How long does a sofa last?

Your sofa goes through a lot over its lifetime, but you can extend its lifespan to well over a decade as long as you take the time to properly care for it.

Sofas are, by their nature, designed to last. As with countless other things however, their exact lifespan depends on how frequently and intensively they’re used. In general, the average sofa will last anywhere between 7 to 15 years, according to the experts at Plumbs, but some can last even longer provided they’re being properly cared for.

If you’re particularly attached to your sofa – as so many people are – then it’s worth being on the lookout for a couple of common signs of wear and tear. Thankfully, very few of them mean a definitive end for your sofa. In fact, as long as you identify them early and promptly take steps to deal with them, you can often keep it looking and feeling at its very best for well over a decade.

With well over 60 years of experience behind them, the team at Plumbs have assembled a quick checklist for you of what to look out for – and what you can do about them!

Flat sofa cushions

It’s a good idea to establish a routine for plumping your cushions regularly, ideally about once a week, as it helps them to stay soft and comfortable. Exactly how long they’ll last often depends at least partially on the type of filling; down fillers and other premium fillings tend to last about a decade, whereas more economical polyester foam and polyurethane last closer to three years. (If you notice that yours have gone a little lumpy, it’s worth considering enlisting the help of a professional upholsterer.)

Worn fabric

Let’s be honest, worn fabric is something of a fact of life. If you’ve had your sofa for long enough, it’s more or less inevitable, especially if you’ve got pets like cats or dogs in the house. If you notice that the fabric on your sofa is getting a little past its prime though, you’ve got several options. The first is obviously to get it professionally reupholstered. Alternatively, you can opt for removable sofa covers, which can provide a quick and easy way to get your sofa looking as good as new again.

Fading fabric

If you notice that your fabric seems to be losing some of its colour or vibrancy, it’s not a trick of the light. Or rather, it is – just not the way you might think. Basically, if your sofa is left in direct sunlight for extended periods of time (weeks, months or even years), then the ultraviolet light can start to break down the bonds in the dye, which can ultimately lead to your sofa losing some of its colour.

Again, there are a couple of measures you could look at to prevent this. One would be to simply rearrange your room so that your sofa is out of the path of direct sunlight at the hottest or brightest times of day – typically between 10am to 3pm. (Very early mornings or later afternoons towards the evenings are generally not quite as intense.)

Now, that’s probably the most effective option, but not always the easiest! Alternatively, you could simply close your curtains at peak times of day, but to put it bluntly, that can sometimes be a little depressing, can’t it? Alternatively, you could simply swap around two or three loose sofa covers in rotation throughout the year, and switch back to your favourites ones once the cooler seasons roll in.

The structure is weakening

When it comes to your living room, there are few things quite as unsettling as hearing a substantial creak from your sofa when you or someone else sits down in it. That kind of noise – often accompanied by general discomfort – can often be a strong sign that the underlying structure is starting to deteriorate. It’s a particularly pressing sign of wear and tear, as it’s the only one on this list that can present the risk of physical harm to people – springs might start to poke up from the fabric, which is especially risky for pets and children, and in extreme cases it may even collapse under the weight of one more people.

The manufacturer’s details will be the most useful reference for deciding how to proceed in these sorts of situations. If it’s a metal frame with staples in it, then it probably needs replacing. If it’s wooden with wooden pins on the other hand, you could probably still choose to have it restored through reupholstery. It’s all up to you!

And if you ever do decide to call on the services of experienced upholstery experts, that’s exactly where companies like Plumbs can help. Its team draws on more than six decades of experience with reupholstery, which extends to made-to-measure fitted curtains and made-to-measure furniture covers, so you can count on them to provide as much or as little help as you need. Request a FREE home visit for expert advice in the comfort of your own home and receive a no obligation quotation from a friendly Plumbs consultant.

ADVERTORIAL