Jaime HayIn a world where most people are living from paycheck to paycheck, putting off large purchases like a new sofa is tempting. If you’re like most people, these occasional but large purchases are put off as long as possible, constantly being relegated to the end of the list of your household’s needs when budgeting.
Of course, the level of priority for your new furniture depends on the condition of your current one. If you are just dealing with bad aesthetics due to worn or torn upholstery, you can probably limp along a few more months. However, if you are experiencing discomfort or a lack of back support you should not put off this purchase.
Here are some guidelines to help you determine how quickly you need to replace your sofa.
Sofa seats breaking down
When your sofa has become so worn and broken that there are coils threatening to poke through the surface of the cushions or the foam cushions no longer bounce back, you shouldn’t put off getting a replacement. Foam cushions that no longer offer support can be uncomfortable, and maybe even painful.
Look for affordable options for new sofas such as shopping online furniture stores and the sale events held by all furniture retailers, both e-commerce and your local furniture stores. Consider paying for rush delivery so you can eliminate the hazard as quickly as possible.
Why it matters
The worst thing you can do is ignore the breaking down of your furnature. In addition to looking awful in your living room or family room from being well-worn, the sofa could pose hazards that could result in injury. For example, a broken spring could poke through the cushion at the wrong time and puncture someone.
No one wants to see someone be injured while in their home, but there can also be financial ramifications. Friends and family are likely to brush off such minor injuries and gently let you know that it is time for a new couch.
However, if you have a visitor or stranger in your home and they are injured on your broken-down sofa, you could be held legally liable for the treatment of their injuries. Even if your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy covers such injuries, you will still pay on the backend with higher premiums.
Most importantly, you and your household need a comfortable place to sit and unwind after a long day.
Holes or exposed interior cushions
Most of today’s sofas are made with the ability to strip the cushions on your sofa and throw them in the wash for a regular clean. Of course, laundry alone will not kill the bacteria, germs, or viruses that can make you and your household ill. You should wash the cushion covers with your normal detergent, but use bleach or another antimicrobial addition to the cycle. Febreeze and a few other brands are also coming out with fabric disinfectant sprays that can be used to treat upholstery that cannot be washed, but they do not do anything for the exposed foam.
Why it matters
Whether or not parts of your sofa can be removed and cleaned in the washer, you need to make sure that there are no holes in the upholstery. It may seem like a slight nuisance to have a small hole in your couch, but in reality, it could actually affect your health. The foam used for most sofa cushions is very porous and cannot really be cleaned. If you are in a situation in which you need to sanitize your home, that cushion would have to be replaced, both foam and cover. Instead, save money by looking for sofas with free shipping click here.
Mechanics grinding or sticking
Some sofas have mechanical parts that can wear out as well. These include sofas with recliners, lever-operated footrests, or pull-out sofa beds. When these mechanical pieces begin to wear down, they make it seem to stick or hesitate. They may even groan. You can try lubricating the parts with a product like WD-40, but if that solution doesn’t work for more than a few days you should replace the sofa before those metal parts completely fail.
Why it matters
Again, when any part of your sofa starts breaking down you need to replace it before it causes an injury. But the mechanical pieces of the sofa could be even more important. For example, if the mechanism goes out on your reclining sofa seat and cannot be lowered, it will block the walkway and be more difficult to remove when you get a replacement.
Your children are growing up
The sofa that worked for your family when your children were little might not work for you now that they are growing up. When your children have outgrown the phase in which they are the most (often unintentionally) destructive to furniture. By the time your children reach this stage, your sofa is probably covered in spots, stains, and tears.
Most parents put off buying a sofa as long as possible for this very reason. The younger your children are when you buy a couch, the more likely you will have to buy another one before they have completely broken those habits. Coming up with the money for a new sofa on a tight budget can be stressful, especially when you know it won’t last. But when you no longer need to worry about those spills and accidents, it’s time to replace it.
Why it matters
Besides the obvious reasons of comfort and aesthetics, replacing your hard worn furniture is important for both your own mental health and the household’s continuing harmony. When your furniture looks old and stained, it doesn’t make you very proud of your home, and it can make household chores seem even worse than normal.
When you can take pride in your home, it boosts your self-esteem and confidence. Buying a new sofa that is larger to accommodate your teens is also important. Instead of getting another typical sofa, look at getting a modular option that offers more versatility and seating for your family and friends.
