10 best sofa fillers

A huge variety of upholstered furniture on sale allows the modern buyer to choose a sofa not only in size, configuration and upholstery material, but also to pay attention to the characteristics that directly affect the durability and reliability of the structure. And one of the most important criteria is to determine the right filling. Indeed, not only the comfort of use, but also the duration of the service life, during which the product will maintain its high consumer qualities, depends on what kind of filler is inside.

By the type of internal arrangement, all sofas can be divided into two groups: with and without a spring block. The first option is classic furniture that has adorned our parents' homes and apartments for many years. With the development of technology, it has been replaced by newer materials that can provide anatomically correct conditions for sleep and rest.

TOP 10 best fillers for sofas

We've rounded up the top 10 from both product categories to help you decide on the perfect sofa for you. In the ranking, you will find practical and functional fillers, differing in cost and manufacturing technology, which can maintain the strength and elasticity of the frame even with daily use.

10 Sintepon

Our rating opens with the most inexpensive filler option - furniture synthetic winterizer. This is a very light and airy non-woven fabric made of polyester fibers, which gives additional softness and volume to the furniture structure. The synthetic winterizer does not have a very good reputation, many buyers consider it very short-lived, complain about the loss of shape and rapid abrasion. However, if the manufacturer uses a synthetic winterizer in combination with other types of padding, the life of the sofa can be significantly increased.

In addition to the low price, the furniture sintepon has other positive characteristics. It is quite environmentally friendly, does not cause allergies in people with special sensitivity to synthetics, has good thermal insulation properties and is not susceptible to infection by mold spores. Products with sintepon filling can be safely placed in children's rooms - the weight of the child will not affect the speed of wear of the material. In other cases, it is better to use such designs not for sleeping, but as a way to decorate the living room.

9 Furniture felt

The next participant in our review refers to materials in the manufacture of which a large percentage of natural raw materials are used. In this case, these are the fibers of the wool of domestic animals (most often sheep), balanced "diluted" with synthetic raw materials. Furniture felt is produced in the form of panels of different thicknesses, which are used as an interlayer between the spring and polyurethane foam block.

This technology is quite justified. It allows you to more evenly distribute the load, prevents the appearance of dents on the surface of the sofa, provides excellent thermal conductivity and environmental safety of the furniture product. Another undoubted advantage of this type of filler is its high hygroscopicity, strength, durability and affordable price. The disadvantage of furniture felt is a poor ability to regain its shape and a high risk of infection with various pests that are "not indifferent" to natural wool.

8 Seaweed

Despite all the unusualness of this filler, the history of its use goes back at least several centuries, because people learned to use sea grass flooring for sleeping long before the appearance of comfortable upholstered furniture.This is a unique padding material that not only creates optimal conditions for a comfortable stay, but also helps our body become stronger and healthier.

Under the influence of human heat, algae saturated with useful microelements begin to release them into the atmosphere, thereby having a beneficial effect on human well-being. Due to its therapeutic effect, sofas and couches with this type of filler are especially recommended for children and those who suffer from reduced immunity. Also, such products are distinguished by excellent orthopedic properties, they retain their shape for a long time and do not cause allergies. The only obstacle to buying may be the lack of this type of goods in ordinary furniture stores. Unfortunately, not all manufacturers offer furniture with sea grass stuffing.

7 Expanded polystyrene

Today more and more buyers prefer frameless furniture that can take any shape, literally enveloping the human body. The comfort of objects of this kind largely depends on the quality of the filler - it must be flexible enough to adapt to the position of the sitting person, but, at the same time, prevent the user from falling to the very bottom of the soft structure.

The best way to cope with the task is expanded polystyrene - a mass of many light balls of different diameters formed as a result of foaming polystyrene. This stuffing material has been used since the 60s of the last century, in practice having proven its effectiveness and ease of use. It is non-toxic, does not absorb odors, is resistant to temperature extremes and has a very low weight, so a sofa or beanbag chair can be easily carried from room to room. Over time, expanded polystyrene may shrink somewhat, which is why manufacturers recommend periodically replenishing its volume directly in the finished product.

6 Periotec

Periotek is one of the most modern padding materials, which is produced in the form of high-volume non-woven dense from high quality polyester fibers. It has improved regenerative properties, as a result of which the seats and cushions of the sofa acquire good elasticity and retain their shape for a long time.

This practical and not too expensive filler was developed specifically for the improvement of upholstered furniture. The vertical way of laying the fibers contributes to a more active resistance to compression, therefore the surface of structures with a perioteca base always remains quite dense and elastic. And due to the fact that no adhesives are used in the production, it can be classified as environmentally friendly and non-allergenic. Periotek products are mainly produced by large furniture factories. Since not all stores have comprehensive information about their products, we advise you to clarify this issue directly on the manufacturers' websites.

5 Spring block Bonnel

It is no exaggeration to say that sofas equipped with a Bonnel spring block have the longest history of origin. The technology has been used in furniture production for over 100 years, rightfully considered one of the most reliable and time-tested.

These sofas are perfect for everyday use. All the elements of the block are firmly connected to each other, the springs do not sag or unwind, which allows people with a large body weight (from 110 kg or more) to safely use such furniture. To achieve higher strength, manufacturers often reinforce the Bonnel unit with a steel frame. This not only has a good effect on the performance of the product, but also helps it retain its original shape and neat appearance longer. The disadvantages of this type of material include a creak that appears after several years of operation.But of the spring fillers, Bonnel is the most affordable.

4 Holofiber

Holofiber is a fairly new type of filler, which immediately became a favorite among many manufacturers of upholstered furniture. In fact, this is an improved new generation synthetic winterizer, which we wrote about in detail above. The material is made from the same polyester raw material, but has a slightly different structure. It is produced in the form of small fluffy balls (usually used for stuffing pillows and bolsters) or soft monolithic slabs (directly for sofa seats).

Due to the twisted shape of the fibers, holofiber follows the contours well and restores its original volume much more efficiently than its predecessor. Therefore, furniture based on it is often bought "for every day", that is, for permanent use. At the same time, this filler retains all the advantages of padding polyester. It is very soft, hypoallergenic, moisture resistant and does not accumulate static stress. A very affordable price will be an additional bonus to the purchase of sofas with holofiber.

3 Independent springs

Another representative of spring technology in our rating is a mattress made of vertical spiral elements, each of which is enclosed in an individual cover made of dense fabric. The cost of sofas with such an internal arrangement is significantly higher, however, the advantages of this type of construction undoubtedly surpass their earlier counterparts.

In contrast to the inexpensive Bonnel dependent filler, the independent block creates a uniform load on the surface of the berth, which allows the furniture to naturally "adjust" to the shape of the lying person's body. This is a more physiologically rational approach, providing not only a high level of comfort during sleep, but also significantly extending the life of upholstered furniture. In addition, the springs enclosed in the fabric do not creak, do not rub and are not capable of damaging the casing in the event of a breakdown. We can say that the independent block is the most ergonomic type of spring fillers, forming "point" support, the only drawback of which is the high cost.

2 Natural latex

Natural latex is a high-quality and safe filler of natural origin, which is often installed inside expensive premium upholstered furniture. The high cost of the material is due to the complex production technique and the high cost of the main raw material (rubber plant juice extract). However, the excellent consumer characteristics of this product fully justify all the funds invested in the purchase.

Latex sofas have excellent elasticity. They ideally support the spine during sleep and rest, recover quickly, do not cause allergies and are completely silent during operation. The porous structure of the material provides the necessary air exchange and regulates the level of humidity inside the product. In winter, such a filler retains heat well, and in summer it gives the body a pleasant coolness. The service life of upholstered furniture with natural latex is approximately 15-20 years, so it can be safely called one of the best for everyday use.

1 Polyurethane foam

The first line of our rating is occupied by polyurethane foam - the most popular material for filling modern sofas in the middle price segment. PPU (also called furniture foam rubber) is a foamed mixture of several polymers with an increased degree of elasticity and resilience. There are two types - block (in the form of sheets) or liquid (poured directly into ready-made forms).

Polyurethane foam from different manufacturers may have different technical data. Today, there are products on sale with both a standard set of characteristics and models with an orthopedic memory effect.Of course, each of the additional parameters directly affects the rigidity of the piece of furniture and its final cost. Artificial latex is considered the best option that optimally combines convenience and affordability. By choosing this high-comfort PU foam, you will not be able to overpay for unnecessary options, while simultaneously using all the advantages of this type of filler. Sofas with polyurethane foam inside are produced by all furniture companies - from world-famous concerns to small private firms, so finding them in stores will not be difficult.