Increase your Furniture Lifespan: Know When and How to Replace Your Furniture
Can furniture last forever? It certainly cannot.
Given the times we live in, with increased furniture costs, changing tastes and frequent mobility, the question of furniture lifespan becomes crucial. When we think about longevity of furniture, we automatically come to think of its material and build. Although the materiality and structural strength of our furniture are the major factors that decide how long they would last, there are other important parameters that cannot be ignored. So how long does Furniture last? The answer translates to the way we use our furniture, degree of its maintenance and the environment we put it in, to decide the average lifespan of our furniture and home décor.
A furniture product in a household with small children and pets is bound to expire before the same piece would expire in a household with working adults. Likewise, a piece that is looked after, cleaned and maintained well, will certainly outlive the piece that is not taken care of. In a manner of speaking, the average lifespan of your furniture is a joint effort of the vendor (for the way they make it) and the buyer (for the way you use it).
How to Increase the Furniture Lifespan?
Since you cannot always rely on the fact that the furniture you’ve bought is of the best grade, here are some things that a buyer could do to efficiently maintain the condition and beauty of their expensive furniture, furnishings and home décor without breaking the bank.
- Identify genuine materials before buying furniture
- Keep your furniture away from direct sunlight
- Clean them frequently with a vacuum or simply wiping down with a clean cloth. Leather and upholstered furniture might require special attention and care while cleaning
- Take help of stain proof agents
- Fix minor damages immediately to improve furniture lifespan
- Save your furniture from moisture
- Never use strong bleaching agents. Resort to neutral cleansers instead.
- No matter how comforting it might be, keep food and drinks away from your furniture
- Use felt pads under any décor you place on your furniture
- Lastly, watch out for your pets reaching for the upholstery.
Although, one can be expected to achieve this on their own, it’s okay to get help of professional cleaning services if the stains or odor get too tough.
When to Replace your Furniture?
No matter how brilliantly you maintain your furniture and décor, there will come a time when you would want to replace it because it’s broken, old or there’s simply a better and trending piece out there that you wish to get. Knowing when to get rid of your furniture is not as simple as identifying the expiration date of our groceries, but here are some points that could prove to be smart hints for you to let go off it.
When should you replace your Bed?
We get uncomfortable on the bed, we blame it on the mattress! Although a mattress can do wonders in bringing you a sense of utmost comfort, they are not always the reason for the discomfort caused. Any creaking sounds and sagging boards is an indication for you to replace your bed, and not the mattress.
When should you replace your Chairs?
Chairs can simply said to be the most used pieces of furniture in any space. Based on the material of the chair and its thickness, the lifespan of chairs can vary starkly. Wobbling legs, unstable form and change of taste would be your cue to replace your chairs. At SHAPE, we’ve designed an assortment of chairs that answer to contemporary needs of flexibility and aesthetics.
When should you replace your Coffee Table?
Life span of Coffee Tables can be very subjective, making them last for five to fifteen years, based on the damage they’ve taken. This is directly proportional to its wear and tear and the number of spilled drinks, of course. The best time to replace your coffee table would be when you notice discoloration and unstable legs.
When should you replace your Sofa or Couch?
The best time to replace a sofa would be when you get unconformable and ‘sink in’ every time you sit. Any creaking sounds might hint towards a weakening structural framework of the sofa.
How to Replace your Furniture?
We live in a world where we can never be satisfied with anything unless we pick it from an array of choices. But surprisingly, when it comes to getting rid of your old furniture, most of us choose to dump it, without considering other options. Here’s what you should rather do.
Up cycle your old furniture
You read it right. If any alteration or modification can lead to your furniture being reused by you, or a third party, DO IT. Every little effort that you make in this direction would strengthen the aspects of circular economy on a certain level.
Donate your old furniture
As it goes, one man’s trash is another’s treasure. Your unused couch or armoire could bring aid (and joy) to a full-fledged family you might have never thought it could cater to. With this, you could again contribute towards a sustainable community.
Sell your Old Furniture Online
With e-commerce and trading now at your fingertips, you might actually be able to get paid by getting rid of your old furniture and décor. The buyer would not always only be the end user, but could be a recycler, an art restorer, or a social worker and this would, thus, have an impact beyond your intent and understanding.
At SHAPE, we aim at conceiving furniture and products that prioritize functionality, flexibility, lifespan and sustainability. We are a full range furniture consultancy specializing in furniture design, furniture remodeling, product design and design curation.
