By Paul Vaughan
Special design features at DFS
Movie marathons in bed? Kick-back comfort with a drink by your side? At DFS, our furniture goes the extra mile with special features to create your ultimate relaxation space.
From wireless charging and bluetooth audio, to memory recliners and heated seats, these special features take your comfort to the next level – but they also come with additional considerations.
Read on for our advice on using your special furniture features safely, along with other important information for use.
1. Assembly and installation
First things first, you should always read all documents included with your DFS furniture in full before you get to work on assembly and installation.
We highly recommend that you take the time to carefully read the assembly, operating, and safety warnings for the special features of your furniture. These are written to ensure that you’re using your fancy features safely, and that you’re aware of any dos and don’ts to avoid causing accidental damage to the furniture or features. Don’t forget to make your family members aware of the operating and safety instructions, too – especially if they’ll be using it when you’re not around. We do not advise you dismantle any type of furniture or electrical parts.
When it’s time to assemble, we recommend enlisting the help of another adult – friend, family member, or a neighbour bribed by a cuppa – to get things set up. Follow the assembly instructions carefully and take your time.
2. Upholstery and interiors
It’s important to keep in mind that different pieces will have different characteristics, and different maintenance and safety requirements as a result. For example, non-foam seating interiors, like fibre and feather mixes, are designed to offer a soft and comfortable sit. These natural and synthetic fillings create a baggier style of cushion, promising a more relaxed, ‘lived-in’ look to your chair or sofa, which will need plumping more regularly than their foam counterparts.
Staying on top of plumping and smoothing is essential to your sofa looking great for longer. For more tips on caring for your new piece, read our upholstery guide below.
3. Electrical and powered features
Many of the added features in the DFS range include electric components – most notably, the power recliners in our motion furniture collection. As with any electrical product, you need to operate these features with care. Children under 4 years old should not operate DFS furniture, and children over 4 years old should always be supervised by an adult.
Always practice caution operating any motion furniture, like reclining seats, headrests, and footrests, to avoid trapped fingers – please refer to model safety advisories, and always monitor that wires and cables are not left loose or trapped by moving parts.
Some of our sumptuous sofa ranges offer special features like Bluetooth speakers, reading lights, and wireless chargers, which should be handled and operated carefully. These features are often located in console units or drop-down tables in arm’s reach on your sofa, so you should be particularly careful to avoid spillages and damage to these delicate components.
Equally, heated seats should be turned off when not in use; many of our ranges featuring heated seats include a safety shut-off function after 60 minutes of use, but please refer to the specific guidance in your furniture’s care guide. We advise all users not to sit on heated seats with bare skin or for great lengths of time, and to carefully monitor children’s use of this feature – children should not use any features without adult supervision.
You should also avoid leaving any three-pin, USB, or wireless chargers turned on or attached to your furniture when not in use. Once a device or electronic item has been used or fully charged, you should disconnect it from the furniture to avoid electrical fire risk or electrocution.
Some charging wires or devices may not be compatible with the USB/USB-C ports, wireless charging pads and Bluetooth speakers included in your furniture. To avoid melted wires or electrical fires, always research whether your device can be connected or charged safely via the furniture – you should be able to find this information on your device or in the information booklet received with your piece. Wireless charging points are made of plastic, so ensure no metal accessories are used that could become hot and cause damage to the platform.
For devices like vape pens or other similar electronics, please check the device information before attempting to charge with your furniture, specifically any advisories regarding wattage output. Standard USB 2 outputs are a 5-volt and 2 to 2.5 output of electricity, and this may not be safely compatible with all devices that support USB charging.
If your furniture features a refrigerator, please note that these are designed for cooling drinks whilst in use only. They should not be left on continuously or used to store open or fresh food. Food in sealed packaging – like an unopened chocolate bar for your movie marathon – can be safely cooled.
4. Storage and cup holders
You’ll find lots of space-saving storage solutions in our sofa ranges. To ensure you’re safely making the most of your storage features, avoid storing items heavier than 5KG in drawers and storage spaces, as this can damage motion features.
If your furniture includes standard cup holders or those with added cooling features, then you should only use that space for holding drinks. Under no circumstances should cooling cup holders be used to distinguish flames or smouldering heat sources. Heavy or awkwardly-shaped objects can also damage the cup holder, rendering it unusable and voiding your warranty. Please also ensure cooling devices are switched off when not in use and refer to specific guidance in your furniture’s care guide.
The same goes for furniture with built-in or foldaway tables. Always pull these features out carefully, use only as intended and avoid any spillages.
5. Surroundings and environment
Besides considerations around the furniture itself, you should also be aware of potential hazards and risks in your home.
Our special furniture features are not designed to be played with or treated as a toy. As such, children and pets should always be supervised around DFS furniture, ensuring there’s no damage or injury caused by uncontrolled usage like climbing or jumping on the furniture.
In terms of more general hazards, be mindful to keep reading lights, lamps and heat sources a suitable distance away from furniture, and turn these off when not in use. Prolonged exposure to light and heat can cause damage to your sofa’s upholstery and electrical features.
6. Connectivity, screens and apps
Due to the wide range of devices available globally, not all devices are compatible with our sofas with wireless or Bluetooth speaker technology. Please ensure you research your device’s compatibility before making any purchase; we are unable to control this element of your experience.
Some of our ranges with Bluetooth require a password, which you can find on your furniture itself. If you lose this password or forget it over time, get in touch with our handy customer service team for assistance.
Where screens are used, please be mindful of screen time and take necessary precautions to protect your eyes. Don’t use your screen as a cupholder or side table, and please do not allow children to stand or play on the screen as this may cause damage. Similarly, if your furniture can be controlled by an app, please ensure that this is not downloaded or used by children.
7. QR codes for care guides and advisories
We’re in the process of working with our global partners to apply QR codes to all DFS products with care guides and advisories. Please look out for a QR code on your furniture to find product information attached permanently for your reference. If you ever sell your DFS piece onto a new home, this information will be extremely useful for your sofa’s new owners.
Regardless of the fancy feature your furniture includes, it’s vital that you assemble and operate the furniture with due care. If you want a technical consultation to find out more about the potential hazards, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the DFS customer service team.
Alternatively, if you want this special design features guide always on hand, download a PDF copy to your device below.
