A Study on Multiple Criteria for User Preferences in Sofa Fabric Selection: Based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process

Abstract

The global home furnishing consumer market is upgrading. As a result, furniture purchasing is shifting towards personalization and high quality. Sofas are a major furniture item. Users face numerous considerations when choosing one, and the selection of sofa fabric is a significant issue. Consumers often struggle to weigh these attributes without scientific decision-making support tools. This study uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to propose a user preference weighting model for sofa fabric purchases, addressing this challenge. User interviews revealed the main considerations for sofa fabrics. These included durability, maintainability, comfort, aesthetics, safety and environmental protection, and price. A questionnaire survey collected 314 valid responses. AHP quantified the relative importance of the indicators and constructed a data-driven user preference model. This model innovates by abandoning the traditional expert weighting approach. Instead, it uses user survey data and the AHP method to quantify the preference weights of consumer groups, creating a more realistic and market-driven model. This study underpins the development of systematic tools for sofa fabric selection. More importantly, it introduces a new, user data-driven approach for applying Multi-Criterion Decision Making (MCDM) theory to broader consumer decision-making.