Androf Materials Guide
See how upholstery, cushioning, support and frame construction work together — and learn which details are worth checking before choosing a sofa.
START HERE
A material name alone does not determine the quality of a sofa.
Two sofas can use materials with the same general name and still be very different. Composition, thickness, density, weave, material placement, joints and overall construction all matter.
This guide is designed to help you understand what you can see — and the questions worth asking about what you cannot.
01 · UPHOLSTERY
Compare surfaces on the same sofa silhouette so changes in furniture design do not distract from the material itself.
BOUCLÉ
A highly textured surface built from looped yarns, creating visible depth and small shadows between fibers.
CHENILLE
Visually smoother than bouclé, chenille uses soft, dense yarns that create a subtly plush surface.
VELVET
Its short directional pile changes the way light is reflected, which can make areas appear lighter or darker depending on pile direction.
WOVEN
A visible structure created by interlaced yarns. Visually, it reads drier and more structured than a pile-based fabric.
TIGHT WEAVE
A visually compact construction with closely spaced yarns and minimal open loops. “Tight weave” here describes visible construction, not a performance guarantee.
VEGAN LEATHER
A non-textile upholstery surface with fine grain and a more continuous light response than woven or looped fabrics.
SEE THE DIFFERENCE
Texture, pile, grain and surface reflectivity can substantially change how the same nominal color appears.
An ivory tone can read warmer, deeper or lighter depending on surface structure.
Loops create stronger micro-shadows; smoother surfaces read more uniformly.
Matte woven fabric, chenille and velvet do not return light in the same way.
UNDER GRAZING LIGHT
Side lighting makes loops, pile direction, weave structure and surface grain easier to see.
Relief and micro-shadows
Soft surface, subtle variation
Directional pile
Visible yarn structure
Compact construction
Grain and continuous highlight
02 · FRAME MATERIALS
Solid wood, plywood and engineered panels are different material categories. Their suitability depends on quality, thickness, placement and how the frame is designed.
Material cut from continuous natural timber. Properties vary with species, grade, moisture, cross-section and grain direction.
Verify: where it is used and how structural members are joined.
A panel made from thin wood veneers bonded together. The exposed edge reveals the multiple layers that form the panel.
Verify: thickness, veneer quality, voids and where the panel is used.
An engineered panel made from wood fibers compressed with a binder to create a dense and relatively uniform structure.
Verify: its location and whether that use is appropriate for the role of the component.
A panel made from wood particles bonded under pressure. Quality varies with density, thickness and panel formulation.
Verify: placement, edge fastening and its actual structural role.FRAME CONSTRUCTION
Rails, reinforcement, connection points and the way loads move through the frame can matter as much as the material name itself.
03 · SEAT SUPPORT
Sinuous springs and webbing are two common approaches. The system name alone does not determine quality.
S-shaped steel wires span the seat between frame rails. Performance depends on factors such as wire gauge, spacing, clips and the surrounding frame design.
Bands are tensioned and interlaced across the frame. Webbing material, tension, spacing and anchoring influence how the system behaves.
04 · CUSHIONING
Final feel depends on how cushioning layers, thickness, firmness and the support system work together.
“HR” is commonly used for high-resilience flexible polyurethane foam. The term does not replace specifications such as density or firmness when those values are needed to compare products.
Representative illustration — not a density specification.
A seat cushion may combine upholstery, batting or fiber wrap, a softer comfort layer and firmer support foam. Exact constructions vary by model.
More layers do not automatically mean higher quality; specification and purpose matter.05 · INSIDE THE SOFA
This exploded view illustrates a general construction logic. An actual sofa may use a different combination of layers and components.
CHOOSE WITH CLARITY
If you are deciding between upholstery options or want to understand the materials used in a specific model, our team can help you review the relevant information before ordering.
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