Sofas last from seven to 20 years, though most cap out at roughly 15. The same goes for loveseats, sectionals and sleepers.
While the average sofa should last between 7 and 15 years, signs of wear and tear are likely to appear before then – especially if it's a well-loved sofa. Luckily, there are ways you can make your sofa appear just as beautiful as the day you bought it.
1. How often should you replace a sofa? The common consensus is that an average sofa will remain in prime condition for around seven years, after which a drop-off will begin. A top-quality sofa might even see you through 15 years of family life, but even that will succumb to sagging eventually.
Leather is a durable choice, as well as high-quality fabrics. Woven patterns will last longer than printed, and higher thread counts with tight weaves are worthy of consideration. If you have pets, microfiber fabrics are a great choice—they are stain resistant and will last a long time.
All sofas are not created equal, which makes it hard to put an expiration date on yours, but you can expect to hold on to yours for anywhere from seven to 15 years.
Make sure to search for labels, stamps, or manufacturing tags that can tell when and where a piece was made. Furniture companies and makers often listed their names, locations, and year of production This information can be found on the inside of drawers, the backs of bureaus, and on the lower edges of pieces.
Firm luxury sofas are made from springs or coils, which provide excellent support throughout the entire seat area. These sofas tend to be more durable and last longer than soft sofas.
Reupholstering a sofa or buying new both have their pros and cons. Reupholstering tends to be an easier process than buying new, as the cost to reupholster a sofa is often less than buying new and it can save you some time. However, buying new can be desired if you want to try a new style or shape of sofa.
Invest in a couch that you can use for years to come.
"Even though there are cheap options for lounging areas in your space, a couch is one piece of furniture that, if you want to keep it for a long time, you should definitely spend some bucks on," they told Insider.
So here's your first tip: anything under $699 is considered an inexpensive sofa. $799–$1,999 is the average you'll pay for one sofa. Any sofa within the $2,000–$3,000 is considered “higher-end”.
“You can spend $4,000 if you want a high-quality sofa, but in reality there are lots of companies where you can get a $2,000 sectional that will look good in five years' time,” she says. Here are a few things to look out for to be sure you're getting the most bang for your seating-area buck.
A $300 to $1,500 couch is usually a small 2- or 3-seater with lackluster (often mass-produced) craftsmanship. Your new sofa may not last more than five to ten years (more if you take good care of it), but it should provide a comfy starting point for your family. Mid-Range ($1,500 to $3,000).
The Best Times to Score a Deal on a New Sofa
While the best time of year for buying furniture depends on which type of furniture you're buying, when it comes to sofas and sectionals specifically, the best months to buy and save money are January, February, August and September.
If both sides of your cushion are to be used, place Memory foam on both the top and bottom of your cushion core. We recommend a center cushion foam firmness of medium-firm to firm. The center foam will perform the expansion necessary to keep the cushion cover tight.
Leather is a thick and durable material that can be easily cleaned and spills can be wiped away with ease, whereas fabric can wear more easily and stain or become tatty easily. Because of this, leather sofas do tend to last longer than fabric sofas and are easier to maintain.
An 18th-century design that has never gone out of style, a camelback sofa is characterized by the graceful lines of its dramatically arched back. Camelback sofas are versatile enough that they're well suited for both ornate, classical designs as well as a more modern design ethos, or even a “shabby chic” look.
Traditional Style Sofa
The traditional three-seat sofa is the classic sofa style that comes to mind most often and it's one of the most popular.
Research the Value of Your Items
Typically, used furniture will sell for 20-50 percent of its original sale price. This is higher for some pieces and lower for others. A couch that is noticeably worn will sell for less than a desk that still has a fashionable style and lacks any damage.
“ Engraving, French, 1686. This is the earliest image of a sofa: it shows a prototype that was in production in 1686 — a low-backed style called a canapé (still the most common French term for sofa).
The best way to test the quality of a sofa is to sit on it and bounce up and down. You should always test the quality of seating support by sitting on a sofa before you buy it. It shouldn't sag, and it should provide good support in the seat and in the back. The most common filling is high-density polyurethane.
There are a few factors that can help distinguish the quality; for example, the overall weight, frame/foundation, spring system, seat cushion foam and upholstery fabric all play a huge role in the quality of a sofa or chair.