A sofa is a component of furniture intended for a cozy and comfortable pastime. Here you can comfortably accommodate with households and guests. Most often, a sofa is purchased complete with armchairs, ottomans, coffee tables. But it can also be an independent piece of furniture. Often it serves not only as a place to sit, but also as a sleeping bed for the owners of the house and their guests.
The word "sofa" is of Persian origin. Its initial meanings were: “record of income, office”, as well as “elevated floor, carpeted”. In European countries, the sofa as an interior item came from Arab countries in the 17th century. It was noticeably different from its modern and familiar analogues. So, one of the first modifications of the sofa was a couch on which, half-sitting or reclining, the owners of the house and their guests conducted small talk. Then, exclusively for seating, a sofa appeared, which became the impetus for the production and delivery of comfortable tables and poufs together with sofas.
Today, this piece of furniture has changed beyond recognition. For us, the choice of sofa directly depends on the following factors:
1. Frequency of use (especially for the purpose of transforming this piece of furniture into a bed, since not all models are able to withstand daily loads).
2. The area of ​​space where it will be located. So, you can choose a model for both a spacious and a miniature room, including the opportunity to choose various mechanisms for the “sofa bed” as an everyday or guest sleeping option.
Regardless of the purpose of acquiring a really high-quality and functional piece of furniture that can last a long time, you need to pay close attention. And here the details play an important role.
Frame
The main quality characteristics of the frame are strength and reliability. It can be wooden (from birch, ash, oak, walnut, beech or mahogany), metal (from various profiles) and combined (chipboard + wood).
Filler
The softness of the sofa directly depends on the filler. It can be foam rubber, polyurethane, latex, synthetic (holofiber, synthetic winterizer). The best option is multilayer filling. If there is a need to reduce the load on the spine, you can give preference to a spring sofa.
Transformation Options
The sofa mechanism is one of the most practical criteria for its selection from a practical point of view. Especially when it comes to the need for a spacious and comfortable sleeping place, designed to promote a sound, healthy, full sleep, which will directly depend on a good mood, the presence of a charge of vital energy, emotional balance. If you have more than ten variations of folding sofas, you can not make a mistake here. In more detail about this parameter, the article will be discussed a little later.
Upholstery
Sofa upholstery can be leather (and artificial leather is not inferior to genuine leather) and fabric (preferably with Teflon impregnation). Of the fabrics, a tapestry, chenille, jacquard, flock, microfiber will be a good option. Each of the proposed options is able to give the sofa a sophisticated look and originality.
Color scheme, dimensions and shape
In its color scheme, the sofa must necessarily be combined compositionally with the general interior of the room, decorated in a particular style. As for the size and shape, in various furniture stores you can find rectangular classic, corner and rounded island sofas. By the number of seats, they can be made based on two or more people. Therefore, this piece of furniture can be purchased not only in the living room, but also in the nursery, hallway, kitchen or office.
And now we will consider in more detail the mechanisms for folding sofas: what they are and what are the main advantages of each of them.
Types of folding sofa designs
In practice, it is customary to distinguish three main types of sofa transformation:
- the one that unfolds: “book”, “click-gag”;
- the one that unfolds: folding beds and an "accordion";
- the one that rolls out is put forward: “dolphin”, “eurobook”, “roll-out”, “cougar”, “tick-tock” and others.
Let us dwell on each of these types of structures.
Folding constructions
If you want to get an inexpensive and reliable sofa, the book mechanism is an ideal choice for these purposes. This type of furniture is quite consistent with its name. So, when unfolding, it is enough to fold up to a mechanical click, and then lower its seat. Of the minuses of the design - the furniture must be moved away from the wall. True, now, to eliminate the defect, some manufacturers resort to installing mounting movable suspensions. This is a fairly easy to manage, budget and widespread sofa. The “book" mechanism was especially popular in the 80-90s. Often it can be seen in the homes of our compatriots today.
The click-gag mechanism (or click-clack) got its name from the characteristic sound that is produced when the sofa is transformed. It is similar to the above option, but in addition to the “sitting” and “lying” positions, it allows you to set an intermediate version when you can lean back to a half-sitting position - reclining, as in a rocking chair.
Unfolding constructions
Among them, the sofa accordion mechanism deserves attention, in which one of the parts is a seat, and the other two form the back. It got its name from the musical instrument of the same name: easily raising the seat, the "fur" of the berth unfolds and rolls forward, and in some models this happens automatically. Difficulties are caused by the reverse process. So, to fold the sofa, you need to use a little force: lifting the edge of the berth to a click, you need to pull it to the back. Due to the small size of this piece of furniture when folded and a spacious bedroom in the unfolded version, it is in demand in small-sized residential premises.
There are also several types of folding mechanisms. These are universal berths.
The mechanism of the sofa “French clamshell”, or “meralat”, is a widespread design option, folded in three. When unfolding, the sleeping place, hidden under the seat, first turns up, then on itself, and ultimately rests on the legs. It is not quite convenient in that it requires the removal of individual elements - armrests, pillows - before folding. Relatively compact when assembled, more suitable for the guest option.
Double addition are “American folding beds”. These are the so-called sofas with a sedaflex mechanism. They are very durable and comfortable, equipped with a thick mattress. When unfolding, it is enough to pull the seat strap up, then towards yourself, unfolding the links and resting on two pairs of legs.
Similar to the previous mechanism called the "Italian clamshell." It is also double-folding, but it does not begin to unfold from the seat, but from the back of the sofa, which is lowered to the seat, and the whole structure, turning over, rests on a pair of legs. The so-called “Italian shifter” is significantly higher in cost than the “meralat” or sofas with the “sedaflex” mechanism. An additional plus is that there is no need to remove the pillows or armrests before folding.
Retractable structures
According to the principle of rolling out, extension, there are several types of transformations of sofas. So, one of the most common is considered to be the "Eurobook". This sofa is easy to manage, does not require a supply of space near the wall when unfolding. It looks good not only near the wall, but also in any other part of the room. "Eurobook" - a sofa, the mechanism of which is similar to a "book", but is more advanced. This option is strong and durable, practically does not break, and therefore is in incredible demand. Unfolded by pushing the seat forward, while the back cushions are lowered into the free space.
“Eurobook” is a sofa, the mechanism of which was further developed. The result of the progress was its transformation into a tic-tac design resembling a pendulum of a watch. This is a relatively young, but at the same time, modification that has already earned the attention of consumers. It is characterized by ease of use, the possibility of easy daily folding - unfolding. This piece of furniture is produced in both classical and corner versions. When unfolding, all pillows must be removed. "Pantograph" is the second name that such a sofa received. The tick-to-tack mechanism is transformed by raising and extending the seat up and forward. The seat seems to take a step forward, standing on a support. After that, the back of the sofa can be lowered to the box for bedding. It is going in the same way.
A transformer resembling a dolphin jump over water is of the same name. It is standard for corner constructions, but it is also found in rectangular models. The simple mechanism of the dolphin sofa is as follows: its sliding element (cushion) is hidden under the seat in a special compartment, which is rolled out and lifted (on metal brackets) by the handle, forming a rectangular sleeping place that can withstand a considerable load.
Strong, reliable, compact and intended for frequent use is the "roll-out" mechanism of the sofa. The device resembles a telescope in which all parts are transformed from the inside. Such a sofa is laid out by advancing behind the hidden seat belt, and the rest of the parts that were hidden inside the back automatically leave behind it. In this case, the back of the sofa remains fixed, but the sleeping bed, consisting of three parts, has a modest height.
Easy enough by raising the seat up, forward and on the legs sofas with the "cougar" mechanism are laid out. At the same time, the lower part of the structure rises automatically and becomes flush with the unfolded seat.
It is similar to the “roll-out”, but slightly more improved design called “Verona”. The difference is only in the presence of rollers and brackets.
Fancy options
With such a variety, there are exclusive mechanisms for folding sofas. Among them, one can distinguish “litas”, which transforms a piece of furniture into a single bed by transforming one or both armrests. At the same time, the back of its position does not change, but the seat serves as a berth. This is a very good option for children. Movable armrests are also available for the tango metal frame construction. If the seat is folded into a berth, then such a mechanism is called a “scroll”.
Sleeping place
Manufacturers are trying to take into account possible shortcomings identified in the sofas of the previous model series. One of them may be the surface of the sleeping bed. So, a fairly spacious, smooth, comfortable sleeping place is inherent in the Eurobook, Dolphin, and Accordion mechanisms. Sofas with the “puma”, “sedaflex”, “meralat” mechanism, for example, in the unfolded form can have hollows and indentations. If there is no mattress or mattress, this can cause discomfort during sleep.
Boxes for storing bedding
Unfortunately, not all models of sofas have compartments for storing blankets, pillows, mattresses, bedding. Such convenient drawers are equipped with pieces of furniture such as "eurobook", "click-gag", "accordion", "dolphin", "roll-out" sofa. The tick-tock mechanism also provides for the possibility of storing bedding and other accessories in a special compartment. At the same time, all cots are deprived of this pleasant trifle, which creates the possibility of maintaining order and hiding unnecessary things from prying eyes.
A bit about sofa care
Like any piece of furniture, a sofa needs proper and delicate care. It can consist in daily wiping the furniture with dry or wet microfiber to prevent dust accumulation. A possible use of a vacuum cleaner. If a stain appears on an expensive fabric surface, it is better to immediately contact a dry cleaner, but you can try and treat it yourself with medical alcohol. But it is not worth resorting to abrasive detergents, solvents, brushes, even with the softest bristles, since they can damage the leather or fabric surface of the sofa.
The place of connection of the springs, metal elements with the frame may also need periodic processing. It makes sense to lubricate them with oil in order to avoid the possible appearance of a squeak during the transformation, which all sofa mechanisms can be subject to.
How to choose a sofa - it's up to you! But since this piece of furniture is purchased, as a rule, for a long period, you should carefully study all the models available on the market and decide on the one that is ideal for you.