Why should I avoid cheap Chesterfield sofas?
When it comes to purchasing a new Chesterfield Sofas, you may find some manufacturers offering what seems like an inexplicably low-cost piece of quality furniture — and sometimes it’s extremely difficult not to be blinded by the discount.
Unfortunately, when investing in a cheap Chesterfield you will most likely get what you pay for. These manufacturers will often purchase second-rate furniture from Eastern Europe or the Far East and pass it off as their own, which means the price of the item is normally reflecting its poor quality. Even furniture produced in the UK can be inferior, with many manufacturers using below-standard materials and inexperienced staff to turn out furniture that simply won’t stand up to the test of time.
In the mass-production of furniture, the whole process is undertaken by an unskilled or semi-skilled workforce where each employee has only one area of the item to work on. Their individual task can be learned within a matter of hours. The finished item will resemble a Chesterfield, but close inspection will reveal flaws.
Although buying a cheap Chesterfield sofa may be easier on your bank balance, what you’re saving in monetary terms you’re giving up in comfort, durability, and the iconic style of a lovingly handcrafted sofa. This false economy means that you may well find yourself shopping for another sofa before long — cheap furniture tends not to stand up to everyday wear and tear, and the support and comfort it provides at first is likely to decline under use.
How do I spot poor-quality Chesterfields?
When producing cheaper Chesterfields, some companies will cut corners with raw materials and production processes so they can offer a lower price. These cost-cutting measures will manifest themselves over time, the result of which isn’t always obvious from a photograph or a quick inspection.
Although the furniture may appear similar, in person there will be many differences — the vast majority of which will be hidden under the leather or fabric. To make things easier, we’ve complied some of the key features of a Chesterfield sofa, with guidance for what to look for in a good-quality piece and what to watch out for in a poor-quality piece.
The frame is the skeleton of your Chesterfield sofa, allowing it to maintain its shape and integrity. It provides support for all of the other parts of the piece, making it vital that it is both durable and strong.
What to look for in a good-quality Chesterfield
A good-quality Chesterfield sofa will have a frame made of seasoned beech hardwood, with chunkier rails to stand up to the rigours of everyday use. Beech hardwood is chosen for its straight grain, which gives it extra solidity for a lifetime of use. Additionally, screw-fixed strengthening corner blocks should be used to maintain the integrity of the frame’s shape.
What to watch out for in a poor-quality Chesterfield
On the other hand, a cheap Chesterfield sofa typically has a frame made of mixed timbers, chip board panels, and rails of minimum thickness. Such a frame will not be as robust, chiefly due to its inferior timber strength and the skimping of wood thickness. Shaping pieces will often be fastened together with staples and glue rather than using dowelled joints, which also compromises the overall solidity.
