Last year, right around this time, I was working on a feature story about sustainable home renovation (ha, it sounds like an oxymoron) for a national publication. I talked to LEED-certified designers, builders, and contractors. I interviewed leaders of sustainable building councils and organizations. And while I learned so much from all of my conversations, my biggest takeaway was a gut-wrenching panic about the amount of home-related (both building material and furnishings) waste that’s created every single year.
This isn’t shocking, I know, but when you don’t understand the full scope, it can be easy to overlook and just let yourself get excited about a room makeover not born out of necessity but out of want. (Stay with me.)
According to the EPA, roughly 12 million tons of furniture and furnishings ended up in landfills in the last report I could find from 2018. While about 20% of that was combusted for energy recovery, nearly 80% remains in the landfill. That’s 9.6 million tons. TONS, not pounds, so some quick math to understand poundage here would be about 192 BILLION pounds. A year. There are some efforts to recycle, but there is no measurable data available apart from mattresses, so it’s hard to know how much is being reused and repurposed.
This is…staggering. It’s hard to even mentally process how much we’re taking from our homes and disposing of either because it’s broken and can’t be fixed, it’s broken and we don’t want to go through the trouble or expense of fixing it, or we’re onto new and “better” things. Sadly, so much of the furniture on the mainstream market today is not meant to last, which is part of the problem. It’s “fast furniture” made of veneer-covered particle board, plastic, cheap wood and foam, built specifically to fill a temporary need, not to stay in our homes for decades (or even centuries as things used to do). Some things we can’t help but dispose of, because there’s no other way. But also—and I’m certainly guilty of this as well—we’ve grown so accustomed to seeing people buy a home only to rip it all out to the studs for their personal preferences, or go through sofas as quickly as I do deodorant in a heatwave (that’s fast).
Of course, there’s always the option to buy second-hand, vintage and antique to not bring a new piece into play that will eventually get tossed. This is such an approachable choice for furniture in particular, being that there is so much already out there, mostly in great shape, and even from current retailers if you prefer that over vintage.
But that’s not what I’m here to talk about in-depth today. What I am here to share is how to make your sofa, specifically, have a longer life both for sustainability purposes but also because sometimes, you just don’t have the budget for something new, or the timing isn’t right. I’m in this scenario myself, which is why I pitched the concept. I’ve had my Interior Define Maxwell sectional since 2018. After years of pandemic-induced round-the-clock lounging, then newborn baby-induced round-the-clock sitting either to breastfeed, pump, or contact nap, my sofa is looking *rough*. Some of the cushions are flatter in spots than others, and the velvet is kind of bubbling weirdly (no clue why, and never seen that happen before). It’s also proving to be a little too small for the number of people we normally have over sharing it with us.
I could just say “Screw it, let’s get something new,” but that wouldn’t work for us financially at the moment, and also nothing larger would fit in our current living room. That, and I’m challenging myself (and now you if it makes sense to you) to stretch this puppy until I can’t stretch it anymore. I brainstormed five ways to keep the heart of your couch beating for a few years more to keep it out of the eventual landfill for just a bit longer, though first, here are a few ideas if you ultimately need a new sofa, because I get it…sometimes your needs change, specifically with how much seating is required in your home. That small apartment-sized sofa you got 10 years ago probably doesn’t work in your now larger living space. But it doesn’t have to go out on the curb! Consider:
- Using a too-small sofa in another room of your home, like your office, primary suite, guest bedroom, bonus room, or playroom
- Selling on second-hand marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Nextdoor
- Offering it up to neighbors on groups like Buy Nothing (via Facebook)
- Donating to Habitat For Humanity, The Salvation Army, Out of the Closet, or even local organizations that may be in need such as shelters, LGBTQ centers, etc.
- Researching facilities in your area that specifically recycle furniture (there may be a drop-off fee; some may offer pick-up services, also for a fee)
Now, on to five ways to extend the life of your sofa, from the lowest and cheapest lift to a much larger (but longer lasting) investment.
Idea #1: Wrap A Pretty, Durable Blanket
By far the easiest way to go about this. This is a great option for anyone wanting to be preventative about the state of your upholstery in a high-traffic living room with pets, kids or generally rough-and-tumble adults. It’s also a useful bandage when your cushion fabric has seen better days (or you’re tired of looking at it).
I pulled two opposing examples to show you that wrapping a blanket or quilt (or in the case of Hummus Bird on the right, a tapestry), isn’t necessarily a one-note look. You can go the route of Chris Loves Julia with a tightly wrapped throw, or keep it loose and free with a casual drape.
The two photos above are from Flea Market Fab, and both show a thicker coverlet and mudcloth fabric effortlessly covering both indoor and outdoor sofas. I think in the context of those room designs, it works beautifully, though given the right print and colorway on the blanket, it might also be a cool moment of tension in a more modern space.
Here’s a very neat, happy modern room where the sofas are covered in blankets, quilts and throws. It’s purposeful, and can really play into the style of the space. It doesn’t have to feel like you threw an old throw on your couch cushion because it was gross. It can feel cool and even edgy!
A large bed coverlet or mattress-sized quilt works best for this both for durability and size, though a traditional throw blanket could also be put to good use here, depending on how large your sofa or sectional is. Here are a few I rounded up that I love:
Blankets, Quilts & Coverlets:
Now, the first thing I thought when I saw this concept was “Yeah, but the first second I sit on it, we’re done for” in terms of keeping it in place. I dug around to read how some people do it, and there are mixed outcomes of success, though these three things came out on top.
Ways to Keep Them In Place:
From left: Adjustable Bedsheet Holders | Padded Comforter Clips | Bed Sheet Holder Straps
Idea #2 Add A Sofa Cushion Topper
Cushion toppers have a very European vibe (they are used a lot in France to my understanding), and I love how they add a whole other visual element to your sofa. These are not utilitarian dog blankets, okay? They are decorative and add comfort, support, and durability to couch cushions.
I love the eclectic patterns of the sofa toppers from GreenRow, but if you prefer a more tailored look, Arhaus has some in pretty matte velvets. For anyone who wants to customize theirs more fully, Etsy has a bunch of shops offering them. I found these three for starters: #1, #2, #3.
Idea #3: Add Supports To Your Existing Cushions/Sofa Frame
It doesn’t matter how many blankets or cushion toppers you add, some sofas seem beyond the pale because of sad, sinking seats. That’s both aesthetically bad but also horrible for anyone with back problems. There are two ways to go about this: A support mat if you have a funky frame with bad springs or slats, or cushion inserts if lumpy, pancake cushions are the culprit. You should see some of the before and afters on these things (you can if you follow the links below). It’s wild! Sofas that looked like a steam roller had been taken to them are as plump and taut as my toddler’s youthful cheeks (both face and tush).
I’m considering ordering some of those insert supports for the dipped portions of my cushion. They come in different sizes and can be cut to create whatever angle your seating requires. This photo here shows it being put at the top of the existing interior, but I’ve seen them better used at the bottom so the original foam/batting/whatever you have is at the top, which looks better IMHO.
Idea #4: Order New Custom Cushion Inserts
Now we’re getting into some more spendy territory, but it’s important to include because new cushion inserts can *really* extend the lifeline of your upholstery. It gives it nearly new life unless the frame or fabric is bad (see idea #5). Yes, you will still have the waste of your old cushion interiors, but it’s far less than the whole couch. I explored this option when I used to own the Crate & Barrel Lounge II sofa and my cushions were flattening. That was about 7-8 years ago, and at the time, for two VERY large cushion inserts (and honestly, I can’t remember if that included the fabric as well or not), it was going to cost me about $700. I’m sure this is far more expensive now, considering that sofa was $1,200 when I purchased it and is now $2,300 (GOOD LORD THE PRICE INCREASE!).
HOWEVER, I write that to say that your first stop if you love your sofa but not how your foam or down has fared is the store where you originally purchased it, particularly if it was a made-to-order item (and not a drop ship item from Amazon, All Modern, or the like). Get a price quote from the direct dealer, because this is going to be the best retrofit. It will, though, likely be the most expensive.
If you’re not able to go that route for whatever reason, fear not, because there are plenty of companies that can make you new inserts and just ship them straight to your home. Some will even let you mail in your existing cushion, and return it with the new one in place. Here are some I found. I put in some estimated measurements of my sectional (which has very large cushions), and got prices from $200 to $500 a cushion. It’s not cheap, but with the average price of sofas being near $2,000 these days, it still may be a more affordable, not to mention sustainable, option.
Idea #5: Full Reupholster Job
And finally, the big Kahuna of sofa restoration. The full reupholster job. There are certainly sofas that don’t justify the expense of a re-do. Honestly, if you get quoted more than you spent on the original sofa when it was new (vintage and antique pieces are an exception here), it’s probably just not worth it. But an interior and exterior revamp on a sturdy, high-quality piece you already own or bought second-hand can really be a great lane to explore.
You will have free reign of fabric choices (so feel free to get wild here!), you can get your choice of cushion filling if you need new ones, and even add fun details like piping and tufting. Be prepared to spend anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000 depending on size, frame, if cushion inserts have to be replaced, and if the frame needs fixing. And that’s not including fabric. Upholstery fabrics can be $40 or $400 a yard, and the variation in price tag is based on material, brand, etc. Expect to need 15 to 30 yards (or more) of fabric, again, depending on the size. Location also factors into this spend, but don’t be afraid to shop around. Get 2-3 quotes to feel good, ask to see real-life examples of their work as photos don’t really show you quality or detailing, and remember, you often get what you pay for.
Though the cost to reupholster a couch varies, quality sofa upholstery could cost 50-60% less than getting something new all things considered. A new sofa might be cheaper, but it won’t last as long, which ultimately makes it more expensive. Before calling upholsterers for quotes, measure your sofa and research fabrics—most workshops will also have access to fabrics so don’t feel like you have to source that on your own.
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And that’s all I have for you today. I hope what I shared today inspired you to look at your sofa with new eyes and see what you might be able to do to it or with it to keep it kickin’ longer, whether in your home or someone else’s. Home decor and renovation in and of itself can be wasteful, but we can all try to do a bit better in some arena of it that we can control. Every little bit helps.
Until next time…
Opening Image Credits: Design by Brady Tolbert | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Brady’s Living Room Refresh with The Citizenry
