A couch, which serves as a household linchpin, ought to provide you and your loved ones with years of comfort for activities such as game night and the next show you watch in a marathon session. However, as time passes, the cushions on your couch will begin to deteriorate, and your couch will no longer have the same level of comfort or sheen that it did when it was first purchased. When something like this occurs, you might find yourself wondering how you can make your couch more comfortable.
If you have read any other articles on the internet that attempt to answer this question, you may have come across pieces of advice like the addition of low-cost throw pillows, throw blankets, and foam inserts of poor quality. All of this is handily positioned with affiliate links to Amazon or other e-commerce websites so that they can make a commission on the sale, despite the fact that they do not have any firsthand experience with the product. These products might provide some temporary relief from the annoyance caused by your couch, but they won’t actually fix the problem.
We are not just sellers of foam; as experts in the upholstery and foam industry, spanning three generations and boasting a combined 60 years of experience, we do not simply sell foam but instead incorporate it into our upholstery work on a daily basis. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to provide you with some inside information on what might be making your couch uncomfortable as well as the various ways to fix these issues, rather than simply mask them.
Can you tell me why my couch is so uncomfortable?
There is no such thing as a perfect sofa, and there are a myriad of factors that can contribute to an uncomfortable sofa. It’s possible that the remote is tucked away under the cushion. Our attention is going to be directed toward some of the more general explanations for why your couch may be unsatisfactory.
Past its prime
The simple fact that older couches have more wear and tear than newer ones is one of the primary causes of discomfort. It’s possible that when you sit on it, you are getting closer to the springs that are located beneath the cushion because the older cushions have become very soft and now sit lower. This makes it more difficult for you to get up from your seat, and it’s possible that you’ll need to use your hands to lift yourself out of the seat when you attempt to do so. One might get the impression that the springs underneath the seat cushions are more comfortable, which would lead them to believe that the springs are the source of the issue. However, in the majority of instances, the old foam has degraded, which has caused the cushions to sit lower as a result of their decreased ability to return to their initial height and shape. If your foam cushions have an excessive amount of polyester fiber wrap, the fibers may have clumped together and overlapped one another, creating a surface that is uncomfortable.
Affordable Stuffing for Cushions
It’s common for sofas, both new and old, to be uncomfortable because of the low quality of the materials used to make them. The cushions of sofas sold by companies like IKEA and a number of online retailers are going to be stuffed with an inexpensive material in the near future. This may include using a low-cost polyurethane foam with a density of 1.2 pounds per cubic foot for the seat cushions, which are then excessively wrapped in Dacron to give the impression that they are made of thick foam. This means that within the first month of ownership, your brand-new, fluffy cushions may lose several inches of their original height and will not return to their original shape.
Because of this, we never recommend using a Dacron wrap that is any thicker than 1.5 inches. If it were any thicker, the Dacron would eventually compress, which would cause the cushion to lose its shape, compress even further, and never return to its initial form. Companies will also use inexpensive polyester fiber filling for the back cushions. This filling will clump together in a short amount of time, rendering the back cushions incapable of providing the support they did in the past. We suggest that the foam core of your cushions have a minimum density of 1.7 pounds.
Construction flaws galore.
The use of less expensive wood framing in the construction of sofas is another method that manufacturers employ in their quest to reduce production costs. Plywood is one of the most common low-cost wood types, and it is followed by low-quality pine wood or even cheaper particle board. Particle board is even more affordable. This indicates that the foundation of your sofa is quite light and flimsy, and it has the potential to become loose at the joints. It will start to sway and wiggle from side to side, or the arm might begin to move back and forth. A frame made of hardwood with double-dovelled joints and higher-quality wood, such as amber or burch, is what one should aim for in terms of preference.
Sadly, there is no way to improve the frame construction of your couch because it was purchased already finished. In the event that it has a cracked beam, a skilled upholsterer will be able to mend it and use wood glue to reinforce the frame. When making a purchase of a new sofa in the near future, there are a few things that you should be on the lookout for. The weight of an item is a handy indicator that can be used to quickly gauge its overall quality. The greater the weight of something, the higher the quality of its construction. In addition to this, check to see that the legs of the sofa are either an integral part of the frame or are secured there with screws or dowels. Legs that are made of plastic but have a fake appearance as real wood is a sure sign that the couch is of low quality. These fake legs give the impression that they are made of real wood.
Hard Front Edge
Whether or not a couch was manufactured with a hard edge under the front of the seat cushions is an essential component in determining the level of comfort it provides. If you raise a seat cushion and then press down on the front edge of the couch, you will be able to determine whether or not the couch has a hard edge. When you push down on the sofa, if you feel resistance, this indicates that the edge is firm. There will be less of a level of comfort, and the foam cushions will wear out much more quickly. The only thing that will protect you from the sharp edge is the foam cushion, which places additional strain on the frame of the couch. If there are three or more people sitting on the couch at the same time, this could result in a frame failure.
A couch that has a spring front edge that is softer would be a better design for comfort. If you press down on the front edge of the couch, it will compress and then spring back up when you release your pressure. Both the stress tolerance of the frame and the seating comfort of the couch will increase as a result of this. Additionally, the spring front edge will lessen the load pressure that is placed on the cushion foam, which will contribute to the foam’s increased durability. When you sit on the foam cushion and the front spring edge of the couch at the same time, you will feel the spring action under you as well as the foam cushion, which will make the couch a more comfortable option overall.
Untested
If you never sat on the new couch you just bought, you might be in pain because you didn’t do a trial run before making the purchase. As a result of the introduction of COVID-19, there is currently an ongoing transition that is taking place between traditional shopping and the practice of e-commerce. Because of this, mattress-in-a-box companies like Casper have become increasingly popular. The inclusion of mattress and furniture showrooms has been eliminated from the equation. The issue is that one person’s discomfort may not be another’s. For example, the density of a foam does not have any bearing on its overall quality. Additionally, the level of firmness that is agreeable for one individual may not be for another.
Because of this, showrooms are extremely useful. It gives you the opportunity to put your potential new sofa through its paces before you buy it, allowing you to make an informed purchase decision. You are able to make sure that it is comfortable on your body. This includes having an understanding of the dimensions of what makes a comfortable couch for you, such as one that encourages good posture and allows you to sit with your feet flat on the ground. The height may be incorrect at 18 inches, or the seating depth may be too great at 21 inches, both of which contribute to an uncomfortable experience for the user. This is an important aspect associated with discomfort. When you buy a couch online, you miss out on the opportunity to get this kind of hands-on experience. When sat upon for the first time and subsequent times, this can lead to discomfort and disappointment.
What can I do to make the couch in my living room more comfortable?
There are a few straightforward approaches one can take in order to make a couch more comfortable. Changing the level of firmness and quality of the original foam cushions that were used in the manufacturing process is the straightforward way to go about it. Some consumers will purposefully purchase an item of furniture of a lower quality with the intention of upgrading the foam while they are in the process of making the initial purchase. It is possible to increase the level of comfort of both a new and an old couch by using the original seat and back covers. This is a relatively inexpensive way to accomplish this.
Improve the existing foam.
Putting in new foam cores is the most effective way to improve the level of comfort provided by your sofa. If you have recently purchased your sofa, you might be thinking, “but the foam is brand new!” It’s possible that’s true, but unfortunately, the discomfort you’re feeling is probably due to the low-quality of your seat and back cushions.
For example, there might be a polyester fiber blend in the back cushions. It’s possible that the foam seat cushions are made with a very low-quality foam. It’s possible that the foam has an excessive amount of Dacron wrapping it.
Because of this, after only a short amount of time with your brand-new coach, you might notice that the foam seat cushions have begun to sag and provide less support than before. There is a possibility that the back cushions are stuffed with polyester fiber, which, although it can be “fluffed” to some extent, will still continue to compress and cause the covers to sag over time.
Most of the time, the deterioration of the materials that make up your couch is to blame for the fact that it has become uncomfortable as it has aged. Cushions are typically crafted from high-density foam of an industrial grade, ranging anywhere from 1.7 to 1.9 pounds in weight per cubic foot. Approximately four years will pass before this begins to show signs of wear and tear and needs to be replaced. After that, it will start to sag, lose its ability to return to its original form, and will no longer provide sufficient support.
Putting in new foam in your cushion will breathe new life into your couch and give it a fresh look. You have the option of purchasing brand new foam for the couch, which could make it even more comfortable than it was when it was first purchased. If you decide to go this route, one of the changes we suggest making is switching out your old foam cushion for one made of high-resilience foam. This foam is of exceptional quality and is typically offered in densities ranging from 2.5 to 3 pounds per cubic foot. This is a significant improvement over the standard cushion foams that have a density of 1.7 pounds. Densities of 2.8 and 3.0 pounds per cubic foot are available for purchase in our High Resilience foam. Your cushions will also have superior support, buoyancy, and responsiveness as a result of this, in addition to a lifespan of more than ten years.
The simple solution is to upgrade to a higher quality foam core, which will offer ample support, resistance, and longevity in contrast to a cheaper foam core, which cannot offer these benefits. Because of this, our number one piece of advice is for you to replace the foam core that is located inside of your sofa cushions. You can learn more about the various kinds of foam that we recommend for the cushions of furniture here, in the event that you do decide to make an upgrade.
Fix Springs and Jute Webbing
There is also the possibility that the jute webbing or springs in your couch have become worn out over time. There are springs sandwiched between the dust cloth fabric that is underneath your couch and the decking fabric that is beneath your cushions. When you sit on your couch, they provide you with support. There are numerous varieties of couch springs, including eight-way hand-tied springs, which are considered to be the best option, and sinuous springs (most common).
These springs should always be wound up tightly and secured with some kind of string or twine. This guarantees that the couch will be firm and level throughout its entirety. After some time has passed, the twine will break, and the coil will become loose, which will result in lumps. If the springs are worn out, they will not provide as much resistance, which will allow you to bottom out when you are sitting. You can check for loose, unclipped, or bowed springs by looking under your sofa as well as through the dust cloth. When you first sit down on the sofa, you should also keep an ear out for any noises like squeaking or creaking. Your neighborhood expert upholsterer should be able to fix or replace any springs that are broken, bent, or not properly tied. If necessary, they should also be able to do so quickly.
Find the Right Proportions
Sitting or lying down on a couch that is wobbly or unstable can significantly alter the level of comfort that the couch provides. When weight is applied to a couch that is not level, the pressure will be distributed in an uneven manner. This can cause quicker degradation and damage to the couch frame. A loose and wobbly couch frame will only get worse over time until it does give out. Get yourself some good wood glue and a few clamps before this turns out to be a problem. To apply wood glue into the loose joints, you will need to lift up a portion of the upholstery fabric first. Make sure that the joints are kept under pressure by using the clamps until the glue has completely dried the following day. This will not only improve the structural integrity of the couch, but it will also make it more comfortable.
Make Alterations to the Cloth
The fabric used for upholstery will eventually need to be replaced. This presents the ideal opportunity to give your sofa a new look and breathe new life into it by reupholstering it. The selection of a fabric is the first step in achieving comfort not only in terms of how the fabric looks but also how it feels. Cotton, linen, wool, leather, acetate, hemp, silk, polyester, polypropylene, acrylic, rayon, and nylon are some of the many types of fabrics that can be purchased. Because there are so many choices, it might be hard to determine which one is best for you. Cotton, for instance, will be more comfortable to the touch than wool, but it will not last nearly as long. Chenell, a plush, vibrant fabric with a plush and luxurious feel that will make your sofa more comfortable and last for decades, is currently the most popular fabric in use.
When selecting a new fabric, pay close attention to how many double rubs it can withstand. You can determine the abrasion resistance and durability of the fabric based on this terminology. One complete pass over the fabric with a back-and-forth motion counts as one double rub. Heavy-duty products are rated as having a minimum of 30,000 double rubs. Some of the newer varieties of vinyl that are available in stores today can withstand millions of double rubs. We advise going with a Chenell fabric that was made with the latest iteration of the Crypton fabric protectant. Because it is treated with the innovative Crypton stain repellent, this fabric has an exceptional double rub count. This fabric has a protectant that is far superior to the traditional Scotch Guard, which we are all accustomed to using.
We sincerely hope that you found this article to be informative! After reading this, you should have a better understanding of how to make the seating on your couch more comfortable. When it comes time to buy new furniture, be sure to give careful consideration to the aforementioned considerations.
You may also like
- Apple Releases App to Help Android Users Detect Rogue AirTags
- 5 Reasons To Pay Attention To Your Side Yard
- Amazon Echo Show 15 Review
- Google to Bring Android Games to Windows PCs Next Year
- The New Microsoft Teams feature will make it easier to watch yourself
- Google Pixelbook Go Review
KeWiki is an affiliate-based website that tests and reviews the best tech, appliances, gear, and more. You can trust our veteran reviewers and experts to find the best stuff just for you.
KeWiki strives to be probably the most trusted product suggestion and service on the web. We obsessively test and report on thousands of things annually to suggest one of the best of all the things. We aim to save lots of you time and get rid of the stress of buying, whether or not you’re on the lookout for on a regular basis gear or items for family members. We work with complete editorial independence. Meaning nothing seems on the location as a suggestion until our writers and editors have deemed it one of the best by our rigorous reporting and testing.
