Eight-Way Hand-Tied Springs – The Secret to Schplendid Comfort

We’ve revived the lost art of eight-way hand-tied springs. It’s incredibly time-consuming and tricky, but there’s a very good reason why we insist…

Hardly anyone does this any more: virtually no modern sofas are built with eight-way hand-tied coil springs, and certainly no mass-produced ones.

It’s a traditional method that demands patience and skill – the kind of work that can’t be automated, which is why most furniture factories quietly abandoned it decades ago in favour of cheaper, easier zig-zag springs.

At Schplendid, we’ve brought it back. Because if you want true comfort in your sofa – that hard-to-describe, sort of endlessly buoyant feeling that makes you go 'aaaaah' – there’s simply no alternative. Here’s why.

What is an eight-way hand-tied spring system?

Every sofa sits on some kind of spring bed – the hidden structure beneath the cushions that carries your weight and determines how the seat feels.

In most modern sofas, that structure is made from what’s called a zig-zag or serpentine spring system. These are continuous strips of wavy metal stretched from front to back of the frame and stapled in place. It’s quick, cheap and requires little skill: a worker can learn to install them in minutes. Because the whole base acts as one big piece, there’s no real control over how the springs behave – they flex as a block, not as a responsive surface. Over time they lose tension, and the seat starts to sag or dip.

An eight-way hand-tied coil spring system is the polar opposite. Instead of a single sheet of metal, it’s a network of individual steel coil springs, each one set into position on a solid beechwood frame. Across the frame, our makers first stretch tough jute webbing, creating a tight, breathable foundation. Then every coil spring is fixed onto that webbing and tied by hand with jute twine — not just once, but eight times: front, back, side-to-side, and on the diagonals.

The result is a matrix of springs that move together but not uniformly: a kind of living suspension that adapts to your body. When one spring compresses, its neighbours respond in harmony.

It’s an extremely skilled craft. The pattern of knots, tension and alignment has to be exact or the seat will feel uneven. Our upholsterers go through dedicated training to master it and are proud of the skill: it’s a process that takes years to perfect.

As Rohan puts it: “It looks complicated – a whole network of string tying springs together – but it’s also quite beautiful.”

So why on earth do we bother?

There are two reasons we go to so much trouble with our springs…

1) Precisely-calibrated comfort

We can fine-tune the spring bed for human bodies

A zig-zag spring base behaves like one big trampoline. When you sit down, the entire section flexes as a single piece of metal. There’s no way to adjust how firm or soft different parts of the seat feel — you get one uniform level of bounce from edge to edge. It’s fine for mass production, but comfort-wise it’s a blunt instrument.

An eight-way hand-tied spring system, by contrast, allows for extraordinary control. Because every spring is tied individually, our makers can tune the tension in different areas of the sofa. The springs at the front edge – under your thighs – are tied a little tighter for firmer lift and better posture. The springs at the back are looser, so you can gently sink into the seat.

This hand-calibration gives the sofa a balance that no sheet of zig-zag steel can match: firm where you need support, yielding where you want softness. The whole structure moves as one responsive network, flexing subtly with your weight and returning gracefully to shape.

It’s engineering, but done by hand. And when you sit down, you feel it instantly: not the dull, flat give of foam, but more of a smooth, buoyant suspension that almost seems to understand you personally…

2) Natural durability

The spring system is robust enough to last a lifetime

A good spring system shouldn’t just feel right on day one – it should still feel right in thirty years.

Our coil springs are made of high-grade steel and anchored with jute twine to the beech frame – all natural, breathable, and repairable materials. There’s no foam or fibre to crumble, no plastic clips to snap. Properly made, this foundation can last a lifetime (and if a spring ever does go, it can be replaced individually).

We top the spring system with layers of coconut husk and wool, which add breathability and softness while keeping everything 100% natural and biodegradable.

It’s comfort engineered for people – and much better for the planet, too.

How we make it affordable

You’d expect eight-way hand-tied springs to belong in the ‘eye-wateringly expensive’ sofa club – and normally, they do. That’s because they take hours of skilled labour and a lot of high-quality materials. For most brands, that’s an immediate no-go.

But Schplendid prices work differently. We don’t multiply margins or inflate costs. When we choose to spend more on something – whether it’s sustainable, ethical goose down, pure Italian linen or these hand-tied springs – we simply pass on the actual extra cost, not a percentage of it.

And because we don’t have showrooms, sales teams or expensive advertising, we can pour every spare penny into the thing that really matters: your sofa.

So you get a spring system that only the top 1% of makers still use — without the top 1% price tag. Read more about our unique pricing model here.

The Schplendid difference

Of course we could have gone the easy way. But “easy” doesn’t make comfort like this. Our eight-way hand-tied springs take time, skill, and care, and they transform every sofa into something rather remarkable: a piece of living engineering that supports you just Schplendidly, year after year.

Sofa springs FAQs

Why is it called “eight-way hand-tied”?
Because each spring is lashed in eight directions — front, back, side-to-side and diagonally — connecting it to every neighbour. It forms a web of springs that move together in harmony.

How is this different from zig-zag springs?
Zig-zags are just wavy strips of metal stapled across a frame. They’re cheap and fast, but they can’t distribute weight evenly and lose tension over time. Hand-tied coil springs respond together, giving balanced, enduring comfort.

Is it really that hard to make?
Yes. Each set takes hours and can only be done by a skilled craftsperson. We trained our own team specially for it — it’s a niche skill most of the industry has forgotten.

Can you actually feel the springs?
No. They’re cushioned by natural layers and our down-filled cushions. What you feel is the smooth, buoyant suspension of the entire network working together.

Do they last longer?
Decades longer. Properly tied coil springs can last a lifetime, and if one fails, it can be repaired individually — unlike zig-zag systems which tend to collapse as a whole.

Comparison: Schplendid springs versus the industry standard

Feature	Schplendid Way	Industry Standard
Spring type	Individually placed steel coil springs, each tied in eight directions by hand	Zig-zag or serpentine springs – wavy metal strips stapled across a frame
Construction time	Hours – each seat built by a trained craftsperson	Minutes – can be fitted by an unskilled worker
Tension control	Fully tuneable – tension adjusted spring-by-spring for perfect balance	None – springs flex as one unit
Frame material	FSC-certified beech hardwood, webbed with natural jute	Often softwood or plywood
Support feel	Even, buoyant support that adapts and endures	Bouncy at first, then sags over time
Repairability	Individual springs can be replaced – built for longevity	Usually needs full replacement if it fails
Lifespan	Decades – a lifetime with minimal loss of comfort	5–10 years before noticeable fatigue
Craft value	Highly skilled upholstery craft, revived by Schplendid	Fast, anonymous factory work