If there's one central place for relaxation in the home, it's a nice, clean, comfortable couch. Ideal for snuggling up, but how do you know when its time to replace yours?
Experts say there are a number of telltale signs such as wear and tear, structural issues, and hard-to-shift odors. You may also find your home style or lifestyle has changed since you made your couch purchase, and your current one no longer fits your decor or needs.
I spoke to our interior design experts for their tips on when to start looking for new living room furniture ideas and splash out on a sumptuous new sofa.
5 signs you need a new couch
1. Your couch is no longer comfortable
One of the main purposes of your living room couch is relaxation, so if your couch is no longer comfortable, it's time to replace it.
'Your couch should be a place of rest, but once the comfort's gone, it is time to invest in something new,' says Bradley Montanez, owner and CEO of TableUps. 'Over time, the padding and springs begin to wear down, making your sofa less inviting and less supportive.'
When the cushions no longer provide support, or you find yourself gravitating to different seating options due to discomfort, that's a sign it's worth the time, effort and spend for a new one.
'After years of daily use, foam and padding break down, and you can feel the couch frame,' says Brayden Montgomery, contractor and owner of Vantage Builders. 'Your back will thank you for an upgrade.
If you decide it's time for a refresh, read up about how much you should spend on a new couch. You can also try some DIY repairs if you would prefer to, or have purchased a couch secondhand.
We recommend the GoTo Foam available at Amazon for this, which is ideal for furniture cushions, or you can hire a professional to get it reupholstered.
2. There are visible signs of wear and tear
Another sign that you need a couch is if yours looks visibly tired, worn and weathered.
The key signs to look out for, according to interior designer and CEO of Gorubbishgo Daniel Anderson are:
- Faded fabric due to sun exposure: which will make your couch look 'dingy and outdated'.
- Tears and holes: Not only does this look unpleasant, but can allow dirt and allergens to collect inside if left untreated
- Pilling: Little balls of fuzz on your couch are a sign that the material is wearing out, making it appear 'old and untidy'.
- Stains: Some stains are easy to clean on a couch but others like wax or grease can be stubborn, especially if you have a bright colored couch.
Need to know how to fix sagging couch cushions? 'If your couch has stains, frayed fabric, or rips that you can’t hide with a throw blanket anymore, it’s probably seen better days,' points out Rachel Stringer, professional real estate agent at Raleigh Realty.
'A little wear can add character, sure, but once it gets to the point where it’s making your space look tired and outdated, it’s time to move on. Plus, fabrics tend to wear unevenly, so you might notice one side of your couch looks more beat-up than the other, which throws off the balance of your whole room.'
Visible signs of wear and tear will be particularly likely if you have pets, as scratches and pet hair will accumulate to make your couch look less chic, more shabby.
'If you have a pet, your couch simply doesn’t hold up well because of that,' says Seamus Nally, CEO at TurboTenant. 'Many fabric materials suffer with pets because their claws can catch or their hair can get stuck in the fibers. Materials like leather or tightly-woven fabrics are usually the best choices when you have pets that use your couches.'
We recommend using a vacuum for pet hair regularly, or investing in an LG pet mini nozzle, available at LG, to lift hairs out of the fabric and off your couch.
This bestselling pet hair remover is ideal for cleaning couches, cushions, rugs and pillows, and can be used to clean your car too. It's also sustainable and reusable with no adhesives or sticky tape, so it can be reused again and again.
3. There is a detectable odor
Larry Snider, VP of operations at Casago says, 'If your couch has a permanent odor that you just can’t get rid of, no matter how hard you try, that may be a sign that you need a new one.
'After years of use, from dogs laying on them to sitting on them with dirty clothes and sweaty skin, couches can simply get to the point where the odor is permanent regardless of how well you try to clean them. And, more often than not, the odor is more obvious to guests because we can get used to the smell of our own homes.'
While there are several ways to remove odors from upholstery, if your couch just needs a quick refresh, we recommend using the bestselling Febreze Heavy Duty FABRIC Refresher available at Walmart, which actively cleans the upholstery and banishes odors instead of just masking them.
4. Structural issues
Structural issues which make your couch uncomfortable, or even unsafe, to sit on, such as exposed springs or broken arms are also signs that it's time for a new one, leaving you in need of some living room couch ideas.
To check your couch for structural issues, keep an ear out for creaking or squeaking sounds when you sit down, and watch for wobbly legs.
'A weakened frame could start to impair both safety and stability,' says Anderson. 'A settee with wobbly legs is precarious and will spoil the general outlook of your living room, so requires an immediate solution.'
5. Your style or needs have changed
Finally, if your couch no longer fits your style or needs, for example, if your family has recently grown, or you have welcomed a furry friend into your home, it might be time for a new one.
Punteha van Terheyden, head of solved at Homes & Gardens adds, 'We needed a new sofa after having our baby as she had reflux and there was a lot of mess in that first year of feeding. We waiting till her symptoms had calmed down, and then invested in a darker sofa to survive her toddler years and two new cats. It was a really good move on our end and worked out brilliantly for us.'
Alternatively, you might want to upgrade, or try something different like a curved couch, which I love for their uniqueness.
'Finally, consider your evolving style or lifestyle needs,' says Anderson. 'You’ve refreshed your home and rearranged your furniture, or maybe your family circumstances have changed: a new pet or a baby has arrived. It may be quite a difference to upgrade to a couch that fits the space you have and your requirements; so it is important that your living space retains value as an expression of individualism.'
How much you should spend on a couch differs, but a couch that once felt chic and perfect for your home may now feel dated, or even clash with your home's evolving decor.
'Design trends evolve,' says Elissa Hall, lead designer at Awning, 'and so do personal tastes. Sometimes, a couch upgrade is simply about aligning your furniture with your vision for your space. I often advise that if you're consistently redecorating around your couch, trying to make it fit, it might be time to consider a replacement that better reflects your style.'
FAQs
How often should you replace a couch?
Generally speaking, you should aim to replace your couch every seven to 15 years, but your sofa's life may be extended or shortened by factors such as children and dogs, as well as the materials used to make it, and how well it was made.
For advice on how to buy the right couch, check out which factors to consider.
What type of couch lasts longest?
Couches aren't a cheap investment, so if you want one that will stand the test of time, opt for leather.
While it can be harder to repair a leather couch when ripped, they can be wiped clean easily and look better with age.
If you've decided it's time for an upgrade, our couch choosing tips can help guide you to your perfect purchase.
