Hotel Lobby and Lounge Seating: Sofas, Lounge Chairs and Feature Pieces Made to Your Specification

Hotel lobby and lounge seating (sofas, lounge chairs, ottomans and feature pieces) is judged by designers and operators on how it looks and how it wears, so it is best quoted from a written specification and an approved sample rather than from a photograph. The frame, the cushion build and the covering each need a line in the schedule, because that is where a quotation can quietly differ from what the designer intended.

FBM Furniture works with companies only: Developers · General Contractors · Builders · Commercial Project Owners · Interior Design & Construction Companies · FF&E Solution Providers. Send the area schedule, designer drawings, quantities and the project location, so we can compare the same specification line by line.

Product scope

• Sofas, lounge chairs and ottomans for hotel lobbies, lounges and waiting areas
• Feature pieces made to a designer drawing, such as curved sofas, banquettes and statement chairs
• Reception and lobby side tables and coffee tables that sit with the seating
• Upholstery in your fabric (COM) or in a covering proposed for your approval

Guestroom seating, restaurant booths and outdoor lounge pieces come from different production lines. See our pages on public area and restaurant furniture, contract seating and upholstery and outdoor furniture.

What to specify before requesting quotes

Schedule field	What to record
Item code and quantity	One code per sofa, chair or table type, with the quantity per area, floor or phase.
Drawing	The designer drawing or plan and elevation for each item, with the drawing number, overall dimensions and the dimensions that must be held.
Frame	Frame material, joint method and any reinforcement, described in writing for the model quoted.
Seat and back build	Foam, webbing, springs or other support, and how cushions are made, filled and attached.
Covering	Covering reference, who supplies it (you or the factory), pattern direction and matching, and the approved sample it is judged against.
Legs and base	Material, finish code, glides or fixings, and whether the base protects the floor.
Finish samples	A finished sample of wood, metal or stone details, approved against the item code.
Fixing and movement	Free-standing, fixed to the floor or wall, or joined in a run, and how the pieces are moved into place.
Evidence required	The test report or declaration the project specification asks for, with its edition, for the model offered and the destination named.
Packing	How each piece is protected and marked by area and item code, and which parts ship separately.

The table is a checklist. Add a line for anything your project needs that is not listed, such as a spare covering allowance.

Frame, foam and covering are three separate lines

A sofa that looks right in the sample can still be quoted with a lighter frame, a thinner foam or a different covering. Ask each factory to describe all three in the quotation for the exact model, and compare the descriptions item by item. Record the approved sample as the reference for bulk production, and treat any change of frame, foam or covering as a new item that needs your written approval before production.

Feature pieces and designer drawings

Feature pieces are made to the drawing, so the drawing is the specification. Mark the dimensions you want held, the materials and finishes, and the details a designer cares about most, such as curves, seams and stitching. Ask the factory for shop drawings and a sample of the key detail, and approve them before production starts. Our guide to samples, finishes and approvals sets out the approval sequence.

Covering, matching and COM

Say whether you supply the covering or the factory proposes one. If you supply it, state how much arrives and when; if the factory proposes one, require a physical sample and the covering reference. Where a pattern must match across cushions or pieces, say so in the schedule and approve a cutting before the fabric is used for bulk production.

Name the rules in the specification

The rules that apply to upholstered seating depend on the destination, the building and the materials. Name the requirement in the specification and ask each factory what evidence it can provide for the exact model offered. Our United States, Canada and Australia and New Zealand compliance pages explain how we approach the main rules. Your specifier or certifier decides what applies to your project.

What to request from the factory

• Shop drawings for each item code, with the dimensions confirmed against your schedule.
• A description of the frame, the foam and support, and the covering for each model.
• A finished sample of each covering and key finish.
• Evidence the specification asks for, issued for the model offered and the destination named.
• A packing and marking description by area and item code, and a statement of any proposed substitution for approval before production.

Send the schedule, drawings and quantities together. For the wider range, see public area and restaurant furniture and our case on reception tables and sofas for Australian office projects. Our case studies show projects we have managed.

FBM Furniture is the furniture-focused team of FBM Sourcing, which manages the entire China procurement package for overseas construction projects. FBM Sourcing’s hotel lobby furniture procurement guide covers the supply side. Our minimum order is a full container; items from several factories can share one container.

Frequently asked questions

What should a lobby seating specification include?

Give the area schedule with item codes and quantities, the frame and joint construction, the seat and back build, the covering reference with an approved sample, the leg or base finish, and how pieces are fixed or moved. Add the evidence the project requires, with its edition, so every factory quotes the same piece.

Can we supply our own fabric for lobby sofas and lounge chairs?

Yes. Say in the brief whether you supply the covering (COM) or the factory proposes one, and record the covering reference against the item code. A proposed covering needs your written approval before production.

How are feature pieces made to a designer drawing?

Send the designer drawing with dimensions, materials and finishes marked, and ask the factory for shop drawings and a sample of the key detail before production. Record each approval against the same item code.

What should we do about foam, frames and fire requirements?

Name the requirement that applies to the destination in the specification and ask each factory what evidence it can provide for the exact model offered. Your specifier or certifier decides what applies; our compliance pages explain how we approach the main rules.

How does FBM Furniture charge for lobby and lounge seating?

For suppliers you nominate, we charge a 5% commission; for products we source for you, we quote a direct price. Our own team performs one inspection after bulk production is complete and before shipment, and your team is welcome to attend.