Upholstery Tip #28: Loose Seat Springing

Chairs that have a separate seat cushion sitting over a sprung base are often called loose seat chairs. These are different to fixed seat chairs, where the cushion and springs are all part of the same structure. With a loose seat, if there is a spring system underneather it, it must be flat and even. That is so the cushion has a level base to sit on.

To achieve this, the coil springs are carefully lashed to sit at the same height. A top edge wire is often added around the outer edge to help hold the springs in shape. Once the springing is tied off and checked for level, a layer of hessian is stretched over the top and stapled lightly to the inside edges of the frame. This creates a firm, supportive platform for the separate cushion – without bumps or wobble.