Sitting is something we often do, but don’t think much of. Unless the seat you are sitting on is uncomfortable. Sofa cushions sag and lose their ability to return to form as they age. This makes for an uncomfortable experience when sitting. No one wants that. Luckily, deteriorated foam cushions are replaceable.
With over 60 years of experience in the foam and upholstery industry, we are here to inform you on what is the best foam for sofa cushions. The foam used in a cushion is one of the most important factors in determining the comfort and lifespan of your sofa. The lifespan of a foam cushion is primarily dependent on the quality of the foam. A foam’s weight (density) determines its quality. Each foam has a weight to it, and typically, the higher the weight the better. Let’s go over the different foams used in sofa cushions.
Best Foam Cushion – High Resilience Foam
When it comes to the best foam for sofa cushions, High Resilience foam claims the title. It provides the most comfortable seat cushion and offers the highest longevity. Many different types of expensive furniture and yacht cushions often use this excellent quality foam. High Resilience foam is one of the heaviest foams on our list, at 3.0 lb. per cubic ft. The minimum qualifying weight to be classified as High Resilience is 2.5 lb. per cubic ft.
It is very buoyant and resilient, giving it high responsiveness. That means that it will return to its original shape quickly after compression. This is ideal for those that want more bounce in their cushions. With an open-cell structure, High Resilience foam is very springy but still offers sturdy support. It will also last a long time, between eight to ten years, as it begins to soften.
Good Quality Foam Cushion – Lux Foam
Lux foam is a good quality foam. It is an upgrade over the Industrial Grade High Density foam normally found in average foam cushions. It is ideal for those wanting a firmer foam and is also a heavier foam, weighing 2.2 lb. per cubic ft. Similar to High Resilience foam, Lux foam has a quick return action. That means it will return to its original shape quickly after compression. It is also a durable foam and able to support various everyday applications. Bench cushions and camping pads can also use Lux foam. It is cheaper than High Resilience foam but is of better quality than Industrial Grade High Density and Commercial Grade Polyurethane foam. Lux foam is a good choice for its quality to price ratio. It should last for approximately six years.
Is Alkhair Foam Good for Sofa Cushions?
Alkhair foam is an excellent quality foam when it comes to mattresses. However, this does not necessarily translate well into sofa cushions. Granted, if you were to lay on your sofa with Alkhair foam cushions, it would be very comfortable. However, there are some problems. After you get up from lying or sitting on it, your sofa will be covered in wrinkles for several minutes. This is because Alkhair foam is slow to recover to its original height. There is also the price. Alkhair foam is more expensive than the other foam grades described so far. As such, furniture manufacturers do not use Alkhair foam in the production of seat cushions. Furniture cushions will only contain Alkhair foam if they are custom built.
We do not recommend solid Alkhair foam cushions. They would be too squishy, floppy, heavy, and slow to return to their original form. If you want to go the Alkhair foam route, we recommend a 1 to 2-inch thick cushion topper. This Alkhair foam topper would then be glued to your other bought or existing cushion core. We recommend High Resilience foam as it is very compatible with Alkhair foam. If both sides of your cushion are to be used, place Alkhair foam on both the top and bottom of your cushion core. We recommend a center cushion foam firmness of medium-firm to firm. The center foam will perform the expansion necessary to keep the cushion cover tight. It will also provide the stability necessary to keep the cushion from being floppy.