While furniture doesn't have an expiration date like packaged foods, most consumers no longer purchase home furnishings with the plan that they will last forever. Changing tastes, a more mobile society, and more furniture price range options come together to create a new average lifespan of furniture.
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.
How Long Do Couches Last? Sofas last from seven to 20 years, though most cap out at roughly 15. The same goes for loveseats, sectionals and sleepers.
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.
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.
“ 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).
Feel the Padding and Cushions
If you can feel the frame, the upholstery may wear down quickly, and your couch will not be very comfortable to use. Seat cushions should be firm and resilient and fit snugly within the sofa frame. The cushions should regain their shape after you press down and let go.
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.
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.
Leather sofas are incredibly durable and only look better with age. Leather is also pretty odor-resistant; cloth can easily wipe up most stains and spills.
“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.
According to home experts, the average cost of a couch falls between $400–$1,500, but the price depends on a few factors. For instance, what kind of upholstery a sofa is made of.
Storing a couch standing up on its side might seem like an effective way to save space in your storage unit. However, because the furniture does not support weight in this fashion, this will likely cause structural damage. You want to do whatever you can to store the couch upright.
A fabric sofa can last anywhere from five to fifteen years. This is a very broad range, but it's important to keep in mind that the quality of the fabric and construction will determine how long your sofa lasts. Luxury sofas are designed and built with the utmost care and high-quality materials.
Most people don't remember when they bought their upholstered furniture. If you are not good at keeping files, you should write the date on the back of the foam inside your cushion. Consumer Reports magazine recommends replacing your new original foam cushions in the first 3 to 5 years.
However, much like mattresses, you get what you pay for, and as sofa is the most important piece of furniture in a living room, it's worth spending on. 'Taking shortcuts or buying a sofa which doesn't offer comfort and joy always makes for a bad investment,' agrees Suzy McMahon, Buying Director at Sofology.
New Year & Winter Sales
Retailers tend to clear out stock of unwanted furniture to make way for new products. Additionally, winter sales are often held in January, so prices on popular items will be lower than usual.
There's arguably no better time to make that big-ticket furniture purchase for your home than on Black Friday, when a bunch of retailers slash prices on hundreds of items like sofas, armchairs, coffee tables, even mattresses.
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.
The term "couch," believed to be derived from the French word "couche," is used to describe "a piece of furniture with no arms used for lying." On the other hand, Merriam-Webster defines a "sofa" as "a long, upholstered seat usually with arms and a back, and often convertible into a bed."
Cotton is a very popular couch fabric choice since it's comfortable to sit on, resistant to pilling and wear, and easy to clean. Cotton is also quite breathable, making it a good choice in warm climates.
Many people refer to antique settees as the love seat, even though the two might be completely different pieces of furniture. It often has a high back, wooden legs, and sloped arms. A typical settee would have room for sitting only two people and is ideal for the bedroom, dressing room, and the master bath.