The furniture in your house is going to go through a considerable amount of wear and tear, so it’s imperative for you to make sure that you keep it in pristine condition. Unfortunately, most people don’t know what to do as the furniture starts to degrade with time.
Here’s a common scenario you might have experienced: you buy expensive furniture, especially a couch, and keep it in the living room. Everyone who visits your place compliments you on the couch and tells you that you have made an excellent purchase. You love sitting on it, and it really improves the aesthetic appeal and décor of the place.
But, as you continue sitting on the couch, it won’t be long before dents begin to appear on the cushions. The couch cushions are going to sink with the passage of time, and it’s important that you take some sort of action.
Think about it; would you really want to invite guests over to sit on couch cushions that are sinking all the way in?
Not only is it going to be embarrassing for you, but the people who have been asked to sit on the couches will find it quite difficult as well. It’s obviously quite hard to maintain posture when you are sinking all the way in.
The reason why couch cushions begin to sink is because the foam starts to lose its elasticity or its springiness.
Eventually, it will begin to collapse under the littlest of weights if you don’t take action. The last thing you would want is for a guest to plop down on the couch and sink all the way in.
Correcting the problem of sagging cushions can not only improve your posture, but it will also improve the returns that you get on your furniture investment.
So, let’s get down to the brass tacks and learn how to fix it.
What Causes the Cushions to Sink?
First of all, let’s talk about the main reasons why sofas continue to sink. The sofas in your house are subjected to a considerable amount of usage. Apart from the bed, the sofa is the most “lived on” surface in the entire house.
Depending on the workmanship and the quality of material that was used in the manufacture, your sofa is generally going to last you anywhere between two to five years before the cushions begin to sink.
Now, it’s important to note that all kinds of sofa cushions are going to sink. This happens due to a number of reasons. Let’s talk about them one by one.
The sofa cushions are likely to sink because most people usually sit only on one part of the cushion. The other portions are not sat on as frequently and that is one of the reasons why some seats tend to wear out unevenly.
Ideally, if you have removable cushions, you might want to rotate them at least once a month or so to ensure that the wear and tear is even. This will ensure that the weight is distributed evenly around the sofa.
A common mistake that many people make when sitting down on the sofa is that they tend to flop down. That’s a bad idea, and it places a considerable amount of stress on the springs every time you do it.
Just like with a mattress, flopping down on the couch is a bad idea, and there is a major chance that the springs will give way entirely.
So, now that you know the basics, it’s time to focus on how to keep the couch cushions from sinking. We have already talked about regular rotations if possible.
Now, let’s focus on other methods that are ideal to prevent the cushions from sinking.
1 – Restuff the Cushions
One of the best ways to fix this problem is to restuff the cushions. Check on the side of the cushions, and you are going to find a zipper. All you need to do is unzip the cushions, and you will be able to access the cushioning or the stuffing inside.
If there isn’t a zipper on the side, you might want to consider making use of a thread cutter to open up the cushion. When you do, the next step is to remove the stuffing from inside and refill it.
Make use of high-quality polyester fiberfill or quilt batting, as they are both quite fluffy and will be able to maintain their own. You can easily buy both of these options at a local craft store. Make sure that after inserting the foam, you spread it around properly.
You will want to make sure that the entire filling is spread around evenly. If the stuffing inside is loose, you should consider using polyester fiberfill, as it’s easier to give a firm shape to.
Once you are done with the filling, just zip up the cushion, and you are good to go.
2 – Cinching the Cushions
If you want to make the cushions stuffier, you might want to cinch them with buttons. You will first have to remove the cushioning from the inside as instructed in the previous step. Once you are done, the next step is to sew buttons on either side of the cushion, preferably in the middle.
Make use of high-quality tensile thread to ensure that the cushions remain clenched without breaking loose. You will want to make sure that the cinching is firm and strong between the cushions, so that it remains in place for a longer period of time.
Once you are done with the sewing, all you need to do is to stuff the cushions back in, and you are good to go.
3 – Add a Plywood Layer
In some cases, the problem might be structural, and that means you need to fix the structure of the cushions. Thankfully, “sofa savers” are available from a number of different companies nowadays, so you can easily buy one.
These supports need to be placed under the sofa cushioning, and are designed to provide greater support and prevent further structural problems from arising in your sofas. If the problem isn’t with the cushions but the structure maintaining the sofa, you need to take appropriate action.
If you can’t find these “sofa savers” anywhere, you might want to cut out a plank of plywood on your own and then use it instead. These are readily available from any carpenter or joinery store, and they can make matters easier for you.
4 – Repair the Jute Webbing
If there is a web of jute running under the cushions, you might want to take a look and determine if it needs to be repaired or not. The jute webbing must undergo adequate repairs to ensure that the cushions are able to maintain their firmness.
If the webbing is loose, the cushions are going to sink into the sofa.
These are just a few ways to keep the couch cushions from sinking into the sofa without much of an effort. They are all relatively affordable, and don’t cost a lot of money to maintain.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems and over 10 years of experience working in IT. As a homeowner, I love working on projects around the house, and as a father, I love investigating various ways to keep my family safe (whether or not this involves tech). I’ve also played guitar for almost 20 years and love writing music, although it’s hard to find the time these days.