As regards the “upholstered furniture”, different options can be considered referring to comfort, design and budget. Firstly, the load-bearing structures can be made of beech, fir or poplar and the kind of stuffing differentiates them.
The older one is composed of steel biconical springs fixed onto jute straps by hand. The stuffing is made of flax straw, carded vegetal fibers and fine animal hair and it is hand-tied using techniques that ensure durability. This is wrapped up with soft carded wadding. Once the stuffing is done, goose feathers together with steel biconical springs are used for the sofa cushions.
On the other side, the newer possibility employs polyurethane foam. Elastic straps are nailed to the structure to realize the springing. There are different kinds of stuffing. Polyurethane foam is a versatile material since it is possible to tune its firmness and create softer or firmer cushions, according to one’s idea of comfort. It is perfect for modern sofas characterized by sober and essential design. Moreover, it does not need maintenance and has the characteristic “spring effect” that guarantees impeccable pillows. Goose feathers are suitable for a soft and comfy sofa for total relax. In order to find the happy medium it is sufficient to create pillows having a central insert in polyurethane foam wrapped up with goose feathers. Therefore you will combine support and softness creating your “tailored comfort”. Generally we use differentiated stuffing for seat cushions and backrests. Seat cushions are made with more rigid materials whereas backrests are made with softer ones.