How to Revive an Old Sofa - 9 Easy Steps

1 Shares

If you have a favorite couch that looks tired and saggy and in dire need of an update, then look no further than these simple tips and tricks to revive an old sofa.

You don’t have to relegate your old couch to the dump heap if all it needs is a bit of TLC.

Check out these quick tips to breathe new life into an old couch and restore it back (as close as you can) to it’s former glory without much fuss or muss:

1. Vacuum

Reviving your worn sofa is as easy as giving it a good vacuum. You’ll need both a non-brush upholstery attachment and crevice attachment.

Start by removing the cushions and vacuuming the base of the sofa. Don’t be surprised to see all the collections of foodstuff, bits and baubles that somehow get trapped below the surface.

Vacuum all of the surfaces, back, front and sides of the couch and be sure to get down into the sides and crevices.

Cleaning Tip: Don’t forget to take this opportunity to vacuum and clean the flooring beneath the couch, too!

2. Clean

If the sofa is a leather or non-cloth version, use restorative cleaning and polishing liquids meant for these types of furniture.

Keep in mind, that especially in the case of leather, you might not be able to get the surface back to it’s original pristine condition, but at least you will be giving your sofa a well-deserved buff that it really needs.

Here’s a great video tutorial from DIY with Hometalk how to properly clean and condition your leather couch:

If your furniture is cloth, you can remove slip covers and clean them yourself using a washing machine or without one. You can also rent or hire someone to steam clean the cushions if they are non washable.

Cleaning Tip: To remove unwanted odors, you can use a spray like Febreze that helps remove and not mask odors or you can unzip the cushions and add several dryer sheets, sprinkle on Baking Soda, or air the cushions out a bit, while you do your deep clean.

3. De-Fur

If fur is your issue, try using a lint brush or roller that will remove unwanted pet hair or this helpful tip to get rid of fur off your sofa once and for all:

4. Pouf

If the cushions are saggy, you can either plump them up by hand, shaking them back and forth, thusly, or if they’ve really lost their pouf, you can refill with fiber fill yourself or ask the help of a local upholsterer.

The base cushions can be a bit more tricky as some have zippers where you can access the cushion while others not. Again, you can try to replace the cushion with furniture-grade foam that you can buy from your local sewing center or let an upholsterer do the job.

How to Fix Saggy Sofa Cushions – The DIY Cottage

5. Patch It

Funny thing is, while you are vacuuming, cleaning, poufing your favorite couch, you might find that there’s a hole or two. No fear!

Most small punctures can be fixed with an upholstery needle and heavy duty, color coordinated thread.

For larger jobs, you might have to hire this task out. But it’s definitely worth it if you don’t want to spend the extra cash on replacing your sofa just yet.

How to Patch a Hole in Woven Fabric – Rub ’n Restore, Inc.

Leather Repair Trick for Small Tears and Cracks – Rub ’n Restore

6. Paint and Polish

If your furniture has wood or painted surfaces, there are a number of products on the market that can tackle the job of repairing nicks and scratches.

For wood: try color coordinated stain sticks and/or wood fillers.

For painted surfaces: try retouching with a fine brush and acrylic paint. You might need to sand and follow up on a coat or two of paint or even polyurethane, depending upon the surface and damage.

How to Repair Chips and Dents from Fine Furniture

7. Add Eye-Popping Throw Pillows

Nothing gives life to an again couch than a pop of color from well-chosen throw pillows. Pick pillows that match your style and design of your room, or take this opportunity to upgrade the look to Shabby Chic or Country Modern.

How to Style Your Throw Pillows – Studio McGee

8. Use a Throw Blanket

Throw blankets are not just for off-the-arm, but you can also use a suitable throw or even a favorite quilt to lay over your couch, depending upon the season.

This works almost as good as slip cover—which, by the way, is an option to cover up a dreary looking couch. However, this option can be expensive, but doable.

You can also use a colorful sheet that’s tucked into the folds of the sofa. Again, this could be changed out seasonally as needed.

Ways to Brighten Up a Dark Sofa with Throws – Kristie Barnett

9. Reupholster

If you have a beloved sofa that you just can’t part with but definitely needs a redo, you can have it re-upholstered.

This is the priciest of options and one not to be taken lightly. Some things to consider when going this route is:

Good Frame. Make sure that the sofa is well-made with wood framing. Since the sofa will more than likely be taken down to it’s base, there has to be something firm left to attach the new filling and fabric to.

Price. You will more than likely more for the opportunity to reupholster your sofa. If you are short on cash, buying new is probably a better choice.

Fabric. The price goes up with better grades of fabric and leather. Again, if cost is a consideration, buy new.

Upholsterer. When all is said and done (and I’ve gone this route myself because I couldn’t part with my beloved sofa), if you do decide to reupholster, do your homework and find the best rated craftsman you can afford. In the long run you won’t be disappointed.

Finally, if after you’ve tried to revive your sagging couch and failed, don’t despair—a new one is just a pick away.

Check out this handy buying guide for choosing the best sofa for your home: 9 Stylish Sectional Sofa Ideas for Your Home.

Andresen Mid Century Modern Muted Dark Grey Fabric Chaise Sectional — Mid-Century Modern Muted Dark Grey Chaise

For more great ideas for creating a home you love and love to share, be sure to check out Wisconsin Homemaker’s Home Decor Section and these articles: