Moving home, restyling your space or simply looking to invest in a new design piece are all reasons you might be looking to buy a new sofa. Read on if you’re looking to upgrade your sofa, are worried about its structural integrity or just can’t tell if you need a new one. Plus, discover some of the ways you can recycle your old sofa.
How Long Should a Sofa Last?
There’s no hard and fast rule with how long a sofa should last, but a well-made sofa will typically last at least 15 years. You may notice the sofa deteriorating after it passes the seven-year mark, but it still has plenty of good years left in it. That isn’t to say all sofas will last this amount of time. A cheaply made sofa will probably need replacing sooner, whereas a premium sofa could last a lifetime.
In fact, we offer a lifetime guarantee on all our sofa frames, that’s how confident we are in their quality.
How to Tell If You Need a New Sofa
A creaking frame, tired upholstery and long-gone support will all have you hunting for a new sofa. However, there are plenty more reasons you might be looking for a replacement. Read on to discover some of them.
1. If your sofa doesn’t fit your home properly
When people move home, they tend to take their sofas with them. After all, the sofa was probably an investment, it suits their style and there’s plenty of memories associated with it. But for all the same reasons, many people cling onto their old sofa, even when it isn’t right for their space.
Perhaps the old sofa is too large for your new living room. Or a growing family could mean you need an even larger sofa. Maybe your old sofa is so deep it leaves little space to walk past it. Or perhaps you found yourself with one-too-many sofas and it’s time to whittle down your collection. Whatever the reason, if your old sofa isn’t cutting the mustard then it may be time to invest in a new one.
2. If your sofa doesn’t offer enough support
When you bought your sofa, it was probably ergonomically designed and offered brilliant padding and support. However, this tends to get worse over the years and can make your sofa uncomfortable. Not only is this bad for your body and posture, but a supportless sofa also makes for unpleasant sitting. If this is the case with your sofa, you might need a new one.
If you still like your sofa and its upholstery is in good condition, then you could always get it restuffed. Going to a specialist upholsterer is by far the best way to do this. Not only do they know their craft, but they’ll also know the best materials to use. You can always try refilling it yourself if your sofa has removable covers, but we’d definitely suggest finding a specialist.
3. If your interior design tastes have changed
Trends and tastes change over time, so it’s no wonder your sofa might feel outdated now. Perhaps it’s got a huge floral pattern that was fashionable in the 80s but not today. Or maybe you opted for a colour that was ‘in’ ten years ago that you can’t stand in 2021. Either way, if you really don’t like your old sofa anymore, it’s probably time for a new one.
When choosing your next sofa, we recommend taking your time to find one that you know you’ll love for years. Once you’ve found the perfect sofa, you could even sleep on the idea for a week or so, just to be sure.
Don’t just take your old sofa to the skip, there are plenty of second-hand shops or resale websites where it can find a new home. Just because it isn’t to your taste, that doesn’t mean someone else won’t love it.
4. If your sofa’s upholstery has seen better days
If your upholstery is looking a little worse for wear, that suggests you may need a new sofa. Sofas go through a lot; from kids bouncing on it to years and years of pets snuggling up with you. Repairing the odd fray or repadding it can help in the short term, but both could be signs your upholstery is on the way out. And potentially your sofa with it.
If you still love the silhouette and style of your sofa, then reupholstering it is a great option. We’d highly recommend enlisting the services of a specialist reupholstery company to take on the task. Sure, you can give it a go yourself, but since upholstery fabric can get quite pricey, any mistake you make could be pretty pricey.
Once you’ve invested in a new sofa or reupholstering your existing sofa, there are ways to keep it looking as good as new. For example, direct sunlight can fade your sofa’s upholstery and weaken the fabric’s structure. One way to prevent this is to move the sofa to a new position every year or so. This helps to make sure the sofa gets an even amounts of sunlight. Spillages are also big concerns for upholstery. To prevent staining, spot clean each spillage as soon as possible. Then, a professional upholstery cleaning every few years will keep the sofa in good nick and help with any odours.
5. If your sofa won’t stop creaking
If you sit down on your sofa and hear it creaking or making popping noises, its structure might be damaged. If possible, take a look under the sofa to check everything looks ok. Or you could enlist the services of a furniture specialist to offer their professional opinion. Unfortunately fixing a sofa’s structural damage can be a costly process so a new sofa might be on the cards.
If you have a new sofa that’s already creaking, don’t panic. New furniture will often creak or squeak to begin with. That’s because it’s adjusting to use, the room’s temperature and the sofa’s suspension system. It should subside in a few weeks or so.
Investing in a new sofa? Check out our collection.
Need help removing your old sofa? We can help, in partnership with Clearabee and British Heart Foundation.