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The most difficult thing in the room is to use the corners – far from all the furniture goes there, and if it does, it is far from always convenient to use it. One good way to make the best use of this space is to install a corner sofa. Models are very different both in appearance and shape, as well as in size and style.
Types of corner sofas
Choosing a corner sofa is not as easy as it seems. There are a lot of points that you need to pay attention to. The first is the design, then the functionality, then the content and type of upholstery material, dimensions. Only having decided on all these points, you can choose a sofa and not be mistaken.
Designs
First of all, you need to understand what designs corner sofas are. They are divided into two groups: stationary and modular.
A stationary corner sofa is either a monolith (it happens rarely), or consists of two parts, which are fastened to each other during installation. There are two types of block attachment. The first is with the help of bolts in the holes prepared at the factory. This type of connection is suitable if you are not going to move furniture.
The second type of fastening is with the help of two plates fixed on the sidewalls of the parts to be joined. One plate has the form of a bracket, the second – a protruding part in the form of a hook, which clings to the bracket. As you can see, this connection is easy to assemble / disassemble, but at the same time, it holds the parts securely in place. The disadvantage is that in the process it is necessary to lift the part with the “hook” slightly, which requires considerable physical strength. In this regard, it is easier to unscrew a couple of bolts if necessary.
Modular corner sofas consist of three or more parts. One part is necessarily with an angle and several pieces of “straight” ones that can be moved and interchanged. From that point of view, a modular corner sofa is more convenient – you can change its configuration. But there are also disadvantages – more joints, and they are not only visible visually, but also tangible: it is inconvenient to sit at the junction of two modules.
The shape and direction of the corner, U-shaped sofas
Corner sofas – large and small – are usually made in the form of the letter “G”. Moreover, as in this letter, one part is much longer than the other (although there are equal ones). Before choosing a corner sofa, take measurements of the place where you plan to put it. The desired sample should be 5-10 cm shorter in both directions – so that there are no problems during installation.
There are also corner sofas with a double corner – in the form of the letter “P”. They are usually placed in large rooms – living-dining room, dining-kitchen, kitchen-living room – to separate zones. In this case, the side parts are not too large, but the middle part is significant in length. In large rooms, such furniture looks good both as a separate seating area, and together with armchairs of the same design and a coffee table.
Functional
You also need to decide for what purposes you will use the corner sofa: just sit, or even as an extra bed. Most often, the choice falls on the second option. A folding corner sofa is convenient in the living room, nursery. Rarely they are placed in the kitchen and in the office – not quite what you need, but in a small apartment, and with the invasion of guests, an extra bed, even in an unusual place, will not be superfluous.
There are special corner sofas for the kitchen. They are usually small in size, not so soft and voluminous, as they are designed to “sit” for a short time. Upholstered in a practical material designed for intensive use and the need for frequent washing. Most often it is eco-leather or leatherette, but it can also be an inexpensive jacquard with special processing.
A folding corner sofa for the kitchen is a curiosity, it can only be made by special order. Usually, the seats in such furniture are hinged, and a small chest is hidden under them – for storing rarely used kitchen utensils, long-term food supplies, etc.
In some sofas, instead of soft armrests, small shelves-bedside tables are made along the edges. They can also be located “in the corner”, instead of the back or replacing only part of it. The fact is that no one sits in the corner – it’s too uncomfortable, so you can use this part as a table or shelf.
Another option – a bar shelf can be made on the back wall. This type of furniture is used for zoning rooms.
It’s more like a wardrobe or something like that. Convenient and functional, but too much time can be spent on cleaning. Please note that many models have a lifting part, under which a large box is hidden. It can be used to store linens or out-of-season/spare bedding – duvets, throws, spare guest pillows, etc.
Part of the corner sofas has an ottoman on the side – part without a back and sidewalls. This type of upholstered furniture turns out to be more compact – there is no voluminous sidewall, which occupies at least 10 cm, and more often 15 or more.
Filling and materials
The soft part of the sofa can be made of different materials. It consists, as a rule, of two parts – the main block, which forms the seat, and a soft pad / layer, which creates additional comfort.
What is the seat made of?
The soft block can be of the following materials:
- Foam rubber. In budget models, the seats are made of dense foam rubber. It is inexpensive, but not too durable – it is wrinkled, erased. Usually foam rubber sofas are bought for children – the child will grow up quickly, and you will have to say goodbye to the furniture.
- PPU – polyurethane foam. Another inexpensive but more durable material. In the traditional version, it is a block of material. But there are also sofas with granulated polyurethane foam. An unconventional form that appeared not so long ago.
There are a lot of layout options for outwardly very similar models. - Spring block with dependent springs. In such upholstered furniture, the springs are interconnected. Accordingly, if one is compressed, it does not pull behind it all that are connected with it. On the one hand, this is good – smoother bends. On the other hand, not too much. Dips are formed due to which the body takes the wrong position.
- Spring block with independent springs or orthopedic mattresses. In such upholstered furniture, each spring works by itself and is not connected with others. The most expensive type of upholstered furniture, since the load on the springs is large (not redistributed), therefore they must be made from more wear-resistant materials. The quality of an orthopedic mattress is easy to check: if you put a glass of water on one edge and sit on the other, the glass should not move.
If we talk about the price, then the most inexpensive corner sofas are foam rubber and polyurethane foam. Average in price – spring, the most expensive – with orthopedic mattresses.
frame
The frame of upholstered furniture is usually assembled from several types of materials. The base – racks, lintels – is usually made of wooden bars. In budget models, plywood, chipboard can be used. If you choose, wood is still better – it is more reliable and maintainable. Worse, but tolerable – plywood, and the most unsuccessful frame material is chipboard, since it does not withstand constant loads very well.
The frame is sheathed with plywood or fiberboard. Better plywood. Fiberboard is too unreliable material that quickly breaks and breaks.
By the structure of the frame, you can determine the quality of the sofa. In good furniture, the distance between the armrest and the soft part is very small. The smaller, the better the build quality. And yet – the gaps on the right and left should be the same (or almost the same).
Upholstery
It’s not about colors, but about the types of upholstery. They differ in price, but a low price is not a sign that the fabric is worse. It’s just easier to manufacture. More expensive fabrics have a complex weave, patterns. This is what raises the price.
Corner sofa can be upholstered:
- Flock. This is a non-woven base with a short pile glued on the front side (reminiscent of plush). Has good wear resistance, can be repeatedly cleaned. Great for families with pets inexpensive but durable.
- Gunny or burlap. It is called so because of the characteristic weave. For front rooms – a living room, an office – it will not work, but for a nursery, a veranda, etc., a very good option.
- Chenille. A fabric that is very similar to that used in car interiors. Medium priced option with lots of weave options. May have jacquard, satin, tapestry. The price depends on the type of weave, as well as on the density of the material: the more threads per centimeter, the stronger the fabric.
The type of furniture fabric indicates the complexity of the weave - Jacquard. It has a complex weave, and therefore the most expensive fabric. But this does not affect the quality characteristics. It depends on the composition of the fabric, and it, like others, is mixed – synthetics with natural threads (cotton or linen).
- Leatherette. This material is most often covered with kitchen corner sofas or those that are placed in the office. In a private house, such upholstery can be purchased, except for the veranda.
In principle, you can ignore the type of upholstery fabric. The main thing is that you like it to the touch and match the color. If the company has a certain reputation, it will not use bad fabrics.
Folding mechanisms
Almost all sofas (except kitchen ones) are made with a folding bed. The difference is not only in size, but also in the type of mechanism used. Not only convenience depends on this, but also the direction in which the bed unfolds.
Eurobook
One of the most popular mechanisms, and all its charms are manifested precisely in corner sofas – the seat quickly and easily transforms into a sleeping place of considerable size. The seat is pushed forward, the back is lowered into the vacant seat.
Simple and reliable mechanism. There is only one point: the retractable part must be on wheels. And it is better if they are wider, otherwise there is a great opportunity to damage the flooring.
Pantograph or tick-tock
Eurobook modification. The frame of the folding structure is made of metal, additional springs are added to it, due to which it turns out that the folding part first rises slightly up, then falls down in an arc. Further, the process is also simple – the back rests on the vacant seat. In this design, no wheels are needed, since the folding part does not move along the floor.
The mechanism is more expensive, but is suitable for use on soft floor coverings and does not harm them at all. This method of unfolding is suitable for daily use and does not require significant effort. Even a child can handle it.
Dolphin
This mechanism for transforming a sofa into a bed appeared a long time ago. The transformation takes place in two stages:
- An additional part of the bed extends from the bottom of the sofa.
- Due to a small effort, it rises to the same level as the stationary part.
The mechanism is simple, reliable, but you need to pull with sufficient effort. Suitable for daily use. A box for linen in such a corner sofa can only be in the side part.
Corner sofa with folding mechanism “Accordion”
One of the popular folding sofa mechanisms is the accordion. It unfolds in one motion – pull the seat “towards you” using special loops. In this case, the seat moves forward, and the backrest unfolds.
The mechanism is reliable, easy to maintain, can be used every day. But there is a significant disadvantage – it takes considerable effort to activate. In essence, you are pulling most of the sofa. Another point: this mechanism is incompatible with spring blocks of any type.
Sedaflex or French cot
This mechanism is only suitable for guest sofas – it is not recommended to use it every day. Firstly, it is not very convenient, and secondly, the mechanism is not designed for this. It unfolds in several steps:
- Remove the cushions from the seat.
- Raise the seat up and a little “on yourself”. It becomes a foothold.
- Unfold the last part of the lounger, lower it down, while straightening the legs.
Not very convenient, and the efforts at the second stage require significant. What is good is that this mechanism is compatible with spring blocks.
Non-standard options
Some factories make corner sofas with non-standard folding mechanisms. You can’t even call some mechanisms – one or two parts are installed on wheels, so they just move to the right place.
There are also transforming sofas, but this is already a different price category, since the transformations are complex and the mechanisms used are more expensive. For example, this mechanism is called “scissors”
Read more about transforming furniture here.