We've all seen one, a sad sofa that looks like it has been abused and neglected. This may not affect you in the same way it does me. It is usually the first thing I notice in a room. My eye is immediately drawn to a sad sofa. The flattened, worn down cushions actually make it look as though it is frowning.
A sad sofa is one that has not been properly maintained. It is used by an entire family day in and day out. Either in shifts, or all at once, kids, adults and pets make use of the family sofa. Rarely do you ever see someone sit on a sofa like they do when they are testing them out in the store. Sure, when you're shopping for a sofa you are on your best behavior. You sit squarely in the center of the cushion, feet on the ground directly in front of you, back straight. Once that sofa arrives at your home is when the abuse starts.
In it's lifetime a sofa is napped on, stepped on, climbed on, eaten on. Legs are draped over the arms. Pets perch on the top of the back cushions. Forts are built using the cushions. Throw pillows are thrown and tossed onto the floor. In its lifetime a sofa endures a lot!
So, how can you prolong the life of your sofa? The first step is to purchase a sofa that is made to last. You want to look for quality construction and materials. Make sure the frame is constructed of kiln-dried hardwood. Look for a traditional, 8-way had-tied spring system, quality cushion construction and materials . Also, make sure you select a durable fabric. I will go into more detail on each of these aspects of a well-constructed sofa in future posts.
Next, know what is right for you and your family. If you love the feeling of sinking into a down sofa, then know that a bit more upkeep is involved to keep it looking it's best. You typically have to fluff down cushions each time you sit on them. Now imagine the dog or cat perched on the back cushions, kids climbing on the sofa, hubby taking a nap. After a day like that those cushions are going to need to be shaken and fluffed before company comes over.
The one thing that bothers me most when I see a sad sofa, is that it wouldn't look so sad if the cushions were flipped on occasion. It's a simple thing that should be a part of your weekly cleaning. I learned this from watching my mom as a kid. Every Saturday morning she would clean the house from top to bottom. She would throw an album on the record player that was in one of those wooden cabinets that took up way too much room. She would strip the beds, vacuum, dust, do laundry, clean the bathrooms, etc. While my siblings and I were usually busy making forts out of the dirty sheets I noticed her vacuuming the sofa and flipping and rotating the cushions as she did. This, in my opinion, really prolongs the life of a sofa. It keeps the fabric clean and getting in the habit of switching around those cushions helps them wear more evenly.
Until next time,
