How to Make Couch Cushions Firmer (4 Simple Steps)

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Of all the furniture in your home, the couch probably takes the most beating. After all the butts it has seen, you probably feel it sagging by now.

The sag commonly comes from the dented filling within the cushions. It’s probably wearing out and needs a quick replacement to become firm again.

If you want to restore your cushions to their former firm glory, then stick around to know how to make couch cushions firmer.

4 Steps to Make Your Couch Cushions Firmer

When it comes to making couch cushions firmer, restuffing is usually the best way to go. By replacing the filling, the cushion will feel just like new.

Without further ado, here are the steps to de-sag your cushions.

Step 1: Prepare Your Equipment

Firstly, you want to prepare all the materials you’ll need, which mainly include the stuffing. There are several kinds of stuffing you can fill a couch cushion with.

Here are some of them below.

Foam Filling

This kind of filling is one of the most commonly used ones in households and for good reason. It provides the best firmness quality and lasts long.

Most kinds of foam filling are also used on couches that are angular in shape since they’re compact.

Depending on your preference, you can choose between three different kinds of foam. There are soft, reflex, and high-density foam filings.

High-density foam is the firmest of the bunch. It’s more likely to maintain its shape in the long run.

You can use this type of foam if people in your household struggle with mobility or getting up from the couch.

Reflex foam is usually composed of polyurethane. Like the high-density foam, it’s exceptionally dense.

The foam filling is also used to support memory foam mattresses, so it’ll be perfect for couch

beds.

Soft foam filling is much bouncier than the high-density and reflex foam filling. If you’re looking for a soft yet maintenance-free filling, this option is your best bet.

Feather Filling

Feather-filled cushions are more on the pricey side. They’ll give your couch a more luxurious soft feel, rather than the stiffness of foam.

Apart from being expensive, they also require lots of maintenance because if you constantly sit on them, the dents formed won’t spring back alone.

You’ll need to regularly fluff them. There are two kinds of feather material you can use in a couch cushion.

Down and duck feather; you can use both together or separately. Down feathers are one of the fluffiest fillings on the market.

Meanwhile, duck feathers might provide a bit more springiness than down ones.

Polyester Fiber

Fiber-filled cushions are more porous than other filling options. It’s why they accumulate a lot of air inside and when you sit on them you sort of poof in.

Fiber filling will require more care since you’ll have to plump it to retain its original shape. With good care, the cushion will feel fluffy and highly comfortable.

If you want the benefits of both fiber and foam fillings, you can combine them for a good balance of fluff and firmness.

Step 2: Take Out the Old Filling

After taking your pick of a cushion filling, you’ll want to unzip the cushions and remove all the old filling.

The old filling might be wrapped in batting and netting to shape it. You can remove those layers as well.

Before placing in the new filling, you might want to give your cushion covers a wash. Make sure to dry clean depending on the material’s needs.

Step 3: Measure and Cut

By now, you should have a clean emptied cushion cover along with some new filling. In this step, you’ll need to figure out how much of the new filling you’ll cut to fit in the cushion.

With a measuring tape, find the width, length, and depth of the cushion cover. Next, add one inch to each of the measurements.

For instance, if the dimensions measured up to 26 inches long, 15 inches wide, and 4 inches deep, then the new filling should be cut to 27 inches long, 16 inches wide, and 5 inches deep.

The covers might have excess stitching on the inside, which could affect your measurements. To get an approximate estimation, just measure within the stitching.

Now that you’ve got your dimensions right, cut up the new filling correspondingly with an electric carving knife to provide a snug fit.

Step 4: Stuff in the New Filling

Before placing the cut filling inside the cushion covers, wrap them in the batting and netting to shape them.

You can use the old batting and netting from the previous filling. All that’s left to do now is put the newly wrapped filling into the covers, securely zip them, and position them back on your couch.

How to Avoid Frumpy Couch Cushions

After figuring out how to fix a slumping couch cushion, does this mean you’ll have to constantly change the filling? Well, not necessarily.

The good news is that there are ways you can prevent your couch cushions from slouching after abundant use. Check them out below.

Fluff Your Cushions

Since your couch cushions might’ve been compressed for too long, they’ll noticeably look drooped. Fluffing them is like giving them an extra breath of fresh air.

It’ll help restore their former shape by evenly distributing their filling around the cushion. We highly recommend fluffing every couple of months.

It might increase the cushion’s lifespan as well as keep it from sagging. If you’re unsure how to fluff the cushions, here’s an easy guide below.

• Remove the seat cushion and place it on the floor in front of you.
• Using a large wooden spoon or your hand, continually hit the seat cushion on its front and back.
• Turn it to each side and push or bounce it on the floor to evenly disperse the fiber interior.
• Put the cushion seat back on the couch.

Once you’re done fluffing the seat, you might also want to fix up the couch pillows above. Here’s how you can simply fluff them.

• Take out the cushion and squeeze it from all sides.
• Repeatedly hit the cushion from its front and back sides.
• Wiggle the cushion around and position it back on the couch.

Flip Your Cushions

This is probably the first thing you thought about doing to prevent sagging cushions. All you have to do is flip the cushion upside down to show the good side.

It’s exactly like flipping a mattress. It’ll provide more back support and comfort.

You can flip the couch cushions every month. Now, you might have a couch that’s designed to have its cushions in a specific way where if you change it, it’ll look noticeably upside down.

In that case, you can flip it for only one day until the filling is redistributed to the correct side and flip it back later. Otherwise, you can flip it on the floor and walk on the cushion to restore the other side’s shape.

Either way, this prevention method is foolproof to keep your cushions looking full and aesthetically appealing.

Provide a Strong Frame Support

If you want to have stable support from underneath the couch cushions, you can always add another frame support. It’ll help prevent a sunken feeling when sitting down on your couch.

The process involves taking out all the cushions from the couch. Afterward, you’ll want to measure the length and width of the seating and subtract around three inches from both.

Now, for the actual support, you can get a piece of plywood or find wooden support from the hardware store. Some supports are foldable, which makes them suitable for keeping in storage.

Once you have the dimensions down, cut the support piece. We advise covering it in a fabric after so it won’t snag any fabric from your couch and ruin it.

Next, remove the couch cushions and position the support piece under them then put the cushions back down.

Why Couch Cushion Firmness Matters

When your couch cushions are sagging, it might seem more comfortable since it’s softer and you get to sink deeper in. It’s sort of like sitting on a bean bag.

Nevertheless, excessively soft cushions can do more bad than good to your physical posture. Maintaining a firm couch is much better for your back health than sitting on a frumpy couch.

Additionally, you might also strain your neck if you lean back on a soft couch. Apart from misaligning your posture, saggy cushions tend to look messy in your living room.

Whenever you walk into your living room, the first piece of furniture you notice is the couch. The sagginess might make it look a little downcast and negatively affect the room’s aesthetic.

Having said that, a firm cushion can make all the difference, whether it’s for your bone health or living room appearance.

Why Do Couch Cushions Sag?

Now that you’ve figured out how to make your couch cushions firmer, you might be wondering why they sag in the first place. It could be due to a lot of reasons. Let’s check them out below.

Unstable Support

The sag you’re feeling might not be mainly coming from the cushions, but the wooden frame support. It might be broken and needs fixing.

You can identify this issue by simply removing the couch cushions and observing the damage. Otherwise, you might feel a specific area that’s sagging and could inspect it from underneath.

These wooden support frames could break due to excessive weight being seated on the couch.

In that case, you’ll just need to find a new frame or hire a professional to fix it for you.

You can also consider metal-framed couches. Even though they might be prone to rusting and bending, metal frames are much sturdier.

They’ll also likely last longer with regular maintenance.

Lack of Proper Weight Distribution

In most households, couches are usually placed in front of a TV. There might be a certain seat that gets more of the TV’s view than others.

That space could be your favorite spot. If you’re living alone, you might be single-handedly responsible for denting that comfy spot.

Chances are, that spot might be saggier than the rest of the couch from constant use. It might be time to pick a new spot or maybe switch seats every once in a while.

The uneven weight distribution issue would be resolved. Plus, you’ll get to break free from a small habit of constantly sitting in the same place.

Deteriorating Couch Filling

This reason is probably the most common one out of all of the mentioned ones. The filling within the cushions might be getting old.

You can easily single out this problem by zipping open the cushions and checking the foam filling.

Is it crumbly to the touch? Does it feel overly compressed? If yes, then the filling might be overdue for a replacement.

Even though this issue is the most common one, it’s, luckily, the easiest to fix since you just need to buy more foam filling.

Sleeping too Much on the Couch

Couches aren’t built for sleeping. Mattresses are usually filled with strong and durable fibrous material and sturdy springs that can support your sleeping weight.

Sofas, on the other hand, might weaken under too much pressure. Sleeping on them can put a heavy strain on the springs.

From constant use, the springs could lose their bounce and eventually become non-stretchy. You can avoid this issue by just taking a few extra steps to the bedroom.

If the bedroom is usually occupied, then you can regularly change the springs and foam filling of the cushions. You’ll at least feel more comfortable, apart from having your legs dangling out if the couch is too short.

Final Thoughts

A firm couch isn’t only pleasing to the eye, but to your back as well. It’ll help keep your living room looking neat and kept together more than a bean bag-like couch.

By following our easy steps to replace the cushion filling, you’ll restore the firm feel in no time. The best part is that you get to choose between several kinds of filling to your liking.

After replacement, maintenance is crucial to prevent any future sags. Whether you’ll add a support layer underneath or regularly flip the cushions, it’ll all contribute to keeping the couch firm for a longer time.

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