Chesterfield Sofas.com

We’re happy for there to be cheaper versions of the Chesterfield Sofa available however what does get us really riled up is when someone tries to pass off a cheap chesterfield as a higher value item.

So here’s our quick guide on how to spot a cheap chesterfield sofa:

Demic Leather Sofas

Demic is the use of several hides stitched together to cover your sofa as opposed to a medium to high quality sofa which would usually be created from a single piece of hide.
Demic covered sofas are easy to spot. Just run your finger down a few of the pleats in the chesterfield and check for hidden stitching.

Due to the stitching used to put a Demic sofa together, the sofas cover may not be as durable as one made from a single hide with the stitching being pulled apart as the sofa wears.
In addition there may be some issues with varying leather density and colouration which, over time, could reduce the lifespan of your sofa.

Check the Pleats on your Chesterfield

A high quality chesterfield sofa should have a good sized pleat of 2/3 an inch or greater. This allows your sofa to retain its pleated look whilst shifting to support the sitter. Small pleats are quick to pop out leaving an unattractive bubble on your sofas exterior.

To check the depth of your pleats check for a ridge on the outside and run your finger along inside the fold.

Check for flaws in your leather sofas hide

Check the top, sides and back of your sofa for flaws in the leather. These flaws could be in the form of drags, scuffs or ‘pock’ marks which occur naturally on the hide.
A flaw found on the hide of a sofa maybe something you wish to raise with your supplier however finding an unflawed hide could be expensive so be prepared for an additional cost.

Can you feel the sofa frame?

Just as when buying any sofa, the cheaper frames are easier to spot as you can feel them under the arms and seat when you sit on the sofa.
A high quality chesterfield sofa should provide support and comfort without the feel of a solid under-frame.

Distinctive Chesterfield Nails

Chesterfield sofas are often designed with a traditional nailed finish. These nails are used to affix the hide to the frame and are an attractive feature of the sofa.
Cheaper chesterfield sofas forgo the benefits of using real nails in the exterior detail of a sofa which are typically stapled together.

To check if your chesterfield has been created in a traditional, high quality manner the nails should not be uniform and should not be part of a strip of other nail heads which are often glued to a frame for effect.

Button It

Low quality chesterfields often have buttons and pleats on the outside edge of the arm rests. This is usually because the sofas are made from Demic leather and these pleats and buttons are used to hide the stitching required to hold such a sofa together.

Check that your chesterfield sofa’s buttons stop on the top of the arms.

Frame Sizes

To save costs, cheaper chesterfield sofas are usually built on smaller frames which use less material to construct.

Check that there is adequate depth, height and width to your chesterfields seats.

Tags: Buyers Guide, che, cheap chesterfield sofa, cheap chesterfield sofas, cheap sofa, cheap sofas

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009 at 11:56 am and is filed under Buyers Guide. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.