You may not think a lot about types of pillow stuffing, but the softness of sofa seat cushions is probably what you mean when you talk about furniture comfort. And it’s a very personal thing. For every person who loves a “sink down” feeling when sitting on a sofa, there’s another who prefers a firmer, more supportive seat. Cushion Fill is one of the four factors we use in our comfort rating system, ABCS Comfort Metrics (the other three are Seat Depth, Arm Height, and Back Support).
The great thing about seat cushions is that almost any piece of upholstered furniture can be made with any kind of seat fill. With the sofas we sell at The Stated Home, we offer a variety of seat and back cushions, so all you have to do is pick the combination that works best for you.
sofa seat cushion construction
The best seat cushions are constructed of an inner core of either foam or innersprings and are wrapped in either a polyester fiber, down, or (new to the scene) memory foam. The combination of these materials will determine the softness of the cushion and the amount of maintenance you have to do (flipping and rotating). To understand how the core and wrapping work together, lets dive into the specifics of all the options:
Innerspring Seat Core – best bet to prioritize longevity. Seat cushions with an innerspring core will hold up a little better than a foam core that will eventually break down and for that reason it is our top recommendation. However, these seats will feel a little bit firmer.
Foam Seat Core – to prioritize a softer seat or if you require extra firm. A foam core is what is typically used for softer seat construction, but it may break down sooner than the innerspring core. Don’t let that turn you off though, a sofa with foam cores from a reputable manufacturer should get you 7-10 years (or longer) from your cushions before you start to notice a softer, smushier seat. In addition, if you are a person who knows you like a firm seat, most furniture manufacturers can accomplish that by using an extra dense foam core.
Fiber Wrap Seat Cushion – for lowest maintenance. A fiber wrapped seat cushion will require the least amount of flipping and rotating (although all cushions should be flipped and rotated regularly) as this filling tends to stay in place. It will still offer a soft seat, but not a “sink in” feeling.
Down Wrap Seat Cushion – for a soft feel. Down wrap will offer you more of a “sink-in” feeling, but the down tends to shift so will require more regular flipping and rotating
Memory Foam Seat Cushion – the best of both worlds?. A newcomer to the seat cushion option, some manufacturers are offering a foam seat cushion wrapped in a memory foam to offer you a soft seat with less of the headache of down. If you know you want a soft seat, we think this is one of the best options!
If you’ve made it this far, you can see there are many different combinations you can choose from so we’ve tried to simplify it all with our recommendations based on your personal preferences and priorities. Keep in mind that not all manufacturers will offer all these options, so you’ll have to choose from what they offer. Our selections for:
Longevity, lowest maintenance, or good support: Spring Fiber seat cushion: an innerspring Core wrapped in fiber
A soft seat: Memory Foam wrapped around a hi-density foam core
A supportive seat with a touch of softness (our most popular option): Spring Down seat cushion: An innerspring core wrapped in down (note: this will require a little more maintenance than other options).
Medium-soft support: Foam Fiber seat cushion: Foam core wrapped in polyester fiber
Extra firm seat: Extra firm foam core wrapped in fiber
VERY soft seat (use with caution): Foam Down: Foam core wrapped in down. We actually try to steer people away from this option because of the DAILY flipping and fluffing required, but if you know you want a very soft seat and don’t mind a “lived-in” look then this may be the cushion for you.
sofa seat cushions to avoid
100% Down Seat Cushions: These are simply too flat and difficult to maintain. Not to mention you can often feel the sofa springs through the cushion.
Foam-Only Cushions: We enjoy the softness added by a fiber or down wrap not to mention foam only cushions look very “square”
sofa Back Cushion construction
The majority of back cushions are constructed of loose filling – either fiber, feathers, or a combination of both (there is one exception we get into below) so select a filling based on your comfort and maintenance preferences. Most manufacturers will have a 100% fiber fill and a 100% down fill, but the in-between options vary, so may not be available in the particular style you’re looking for. Tip: Back cushions should be channel stitched to keep their filling in place
Here are our recommendations for:
Soft, but supportive & low maintenance: 100% polyester fiber (bonus points if it’s regenerated from plastic waste).
Softer, with some maintenance & down-free: A down-alternative fiber fill, sometimes called micro-denier or trillium.
Even softer with more maintenance: A combination of down and fiber.
Softest with a “sink in” feeling (recommended with reservations): 100% down. This fill will require the most maintenance, but offers a nice soft feel. Keep in mind that larger back cushions will be more difficult to fluff and rotate, so if you want this fill consider sofas with 3 back cushions to keep the maintenance easier.
Extra supportive: Some, not all, manufacturers will offer an extra support back cushion that is constructed with a foam inner core and is wrapped in fiber. It will offer minimal sinking in and maximum support.
Avoid attached back cushions! It is necessary to flip and rotate your back cushions to give them their longest life and keep things looking neat.
Tip: Don’t get too stressed out about this! Cushion cores are very easy to change out – you just open up the case and put a new one in. At The Stated Home, we offer FREE cushion exchanges if you don’ t like the one you’ve ended up with – shop with a retailer that will do the same.
Here are a few more things to think about as you ponder your cushion-fill options:
Do you like that sink-down feeling when you sit on a piece of furniture?
If so, our Foam Fiber seat cushions and down back cushions are the right choice.
Will it bother you to have an unkempt-looking sofa or to have to fluff pillows regularly?
Down cushions can be more high maintenance than others because they need to be fluffed regularly. Our down alternative back cushion is a great option for those that want a soft seat without as big of a fluffing requirement.
Will you be buying leather?
If you’re getting a leather chair or sofa, go with a spring core cushion to help reduce stretching. When a cushion is too soft, the leather stretches as you sit, ultimately forming a kind of puddle on top.
Like what you read? Visit thestatedhome.com to shop our collection of made-in-America furnishings.
Very very informative! Thank you!