Luxury Buying · Knowledge Centre
By Rohan Shah, SOISU Furniture · 28 September 2026
Direct Answer
A good furniture specification sheet names every material that decides comfort and durability, by type and grade, and gives every dimension that decides fit. For a sofa or recliner that means: frame material and construction; seat build, such as webbing, springs or both; foam type and density for seat and back; upholstery type, supplier code and colour; overall dimensions plus seat height, seat depth and arm height; for recliners, manual or motorised mechanism and the number of motors; and leg material and finish. Read the sheet as a list of promises. Anything named can be checked later. Anything described with an adjective, such as "premium", "high density" or "imported", cannot. Compare two quotes line by line; if one sheet is missing a line, ask for it before comparing prices. A specification is only useful if it is attached to your order and signed, so the piece delivered can be checked against it. Sellers do not have to disclose their suppliers or internal processes, and many will not, but the materials and dimensions of the piece you are buying should be on paper.
The frame line should name the material: solid wood (and which), plywood (and its grade), engineered board, metal, or a combination. It may note how joints are made. The seat build line should say what supports the cushion: elastic webbing, sinuous (zig-zag) springs, pocket springs, or a combination. These parts are hidden once the piece is upholstered, so the sheet is the only record. If a seller cannot tell you what the frame is made of, treat that as an answer.
Foam should be named by type, such as high-resilience (HR) foam, standard polyurethane foam, memory foam or latex, and by density, stated as a number in kg/m³. Seat and back cushions often use different foams, and the sheet should list both. If fibre, feather or a fibre wrap sits over the foam, that should be listed too, because it changes feel and upkeep. Cushions sagging within months is a common complaint pattern among Indian buyers, and the foam line is where that risk is set.
The upholstery line should say what the material is, such as fabric, velvet, bouclé, real leather, artificial composite leather or PU, and give the material's code and colour name from the swatch you chose. A code lets you check the delivered piece against the swatch and order matching material for repairs. For fabric, ask whether covers are removable. For leather-look materials, the sheet should state plainly whether the material is real hide or man-made.
Overall width, depth and height tell you whether the piece fits the room and the delivery route. Seat height tells you how easy it is to sit down and stand up, which matters for older family members. Seat depth tells you whether shorter or taller people will sit comfortably with feet on the floor. Arm height and width affect both comfort and usable seat length. For recliners, the sheet should also give the depth when fully reclined and the clearance needed behind, so it does not hit the wall.
For recliners, the mechanism line should say manual or motorised, how many motors, and what functions they drive, such as footrest, backrest or headrest. From 1 October 2026, "Furniture with Electrically Motorized Parts" is listed by BIS under IS 302 (Part 1):2024 through the electrical appliances QCO (S.O. 1739(E), 6 April 2026), with later dates for small and micro enterprises. This applies to the finished product, so ask the seller about the product's certification status, not just the motor's. Check the current notification on bis.gov.in, as of September 2026. Legs should be named by material and finish, with height.
Key Facts
Related Questions
Luxury Buying
What Should You Get in Writing Before Paying a Furniture Advance in India?
Materials
How to Read a Foam Density Certificate When Buying Sofas in India?
Materials
What Is the Best Sofa Frame Material for Indian Conditions?
Luxury Buying
How to Judge Sofa Quality in an Indian Showroom?
Materials
What Is Artificial Composite Leather, and Is It Right for Your Sofa?
SOISU furniture is designed for Indian conditions — Italian design discipline, built for how India lives. WhatsApp us during showroom hours and we reply within the hour.