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Original poster

How long do you keep a sofa for

33 replies

Blankiefan · 22/05/2021 23:25

And what do you do with it when you're done? Our sofa is about 10 years old but still has life in it - but I'd like a new one / don't want to be wasteful. I'm flip flopping.

OP posts:
RampantIvy · 22/05/2021 23:30

Could you get it reupholstered?

Original poster
Blankiefan · 22/05/2021 23:45

It's been a great sofa but it was bought for our last house (we've been here for 8 years!). It's a massive comfy corner sofa but really dominates the room and doesnt make the best of the flow / view out of the patio doors. It's been a compromise for 8 years and when I finally redecorate, I want to do the room totally differently.

I'm currently holding off decorating the room because it feels wasteful to get rid of the sofa. But I feel petulant because I also dont want to keep compromising. Its the room we spend most time in and the room in our home I least enjoy.

OP posts:
ZednotZee · 22/05/2021 23:48

For as long as I am happy with it and it is comfortable. Our current sofas were inherited from my parents and I have no intention to replace them until DC are past the messy hands stage, so probably in another decade or so.

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CadburyCake · 22/05/2021 23:50

Until they are only fit for the tip, so 10-15 years. But if I wanted to replace it, and if it was still in reasonable condition, I’d just offer it to a local charity that sells second hand furniture or put it for a nominal sum on Facebook/gumtree.

Imissmoominmama · 22/05/2021 23:50

I realised the other day that our sofas are 20 years old! We had the seat pads re-covered 9 years ago and they still look great. I’m in no hurry to change them.

BlackElephant · 22/05/2021 23:52

Our last ones were 20 years old.Laura Ashley leather

This one we bought 2nd hand-about 2 years old- it is about 5 years old now and was going to be reupholstered but covid got in the way. Will do it next year. It was a £7,000 sofa and we paid about £800.

ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 22/05/2021 23:54

Some charities will uplift free of charge and sell on. Win-win. British Heart Foundation for one, and you may have others locally.

Just done that with 25-yo pine bedroom furniture that's now surplus to our requirements.

No shame in wanting a change after 10 years of compromise, if you can afford to replace (sounds like you can).

Miasicarisatia · 22/05/2021 23:55

Mine is brown leather DHL and I bought it 16 years ago, if I was going to get rid of it I'd probably give it to the local furniture charity

Calmyertits · 22/05/2021 23:56

Mines 10yo and just ordered a new one. I would of happily kept it longer but DH has been keeping on at least 3 years about replacing it. He jumped on my moment of weakness because he knows I've been putting it off. It took a long time to get my ass print that deep in it!

GroggyLegs · 23/05/2021 00:00

If it makes you feel better, my parents are on their third sofa in 7 years. If a sofa lasts 5 years in their house it's a miracle.
That said, it's their only vice and they're retired so sit around a lot now 😂 they are frugal to the point of tightness in every other area! It's so weird.

Meanwhile we have a trashed one that's 8y old & unlikely to change for a while as we still have messy little hands here too. If only my parents rejects fitted our lounge...

I'm thinking of really investing next time - IL's sofa is 25yo, has been reupholstered twice and looks great.

user1471528245 · 23/05/2021 00:02

15 years and counting, 2 Marks and spencer fine leather sofas purchased in 2006, I really don’t ever see us needing to change them ever

PanamaPattie · 23/05/2021 00:19

I inherited mine. I fancy a change every now and then - but I have yet to find anything as comfortable.

JimBobNoJob · 23/05/2021 00:40

I keep ours as long as I’m happy with it. If it no longer fits our purpose or is no longer fit for purpose then I replace. I’ve had the current one for 8 years.

If it no longer fits your house then there’s no shame in wanting a new one, 10 years is a good run! Lots or charities will collect for free.

allfurcoatnoknickers · 23/05/2021 00:58

I'm on my third sofa in 7 years. First one was a hand me down from PIL - FIL ran off with another woman and then changed his mind and went back, so we got the sofa from the failed love nest. We handed it off to the next tenants as it was almost new.

Then we moved to a smaller flat and bought a beautiful sofa, but it attracted dog hair like nothing else, and then we had a toddler who could dismantle it.

When we moved to a bigger, but weirdly shaped new flat we gave it away and bought sofa 3, which I hope will last forever.

richtea4 · 23/05/2021 08:32

We give to BHF - normally after 3 years.

lovelyupnorth · 23/05/2021 08:35

We replaced ours last year - had the previous one 19 years still plenty of life in them sold them on facebook for £50.

Always work on the adage buy once and buy right, also buy local don't to chain stores.

Dunlin · 23/05/2021 08:37

Currently Laura Ashley ones are 18 years old. Covers are looking a bit tired so will prob have them recovered this year.

DinosApple · 23/05/2021 08:41

We keep ours until they are broken/hideously uncomfortable.

Current ones are 14 years old I think. IKEA so not expensive. We've bought 2 new covers in that time.

Our other sofa is a retro style Made.com affair. Second hand, but probably 5 years old of which we've had it for 3. I love it, really my style, but DH has sat on it regularly for the last 6 months and it's now started to sag.

DinosaurDiana · 23/05/2021 08:45

Had the last one for nearly 20 years. Got rid of it because of the numerous stains on it from having children.
Our current one is from DFS and about 5 years old, it’s looking tired already.
I wish I’d kept the old one and recovered it.

cariadlet · 23/05/2021 08:50

I think we've had ours about 15 years. They weren't particularly expensive (we bought 2) but still feel comfortable so we have no plans to replace them.

Temp023 · 23/05/2021 08:52

19 years, 2 kids, 8 cats, 1 dog and counting.

InFiveMins · 23/05/2021 09:13

About 5 or 6 years. We buy good quality sofas but like to redecorate and change things around etc. I'd hate to feel like I have to keep a sofa for so long, even if it's "still going strong", tastes change and I like switching between colours and fabrics.

We have always donated them to friends who have wanted them so they've never been tipped.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 23/05/2021 09:40

We’ve had our 3 for maybe 25 years now.

One had to be repaired at one point, probably down to a Gdc jumping on it - and they’ve had new (washable) loose covers twice, last time to go with a different colour scheme. Cushions are still fine.
No plans to replace them.

NorthernChinchilla · 23/05/2021 10:21

We've got one second hand from BHF, and the other sofa and chair is inherited from DH's family and from the 1930s Shock!

Once the kids are a bit older I might buy a new one Grin

RuthW · 23/05/2021 10:34

Depends. My first one was broken by my bil after 5 years.

My next one was very expensive but fabric frayed and faded after about five years.

My next one was a cheap leather Argos one is still going after 22 years. I had the bottom seat recovered 2 years ago. Both sofas still look as good as new.