How to fill a sofa pillow: tips for choosing high-quality and practical filling

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Published: 07/01/2021

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Decorative pillows are the finishing touch that makes the interior complete. It is necessary to select them so that they match the style of the room, to be able to place them correctly, and this largely depends on the filler used. At the same time, the pillow is designed not only to decorate the interior. First of all, they are needed for comfort - to place them under your head or back to relax and unwind. Let's consider the question of which filler for decorative pillows is best, because there are a lot of them now and each has its own characteristics.

• 1 Main requirements for the material
• 2 Artificial fillers
• 3 Natural fillers
• 4 Compare and make a choice
• 5 Stuffing technique
• 6 Conclusion

From spring blocks

Inside such sofas there are not only springs, but also soft filling. However, it is the structure of the block that is important. Spring sofas are distinguished by their durability and can withstand heavy loads.

Independent spring block

The springs are located in separate cells and operate separately from each other. A small spring lies inside a large one and is activated when additional load is applied to the sofa - for example, not two people lie down, but six. It is thanks to these small springs that a sofa with an independent spring block can withstand any weight.

For reliability, the block is connected around the perimeter with a metal frame. The space around the springs is filled with latex, coconut coir, memory foam, horsehair or felt.

Advantages:

— on such a sofa, the spine retains its natural curve, which is why your back will not hurt;

— the block lasts about 15 years. During this time, “pits” and protruding spirals will appear in the sofa with fastened springs;

— springs do not creak;

— the mattress is made from natural materials;

- does not produce static electricity;

— made from hypoallergenic materials, so suitable for allergy sufferers.

Block of dependent springs "Bonnel"

In such a block, the springs consist of five turns and are interconnected. In this case, the upper and lower turns are larger than the middle ones. As in an independent block, for reliability they are connected by a metal frame.

Sofas with Bonnel block are rigid and elastic, but they cannot completely follow the curves of the body. This can be bad for your spine.

Advantages:

— the mattress allows you to evenly distribute body weight;

— springs do not creak;

— the mattress is ventilated due to the double-cone structure of the springs;

— the air that appears when the springs are compressed and decompressed allows the cover to quickly dry out moisture. This is important if a person sweats a lot during sleep.

Spring block "snake"

Sofas with a “snake” and polyurethane foam are recommended for daily sleep less often than furniture with other springs. This is due to the low orthopedic effect and poor shock absorption. When a person tries to stand up, the spring sags at the stop points.

The “snake” is attached inside the frame or on it. A gasket is installed between the spring and the flooring material, which prevents hard parts from coming into contact with the upholstery.

Advantages:

- can withstand heavy weight;

— springs do not change shape;

— sofas with a “snake” design last about 20 years;

— springs do not creak;

— due to good air movement, moisture dries quickly from the sofa.

Rubber-fabric belts

Most often, furniture upholstery uses a frame formed by furniture tapes - belts . They are located in the inner part of the seat and back, and for greater strength they are woven together perpendicular to each other. The tapes, as a rule, are tightly stretched and should completely cover the space on which the springs or filler will be located during the production or upholstery process. Rubber-fabric belts consist of rubber and synthetic fibers, pressed and glued together. Rubber-fabric belts stretched in the form of a mesh on a wooden frame are a type of base for sofas and armchairs, and backs of chairs . They are tensioned by a special machine that ensures uniform tension of the belts. Belts have varying degrees of stretch. Softer belts are used on the backs of upholstered furniture, while harder ones are used on the seats of sofas and armchairs.

Made from polyurethane foam (PPU)

A common material from which sofas without a spring block are made is polyurethane foam, better known as foam rubber. The softness of the furniture depends on how it is made.

Block PPU

This sofa filling is made from glued sheets of polyurethane foam. They cut into parts of the sofa, the insides are different in density.

Advantages:

— polyurethane foam is difficult to damage, so furniture with it is considered wear-resistant;

— does not accumulate dust and is suitable for people who are prone to allergies;

— a sofa with block PPU lasts for more than ten years;

— the filler allows air to pass through. Due to this, the furniture dries quickly;

— elastic polyurethane foam: if you sit on it, there will be no marks left.

Molded polyurethane foam

Liquid polyurethane foam is poured into a special mold, under pressure and at a certain temperature it hardens. The polyurethane foam is covered with a crust, which almost does not allow air to pass through. This may result in a greenhouse effect.

Polyurethane foam padding will crumble if exposed to constant light. To protect it, the parts are covered in light-proof covers.

The advantages of cast polyurethane foam are generally the same as those of block foam.

Polystyrene balls

Externally, this stuffing looks like foam balls. Most often it is found in bean bags. Furniture with such filling must be periodically filled with filler, as the filler quickly compresses.

Advantages:

— it’s comfortable to sit on furniture with such padding;

- lightness.

Armor

The armor is made using special equipment from beech or birch veneer. In recent years, beech armor has been rare. Perhaps the reason for this is that they are much more expensive than birch ones. Lata is a bent-glued product. The layers of wood are glued together using a special technology, resulting in a bent product ( plate ), which has the ability to bend under the load placed on it. On a metal frame, the armor is located in special plastic armor holders, which are fastened with brackets over the frame. This way the armor is held tighter and does not pop out. Battens are also installed as a base for the flooring of some models of upholstered furniture , as well as for metal-frame mechanisms for transforming sofas and armchairs. Breakage or deformation (loss of bending) are the main defects of bent-glued elements. The batten breaks, as a rule, in the middle part due to loads exceeding the norm. Deformation refers to the process of natural wear and tear during operation. It must be said that the more armor is installed, the less each of them is deformed. The damaged armor bends in the opposite direction or becomes straight. The armor cannot be repaired, so if it breaks or becomes deformed, it must be replaced.

Soft synthetic fillers

They are good because they do not cause allergies and allow air to pass through, so they do not harbor germs. Such fillers differ in the way the fibers are laid.

Struttofiber

This sofa upholstery is made from synthetic and natural fibers. They are laid in a vertical position and fastened with hot air.

Advantages:

— struttofiber makes the sofa elastic;

- allows air to pass through well;

- the fibers act in the same way as springs in an independent unit - each cell works separately. Therefore, struttofiber padding is beneficial for the spine;

- does not burn and does not cause allergies;

- such a sofa will last a long time.

Holofiber

The material is made by twisting and splicing synthetic fibers. The result is a spiral filler that allows air to pass through well.

Advantages:

- keeps its shape and remains warm;

— does not crumble under the influence of the sun;

— does not retain odors and does not spread fungus;

- hypoallergenic.

Durafil

Durafil is a high quality non-woven fabric. It is created from polyester - hollow fibers that are arranged vertically.

Advantages:

- the material is elastic;

- does not cause allergies and does not burn;

— germs and dust mites do not appear in Durafil.

Sintepooh

To obtain synthetic down, manufacturers comb and twist polyester. The result is a material that looks like natural fluff. After treatment with silicone, the fibers are joined.

Advantages:

- voluminous and soft padding;

— synthetic fluff is obtained in the form of spirals, so it retains heat and shape well;

— germs and fungus do not form in a sofa with synthetic down.

Sintepon

This synthetic filling for upholstered furniture is made from polyester fibers. In furniture it is often used with other fillers and installed immediately before the upholstery.

It does not hold its shape well and can shrink under heavy loads. There is no uniform standard in production, so buyers risk getting low-quality padding polyester that is harmful to health.

Advantages:

— does not absorb moisture into the fibers;

- not oxidized by oxygen.

Comforel

In the production of this hollow fiber, no adhesives or polymer emulsions are used, so sofas with comforters are considered safe. Comfortable furniture and pillows are recommended for children and pregnant women.

Advantages:

— does not cause allergies and is environmentally friendly;

— a sofa with such padding is hard and at the same time restores its shape well;

— the comforter does not pill after several washes;

— does not burn, there are no parasites in it;

- serves for a long time.

Viscoelastic foam

This filler was created by NASA for space programs. It repeats and remembers the contours of the body.

When the load is removed, the foam slowly returns to its original shape. This occurs due to a reaction to body temperature.

Advantages:

— viscoelastic foam evenly distributes weight over the surface of the sofa. This is good for the spine;

— absorbs up to 90% of the energy that acts on it;

- cushions well, but does not allow air to pass through well.

What is the best way to stuff sofa cushions?

• Expenses

It makes no financial sense to spend as much on stuffing as on the pillow itself. Give preference to options that provide greater value for money.

• Material

Here, be guided by the features of each filler, their pros and cons for yourself personally. Since there are so many materials, including buckwheat, cotton, down, memory foam, polyester, etc., choose one you trust.

• Production

Prioritize litters made using environmentally friendly, ethical, or safety-focused methods.

Springless natural fillers

This “filling” lasts a long time and does not cause allergies. Natural padding has a beneficial effect on health.

Latex

Latex is made from the sap of the rubber tree. When processed, a structure of small cells is obtained.

Advantages:

— absorbs moisture and allows air to pass through well;

- quickly restores shape. Latex is considered the most optimal option for orthopedic furniture and mattresses;

- the filler does not cause allergies, bacteria do not appear in it; - the latex in the sofa retains its original properties for about 20 years.

Periotec

This sofa filling is a voluminous fabric made of wool, cotton or polyester. Outwardly it resembles a large felt.

Advantages:

— the buyer himself can choose the hardness of the sofa, because it depends on the composition of Periotek;

- hypoallergenic.

Padded quilted flooring

The flooring consists of two layers of dense fabric. A five-centimeter layer of cotton wool is inserted between them.

A quilted pad is used to cover the springs to make the sofa even, or to place it between other fillings.

Advantages:

— it is used only for softness; it does not impart elasticity to the padded covering.

Felt

To create felt, non-woven wool material is rolled twice through hot cylinders. A hard crust appears on the surface of the canvas.

Advantages:

- durable and dense;

— felt cloth is used as a gasket between springs and polyurethane foam. With its help, polyurethane foam is not pressed through;

- a person sitting on a sofa does not feel the spring.

Horsehair

Hair from the mane and tail of horses is highly durable and elastic. So that they do not lose their properties over time, they are impregnated with latex.

Advantages:

— the filler does not delaminate and does not gather dust;

- allows air to pass through well and evaporates moisture;

— thanks to its rigidity, it simultaneously holds a person and follows the shape of his body.

sea ​​grass

Sea grass fibers are rolled into bundles and stitched through burlap. This type of furniture is suitable for people with diseases of the spine and joints, because it contains iodine and has medium hardness. In addition, iodine helps you fall asleep faster.

Advantages:

— the filler is durable and almost does not lose its properties during service;

— the sofa with sea grass is resistant to humidity and allows air to pass through well;

- does not cause allergies;

- the padding is elastic and durable.

We choose filling for sofas according to different parameters

Compare and make a choice

You can stuff a home decorative pillow with different raw materials, and everything is individual. Depending on the conditions, one or another option will be suitable. Criterias of choice:

1. age. For children, hypoallergenic fillers with an average level of elasticity are optimal, for older people - soft, for adults - elastic, well holding the chosen position;
2. health status. If there are problems with the spine, allergic reactions, this must be taken into account first;
3. where the pillow will be used. You should start from the microclimate in the room, the frequency of cleaning and cleaning. There is no point in taking a large thick pillow with expensive filling and placing it on a sofa that is rarely used - it will quickly become covered with dust and will need dry cleaning;
4. product testing. The pillow lasts for years, and there is nothing wrong with asking the store clerk about the opportunity to lie on it. Do not forget about the accompanying documentation, which describes the composition of the product.

Comparative table (5-point system).

Fact! Synthetic filled pillows are cheap but don't last long. But they tolerate high humidity and washing in a washing machine very well.

Types of sofa upholstery by purpose

The choice of filler depends on the purpose for which the sofa is needed.

If you are buying furniture for sleeping, it is better to choose a filler with independent springs: each of them acts on the load separately. This distributes body weight evenly and has a beneficial effect on the body.

Natural fillers are also suitable for sleeping: latex, horsehair, periotec. Sea grass not only relaxes the body, but also helps you sleep.

Among synthetic paddings, struttofiber and viscoelastic foam work well on the spine. Comfortable furniture and pillows are recommended for children and pregnant women.

The polyurethane foam filler lasts a long time and does not sag, dries quickly and does not accumulate dust. This type of furniture is best used in living rooms and kitchens. For the same purposes, padding made from holofiber, padding polyester and padding polyester are suitable. They do not burn and germs do not appear in them, which is important for kitchen furniture.

Summary

In conclusion, we offer you a picture that clearly shows how complex modern upholstered furniture is:

Photo: lika-mebel.1gb.ru

Most pieces of upholstered furniture are now made from combined materials. But you can combine both high-quality, expensive materials and not very expensive ones. And not very high quality... The outcome depends on this. We hope that after reading this article you will be able to say for sure whether the sofa in front of you is good or not.

Periotec

PerioTek is a padding polyester-like synthetic non-woven multilayer fabric with vertical fiber orientation.

The name PerioTek is made up of the first syllables of the phrase PERIODICALLY ORIENTED TEXTURE, which determines the unique consumer properties in contrast to traditional bulk nonwoven materials. The uniqueness of the Periotek manufacturing technology lies in the vertical laying of fibers, which gives it improved volume recovery compared to other fillers used, in particular, in the manufacture of upholstered furniture. It has the same properties as Asselex fabric, but has better springiness.

Used in back cushion covers to enhance comfort and convenience.

Spunbond

Spunbond (a type of non-woven fabric) is a non-woven fabric obtained by calendering (rolling through hot rollers) polypropylene fibers. The seat and back cushions are wrapped in spunbond. This makes it easy to put on fabric covers, as the fabric glides over the spunbond. During operation, spunbond protects soft materials from abrasion and matting, and also allows you to straighten the folds of the cover. Non-woven fabric is used to add volume and strengthen the fabric, prevents stretching of the fabric, reduces creasing, does not change the properties of the fabric, retains the size and shape of the product during use, washing and dry cleaning. The inner covers of back cushions and decorative pillows are sewn from non-woven fabric.

Properties: hypoallergenic (used in the production of hygiene products), non-toxic, tear-resistant, breathable.