovin cloth (a type of spun-woven polypropylene that has been rolled to shape), this filling appears plumper than other fibre cushion fillings.
TOP TIP: As it is a high-density filling, foam is an ideal choice for those with limited mobility. Just remember to flip the cushions over from time to time to keep them bouncy.
Providing a much softer feeling than foam and a cost-effective replacement for feather, fibre is an ideal filling for those who don’t mind regularly plumping sofa cushions in the name of comfort.
Made with shredded foam or air-filled polyester tubes, fibre fillings offer various degrees of plumpness. For instance, they can be made either super soft (these are called ‘blown fibre’) or extremely bouncy (these are ‘pocket fibre’). While the former is the most comfortable of the two, its light filling also tends to leave temporary seating imprints. Pocket fibre, on the other hand, often holds its shape for longer.
TOP TIP: Fibre is a great compromise for those who seek a super soft sofa but have feather allergies or asthma.
Feather and down filling offers a spongy texture to sofas. The only trouble with this, of course, is that they are also prone to ‘sinking’, too.
Thankfully, many of these soft fillings today come with a foam core. Our Plumbs fillings, for instance, come with a thick inner lining and the same cloud-like malleability of a 100 per cent feather or down sofa.
TOP TIP: Feather cushions lose their shape quickly compared to other fillings. To keep them looking plump, it’s a good idea to fluff them regularly.
For more on our range of sofa cushion foam filling options, take a look at the Plumbs website or contact one of our Plumbs consultants for advice.