High-quality couches have an average lifespan between 7-15 years. The difference here depends on a number of factors including how many times the piece of furniture is moved, and the severity of traffic to the new couch.
It’s also important to note that as your couch ages, it may experience some signs of wear such as sagging and squeaking, this may indicate when it’s time to buy a new couch. We’ll review those in the next section.
5 Signs it’s Time to Replace Your Couch
1. Couch doesn’t fit your room/space
Sometimes you’ll find that when you move into a new home, some pieces of furniture will either be too big, or too small to fit in your living room or family room at the new place. This is an all too common issue and it may just boil down to selling or donating your existing couch and buying a new one that fits properly in the space.
2. It shakes, bends, or doesn’t feel structurally sound
Another sign it might be time to replace your couch is if it shakes, bends, or doesn’t feel structurally sound. Structural issues and questionable noises are a red flag that your couch is ready to be replaced, particularly the closer it is to it’s 15 year average lifespan.
Some of these warning sounds might be squeaking or creaking in your metal or wood frame. If you’re hearing these sounds or your sofa doesn’t sit quite right anymore, it’s time to replace it.
3. Cushions are flat and won’t fluff up
Sagging seat cushions could be another sign that your couch is ready to be replaced. However, that’s not always the case. If your couch is early on in it’s lifespan, it could just be that your cushions need some TLC.
There are common remedies for sagging cushions like changing out the foam filling or simply fluffing the cushions, but if these don’t work and the couch is considerably old then you should consider replacing your couch.
4. It’s just not comfortable anymore
If your couch isn’t structurally sound and/or the cushions won’t fluff up anymore, then it’s also likely that it’s just not comfortable anymore. This is another signal that it’s probably time to replace your couch.
Even if structural issues and sagging couch cushions aren’t a factor, if your couch simply is not comfortable, then it’s a good idea to swap it out for a more comfortable option.
5. The upholstery is dirty, faded, and/or torn
Another common issue is that direct sunlight and regular use will affect upholstery fabric and add to the wear and tear of your sofa over it’s life expectancy. While you could go the route of reupholstering a fraying sofa, this often isn’t a very cost-effective solution when compared to just replacing the sofa entirely.
On average, fabric costs $5 to $40 per yard with labor ranging from $500 to $900. Total cost to reupholster a standard sofa ranges from $580 to $1,180 while a larger sectional sofa could range from $2,800 to $3,200. So, as you can see, it might be better to opt for a new sofa entirely.
Where to Find a New Sofa
So now you know how long your couch should last and the 5 signs it might be time to replace it. If any of these sound familiar it should be an indicator to you that it may be time to start shopping for a new sofa.
Sofas are an investment. It’s important to shop wisely when it’s time to find a new one. You want to be sure to choose a quality furniture retailer and invest in a sofa that is likely to stay in good condition for the entirety of its lifespan.
At Home of Cozy, we can help you find the best place to buy a couch so you can be confident in your purchase. We can also help you find the right type of sofa for your needs, whether that’s a sectional sofa or a loveseat.