October 19, 2024, 11:27 am | Read time: 7 minutes
Worn, saggy, stained, and smelly to boot. To get an old sofa back into good condition, it sometimes only takes a few simple steps to give your living room a new lease of life. myHOMEBOOK author and interior designer Odett Schumann reveals how to upgrade and beautify an old sofa.
The sofa is undoubtedly a significant investment in any household, often costing a considerable amount and intended to be a fixture in your home for many years. However, even the sturdiest sofa reaches a point where it sags, with upholstery that’s worn, stained, or musty-smelling. Here are several tips to rejuvenate an old sofa and restore its charm.
Tip 1: Thorough cleaning
Stains and smells can make an old sofa look even less inviting. Often, a deep and thorough cleaning is all that’s needed to revive your once cherished piece of furniture.
Once all the upholstery and cushions have been removed from the seating furniture, it’s time for the first rough clean: vacuuming. The first step is to remove hair, crumbs, and dust. Alternatively, a wet vacuum or, for an even deeper clean, a steam cleaner can be employed. These have a deep-cleaning effect and can also be rented from some drugstores or DIY stores.
A stain remover can now be used to remove all stains. However, it is important to check in advance whether it is suitable for the material in question and the exact procedure specified in the dosing instructions. The goal is to avoid inadvertently causing more harm than good to the sofa. It is advisable to carry out a small test run on an area that is not easily visible and check how the fabric reacts to the application.
Sometimes, all you need is water, washing-up liquid, or gall soap. However, the cover or throw may also be completely removable and can be cleaned in the washing machine or given to a professional cleaner.
The second step is to freshen up your sofa. All you need for this is some baking soda powder (approx. 200 g). Spread it over a large area and leave it on overnight. Baking soda draws moisture out of the fabric and thus eliminates unpleasant odors. The whole thing can then be vacuumed off the next morning.
To impart a pleasant fragrance, you can lightly mist the upholstery with rose water or a blend of essential oil and water, which also neutralizes odors. Alternatively, a simple textile spray from the drugstore can also be used, although these often have a penetrating chemical smell.
Tip 2: Distract with accessories and more
If your sofa is getting a bit long in the tooth, you’re getting tired of the same old look, and perhaps you’ve already noticed the odd stain on the cover, smaller measures can also be very effective. Especially with solid-colored sofas, a handful of accessories can instantly refresh your living room’s appearance. How about a few new decorative cushions on the couch? Naturally, reupholstering the existing set is an even more sustainable option. You can play around with different colors, patterns, shapes, and materials. Either way, your sofa will look completely different.
Replacing blankets and furs also quickly shows its effect by creating a much more homely ambiance. They also catch the odd coffee stain and are quicker to clean than a sofa cover.
And here’s another tip for sprucing up an old sofa: the visual change doesn’t always have to take place on the sofa itself but can also take place in a secondary location. A large floor or wall lamp placed in the immediate vicinity or a pouf combined with it both have the potential to distract from blemishes on the sofa cover.
Tip 3: Old sofa, same manufacturer, new cover
Some well-known sofa manufacturers have models in their range, and they also offer extra covers in different colors and fabrics. Thus, replacing them is a breeze! Simply remove the old one, clean it if necessary, store it for later use, and cover the old sofa with the new matching cover. Without spending a lot of money and with little effort, you have what appears to be a completely new sofa in your living room.
In addition to the actual manufacturers themselves, there are also other suppliers who produce covers specifically for seating furniture – for example, from a well-known Swedish furniture store. So it’s worth looking for the right cover if you can’t find one from the relevant manufacturer. This applies not only to sofas but also to armchairs and stools.
And, of course, the upholstery can also be changed by professional experts. However, enlisting the services of an upholsterer will typically require a higher investment, although it is always cheaper than buying a new sofa.
Tip 4: Give it a new coat of paint
Transform the old into something original with a fresh coat of fabric paint. Yes, you read that correctly: What sounds incredible is actually possible. Not every deep clean is successful in the fight against stains. But if you’re fond of your old, comfortable sofa, consider giving it a makeover with textile paint.
This measure allows particularly stubborn stains to be simply brushed over. Covers made from suitable fibers such as cotton, wool, linen, or leather are particularly easy to re-dye. If the fabric cover is removable, it can even be put in the washing machine with the appropriate dye.
But there is actually another way, namely with a real coat of paint similar to wall paint. What you need is textile or leather paint, which is, of course, abrasion-resistant, non-toxic, UV-resistant, and waterproof.
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Tip 5: Have an old sofa refurbished
Of course, if you have a lot of manual skill and interest, you can also do the upholstery yourself. However, this tip for upgrading an old sofa is likely to be a rather time-consuming project. It is, therefore, advisable to seek out and commission an upholstery company, especially for beloved heirlooms. Decades of use leave their mark on even the sturdiest seating furniture. Over time, it simply becomes worn in some places. However, if the design is still appealing or the emotional value is simply very high – as with Grandpa’s old wing chair, for example – a professional repair is recommended.
Depending on the severity, only the upholstery needs to be replaced, perhaps the springs too, or in the worst case, the entire frame. But with a restored shape, the sofa can regain the comfort and seating experience you’ve cherished for years. So, instead of investing in a new purchase, refurbishing the piece of furniture proves to be much more sustainable. Although the process may be costly and time-consuming, it is often particularly rewarding for antique pieces.
If the sofa is still intact in terms of comfort, another component can also be renewed to give it a fresh look. How about new feet? For example, in colored plastic for a trendy accent in the room, in chic stainless steel for more elegance, or in wood for rustic chic? Regardless, changing the feet is usually a quick update that can have a significant impact on your sofa’s appearance.