Expertise · 06
Comfort, form and durability together
How a sofa or pouf feels to sit on, how well it keeps its shape over time and how the fabric sits on it are largely determined by the polyurethane inside. A hotel lobby, guest room, restaurant or kids’ club each place different demands on seating and call for different filling decisions. Foam selection is therefore not a detail added after design approval; it is decided together with the design of the furniture.
What the service covers
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Seat and back fillings
Seat, back and armrest fillings for sofas, armchairs, banquettes and chairs are prepared according to the dimensions and use of each piece. The first-touch feel of a seat and its support during longer sitting can come from different layers. Filling thickness, edge radii and fabric tension are considered together, so the furniture keeps both the look of the drawing and the expected comfort.
Moulded and organic forms
For shapes that are difficult to cut from flat block foam, such as rounded armchairs, plump seating modules, poufs and sculptural seating, the form is assessed through a mould. The volume of the design, the sharpness of its curves and the number of repeated modules affect the production method. In hotel projects where the same form is produced many times, consistency between pieces becomes especially important.
Upholstery and use
The fabric, leather or technical textile covering the polyurethane determines the appearance and durability of the finished piece together with the filling. Stretch or heavily textured fabrics express a form differently, and seams and quilting are planned around the shape of the filling. In busy public areas, cleaning, maintenance and replaceable covers should be discussed from the start.
Project stages
Scope, approval stages and the installation programme are defined for each project.
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Use and form
Consider location, intensity of use, dimensions and the design form together.
Density and firmness
Define filling layers for seat, back and arms according to the intended comfort.
Sample and prototype
Evaluate sitting comfort, form and upholstery appearance on a sample or prototype.
Upholstery and delivery
Combine the approved filling with its cover and deliver pieces to suit the room layout.
Technical considerations
Comfort, durability and technical requirements
The word polyurethane does not, on its own, establish a level of comfort, service life, fire behaviour or exterior suitability. These characteristics are checked against the information for the selected foam and the upholstery system of the finished piece. Share the hotel’s performance and fire requirements early; liking how a seat feels and confirming its technical suitability are separate decisions.
From the project archive
Regnum The Crown · Bamboo Kids World
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Frequently asked questions
Where is polyurethane used in furniture?
It is used in the seat, back and armrest fillings of sofas, armchairs, banquettes, poufs and chairs, and in rounded soft seating shaped in moulds. In upholstered furniture production, ARTMİM considers the filling together with the cover and the frame.
Can a project-specific form be produced?
Moulds can be assessed for curved and organic forms designed for a specific project. Dimensions, level of detail, quantity and location are needed for review. A single piece and a large number of repeated modules have different implications for production planning.
What matters in high-traffic hotel areas?
In lobbies, restaurants and children’s areas, shape retention of the filling, durability of the cover and ease of cleaning come first. Where fire performance or similar requirements apply, the technical documentation for both foam and cover should be reviewed together.
What should an initial upholstery brief include?
Share furniture drawings or reference images, approximate dimensions, quantities, the intended space and the desired sitting feel. The proposed cover material and any technical specification help the filling decisions to be made correctly from the outset.