If you hear somebody ask “What’s the difference between attachable vs. detachable cushions?” It may seem like a bit of a silly question. You may think to yourself, this seems self-explanatory. One cushion is attached, and the other can be detached to or from the furniture.
While that is certainly the main and clear difference between attachable and detachable cushions, there are many other factors that make not only the cushions but the furniture different as well.
So what are these differences? Which type of cushion is best for your living space’s furniture?
At La-Z-Boy San Antonio, we have been designing furniture for half a century, and we have learned a thing or two about the differences between attachable vs. detachable cushions.
Let’s explore the many differences between attachable vs. detachable cushions!
These types of cushions are the right choice for somebody who does not want to have to reposition the cushions frequently. For example, if you have a dog or cat with a toy that frequently rolls under the sofa, you may have to lift the sofa from up underneath the back frame. If you have attached cushions, they will not fall onto the floor like detachable cushions will, keeping your sofa cushions firmly in place.
That being said, there are certain furniture types that have tighter back cushions than others. Some furniture types will have loose cushioning, allowing more slack and movement to cushions.
If you are interested in getting fitted for your La-Z-Boy furniture, you can set up an appointment with one of our designers.
As with every piece of furniture and its details and features, there are advantages and disadvantages to having furniture with attached cushions. Let’s look through some pros and cons of having furniture with attached cushions.
Since the attached cushions are sewn onto the furniture frame, there will be less upkeep required with the attached cushions.
As we discussed above, you can move, lift, and tilt your furniture without having the cushions lose their proper position on your furniture. This will cause less of a burden on you and eliminate the prospect of constantly re-positioning your cushions.
Along with the convenience of not having to constantly re-position, Attached cushions also do not need to be fluffed up every time somebody sits down on the furniture. This, again, will eliminate the burden that detached cushions present.
You may be wondering if one costs more than the other. Oddly enough, furniture with attached cushions generally costs less than furniture with detached cushions.
Furniture with attached cushions actually requires less fabric than furniture with detached cushions. As a result, manufacturers will not need as much time to design and won’t need to build a wall of fabric over the front of the furniture frame. Instead, they will simply connect the frame’s fabric to the cushion’s fabric, requiring less fabric than furniture with detachable cushions.
The cost of attached vs. detached cushions will ultimately be dependent on the manufacturer, the furniture retailer you shop with, and the quality of the furniture.
If you are wondering how to fix the ripped couch cushions that are attached, please understand that this is a lengthy and costly process.
As convenient as it is to not have to constantly re-position your cushions with attached cushions, attached cushions are far harder to replace than detached cushions.
If you have restless children or pets, they may be very rough on furniture and might accidentally rip the cushion from the frame itself. If that happens, you will have to call your retailer and the repair may take up to months.
Since cushions tend to sag over time, you may be wondering how to fix a sagging couch with attached cushions. While you can still chop and fluff the cushions up to the best of your ability, since you cannot pick the cushions up off the furniture itself to move the insides up, it is much harder to prevent sagging with attached cushions.
Generally speaking, attached cushions are harder to clean than detached cushions are. Since you cannot physically remove the cushions from the furniture, cleaning the backs and undersides of attached cushions is much more difficult.
Some attached cushions do have a zipper where you can remove the cushion itself from the sleeve, which will make it easier to clean, and also make it less likely to damage the cushion itself. However, not every piece of furniture with attached cushions offers zippers on their cushions, so be sure to specify that in your decision-making process if that is a priority for you.
Detachable cushions are cushions that are not sewn into the furniture frame and are loose and moveable as a result. These cushions can be easily moved simply by lifting or sliding.
Furniture with detachable cushions is guaranteed to move more than attached cushions when somebody sits down or gets up off the furniture. Detachable cushions are the right fit for somebody who prefers to fluff and clean their cushions easily and does not mind them moving or repositioning every time somebody sits down.
As we did with the attached cushions, let’s go into a brief list of the pros and cons of detachable cushions.
As we discussed earlier, detachable cushions are easier to clean than attachable cushions.
Since you can remove detachable cushions from the furniture frame itself, you can flip and move the cushions to clean more surface area than you can with attached cushions. This makes it far easier to clean the entire cushion and even reach into the nooks and crannies of the frame itself.
Since detachable cushions are not sewn into the furniture frame itself, they are far easier to replace and repair than attached cushions. If you have a cushion that wears down, you can replace the cushion itself rather than having to take the entire furniture piece to the retailer to re-sew the cushion back into the frame.
As opposed to fluffing an attached cushion, you can also easily fluff and reposition a detachable cushion to adjust its look and feel.
If you are looking for a sofa with detachable cushions, it is important to note that detachable cushions do experience wear and tear easier and faster than attached cushions do. Since they are not sewn into the frame, they do not have the support of attachable cushions and thus are less durable than attached cushions.
As we discussed in the attachable cushions pros section, furniture with detachable cushions is typically more costly than furniture with attached cushions. Since the manufacturer needs to use more fabric to cover the frame and the backs and undersides of the cushions, detachable cushions take more time and fabric than attachable cushions.
If you'd like to hear more about the pros and cons of detachable cushions, feel free to set up an appointment with an in-store designer to answer any questions you have.
Now that you know what the pros and cons are of each cushion type, you may be wondering, which is the right fit for you.
Attachable cushions are the right choice for those who do not want the burden of constantly adjusting their cushions. If you have to move, lift, or tilt your furniture for any reason, furniture with attached cushions is more convenient because the cushions will not move.
Attached cushions also will not experience wear and tear quite as fast or extreme as detachable cushions do due to the structural support of the frame. Barring a rip to the cushion caused by a child or a pet, these cushions will generally last longer.
On the flip side (pun intended), are the right choice for someone who wants to be able to clean the cushions without issue. If you would like to be able to fluff and reposition your cushions at your own will, furniture with detachable cushions will be the right fit for you.
Ultimately, the decision is up to you. It is important to know the pros and cons of each cushion type to determine which cushion type is right for you.
In addition, you will not truly know the functionality and comfort level of each cushion type without going into a furniture store to find out for yourself. Regardless of where you choose to furniture shop, we at La-Z-Boy recommend going into the store to find out which cushion type is right for you.
With all you need to know about attachable vs. detachable cushions, you are likely closer to narrowing down your decision on what furniture is best for you. You now know that detachable cushions are easier to clean and replace, while attachable cushions are more resistant to wear and tear and are actually more cost-friendly.
That being said, why not come into a store to find out for yourself?
If you are interested in La-Z-Boy furniture and want to find out more about which cushion type will be right for you, come into one of our La-Z-Boy San Antonio locations. If you have further questions, our design consultants will be happy to assist you in any way you need.