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| Image by: Bianca Nogrady |
Let’s face it, sofas are the staple item when it comes to furniture. You’ll find them in the home; offices; waiting rooms – even in some store waiting areas. The couch is a comfortable space to unwind.
Sofas come in a variety of coverings from leather and suede to cotton and even corduroy. With years of use, though, sofas tend to wear and tear, eventually becoming uncomfortable as the innards require refurbishment.
Assessing the Condition of the Sofa
When you decide it’s time to repair your couch, take a few minutes to really assess the condition. Focus on areas like the frame; cushions and exterior material as well as the back of the piece. Cushions tend to lose their shape over time and the seating deck becomes weaker. Often the exterior has stains and odours after years of service. The good news is that all these issues are quick and easy to fix yourself.
Refurbishing Sofas Once you’ve determined exactly what repairs your couch needs, gather all the materials required. If you’re going to be undertaking an overall refurbishment, you will need:
- Seating foam
- Measuring tape
- Leather polish if the sofa is leather
- Clean cloths
- A sheet of plywood
- Slipcovers of the correct size
- A hand or electric saw
- Fabric refresher spray
Repairing the Frame of Sofas
The structural integrity of the sofa is the most important part. If the frame falls apart, so does the rest of the sofa.
1. Remove the cushions so that you can get to the seating deck beneath. With constant use this part of the sofa tends to sag or splinter over time, so it’s essential that you repair the sofa’s support.
2. To repair the seat deck, carefully measures the dimensions of the whole area and use a saw to cut the plywood to size. You can cover the plywood with a piece of fabric if you so wish, but it is not a necessity.
Repairing Cushions on Sofas
Once you have secured the frame, take a look at your cushions. If they’re sagging and warped you will need to remove the inner foam and have a new piece cut using a pair of shears or a sharp knife. It’s also cost effective to buy all-new cushions the same size if you’d like a new look and feel for your
sofas.
Refurbishing the Exterior
Next, take a look at the exterior material of your sofas. If your couch comes with a fabric that has lost its lustre; has holes in it or is riddled with stains, you can easily fix the exterior with the use of slip covers. Slip covers come in a huge array of designs and fabrics and all shapes and sizes. So you will easily find the right ones for your sofas. Installation is really easy and all you need if a few Velcro closures or ties.
If your sofas are made of leather, use some leather polish on a soft, clean cloth to bring the furniture back to its original sheen. You could even buy a complete kit that comes with leather cleaner; conditioner and a protective lotion – all of which will bring your dull, worn leather sofas back to a beautiful gloss.
The Finishing Touches
To complete your refurbishment project, mist the couch lightly with a fabric refresher which will remove odours and leave the furniture smelling brand new. Refreshers come in trigger spray bottles so it will only take about 5 mists to cover your entire sofa and once it dries, your like-new furniture is ready to be enjoyed again.
Or You Could Buy Brand New Sofas
When shopping for sofas or materials to refurbish your old pieces, be sure to used specific keywords if you’re searching online. This will help you to find the ideal items quickly and very simply. Alternatively, if you’re in the market for a brand new piece of furniture, use specific search terms like “couch slipcover”; “microfiber sofas” or “leather couch” to ensure the best results.