I would not order any down in the seating cushion this always packs and looks awful get a dcaron wrap for seating cushions and down in the back cushions. As for the number of seats, if they are reversible get one.

I love down, and highly recommend it. Get the separate cushions as you can turn them around. One always looks like no one should sit there, and sags in the middle

I have a Mitchell Gold sofa that has down cushions. They are packed and so uncomfortable after 5 years. However I do not believe they are wrapped around a foam core. Do 2 seat cushions

At our store we sell single, double and triple cushion cores for sofas and in all cases we use sterilized down cushion wraps with foam cores. We do have the option of a fiber fill wrap if a customer prefers fiber fill or is concerned about a down allergy. What is essential is that the foam core usually about 5" is a high quality core. We prefer to use Ultracel soy based foam cores as they will last considerably longer, don't have the off gassing of typical petroleum based cores and they are more comfortable. We have had excellent results with these cushions These cores can be purchased from most cushion manufacturers in a variety of densities (weights) and softnesses.

We always asked the weight of the largest family member as this is a determining factor in the choice of cushion core and the longevity of the cushion. Larger people have an tendency to fall into a sofa. A 250 lb person for example can exert as much as 2000 lbs of force on a cushion. We offer 5 cushion options for just this reason.

What type of foam core you order has a direct bearing on the amount of cushions your sofa would have. A bench single seat cushion is a great look and we do sell quite a few of these but the upholstery or leather on a single seat cushion will tend to "puddle" over time and can even become overly wrinkled. If you are looking for a single bench seat for a leather sofa it can be difficult to build a bench seat for the simple fact that it is very difficult to find a single hide that is large enough and perfect enough for a cushion this large. It can be done but it takes careful scrutiny on the part of the person choosing the hide. Most hides are about 50 square feet and filled with imperfections which normally are removed on the cutting table. When we build bench cushions in leather we do often run a seam from front to back in the middle of the cushion. This also helps to prevent puddling. We can however build a cushion without the seam.

I would say choosing one, two or three seat cushions for a sofa is a matter of personal taste. I do think that smaller seat cushions do tend to last longer than a bench seat cushion. But sometimes it's a look that the customer is after. Further if you ever have to replace the cushion or the foam a single cushion is more costly. All in all we probably sell two seat cushions more than anything.

Starting with a high quality foam will go a long way towards increasing the longevity of the bench cushion and is something should be discussed with your retailer.

If you need more information about choosing a cushion configuration, please post here or give us a call.

Disclosure. I am a sales representative for www.cascobayfurniture.com . I have over 30 years experience in the industry and felt that I had some pertinent information to contribute on this topic