How to Choose the Right Sofa Cushion

You’ve had that sofa or chair for 20 years, and an objective, honest look at it said it had to go! The seat is sagging, the cushions are lumpy, the upholstery is shredding, and the cat prefers it to the litter box.

So you went shopping, naively thinking that you’d make a decision, plop down some money and in a few weeks you’d have a new sofa. Instead you were overwhelmed by the number of choices. Who knew that buying a piece of upholstered furniture could be like buying a new car? Options abound, and among the most confusing choices is how to choose a cushion.

To get down, or not to get down? This demonstration sofa at Pedersen’s furniture store in my hometown of Santa Rosa, California, helpfully illustrates the prolific — and sometimes confusing — range of cushion choices available.

Let’s see if we can make some sense of it all, so you’ll know how to make the choice that’s right for you.


All Foam

Although manufacturers use different terminology and might vary the specifics a bit, when all is said and done, there are basically three choices in cushions. The first choice is the all-foam cushion. This is usually constructed of a high-density foam core covered by a softer layer of convoluted ("egg crate") foam, and then a polyester fiber wrap, all enveloped in downproof ticking (which prevents feathers from poking through).

This is the cushion of choice if you like a very firm seat and you want the fewest possible wrinkles in the fabric.


This is what an all-foam cushion looks like in a finished sofa. Notice that there are no wrinkles at all on the seat cushions, and only a few on the back cushions. Back cushions will almost always be of slightly different construction than seat cushions, because they need to be a bit softer, but they still have to be matched to the seat cushion. A softer seat cushion requires a softer back cushion, or the body will jackknife — pitch forward when sitting. This cushion is relatively maintenance free. When you get up from sitting on it, you won’t need to do any fluffing, plumping or primping … it will look just like it did before you sat down. (I think this choice is especially good for a bachelor.)


Spring Down

The second cushion choice is usually called spring down. It is the second-softest cushion and is made with a core of coiled springs, which is surrounded by a foam box and then wrapped with a thick layer of polyester fiber. This is all fitted into a downproof cover filled with a blend of down and polyester fiber. The springs provide a resilient feel, and the little bit of down adds a touch of softness and loft that only down can give.


This gives you an idea of how spring down looks in a finished sofa. It has reasonable shape-holding properties but requires regular fluffing as well as rotation to retain its plump, softly tailored appearance. This is the cushion for you if you like some of the softness of down — a moderate amount of that down squishyness — and don’t mind a little fussing to make it look great.


Down Plush, or Blendown

The third basic choice for a cushion is called down plush, or blendown. It is the softest and most luxurious of the cushions, and is constructed with a thinner foam core wrapped in a thick layer of polyester fiber, and then wrapped in a much thicker layer of a down and poly-fiber blend. Because of its relatively thin foam core and greater proportion of down, it really feels and acts like a pillow.


As you sit on it, it will flatten and change shape a bit, and it requires fluffing every time you sit on it to restore the loft and proper dimension. It’s definitely not for the person who can’t be bothered with all that maintenance. I love the way it feels, so it’s worth the trouble to me.


Here you can see me doing a bit of fluffing, just to prove that I speak from experience! And, by the way, there’s another plus: If you have had a frustrating day and need a punching bag to take out your aggressions on, fluffing the sofa cushions is perfect.

How to keep your sofa looking good


Here is a fluffed blendown sofa. You can see how the cushions have a plump, high loft; they’re luxurious and comfy to sit on. But just remember: Wwhen you get up, you have to fluff the cushion, or it will look pretty sloppy.


This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but it does cover the basic options. Remember, some manufacturers offer two or three extra choices, including 100 percent down-filled cushions (which are awesome but extremely high maintenance). But they are all some hybrid of what is described here.

The Critical Test

Also, keep in mind that generally you get what you pay for. Less expensive sofas and chairs usually have fewer cushion choices, but that may not matter, depending on your tastes. However, the acid test is actually sitting on an example of what you’ll be getting. You’ll know if the piece is right for you only if you can actually sit on it, so if at all possible, sit before you commit.

One final note: Every cushion has a break-in period. Don’t expect it to feel like the one in the store until you have broken it in for a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, if you’re out there looking for a sofa or chair, knowing the basic three should be helpful.

More: Things You Need to Know About Buying a Sofa

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