apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Is the couch pictured your model? If so, it looks like most of the wear would fall on the cushions... you could just get those replaced or re-done, with the caveat that it would have to be in a coordinating/contrasting fabric.

Only 2 years? Is this a reflection on Crate & Barrel furniture? I guess it's true what they say about things not being made the way they used to - I've got a sofa that was previously used by both my parents and grandparents! I think it is 40 years old. Under a custom slip cover, it's holding up very well. I'm probably the last owner, though, as the springs are just beginning to go!

I am also curious about this. I bought a sort of foam couch (I loved it because I can pick it up single handedly to clean under, but it still looks like a couch - rather like the Karlstad from Ikea) about 5 years ago for $300 new, which is now falling apart (and has been for a while). Whatever couch we'll get will see a LOT of use, and I'd like to get one that's easily cleanable. But couches these days are so expensive! I've been thinking about getting a case study daybed from Modernica, but with shipping it's about $2k - it seems kind of excessive. =/ I guess the price of real things (outside of college dorm stuff) continues to surprise me. Otherwise I will probably go with Ikea, whose prices for couches seem reasonable to me.

How much do people spend on average for a couch? And how often do people get new couches? How long SHOULD a couch last?

Good furniture is expensive. It sucks, but it's better than replacing it every 5 years.

For a couch, start by trying to lift one end. It should be heavy and if it's being lifted by only one of it's four corners it should barely twist. These indicate that it's probably solidly constructed. I'd also check to see if the bottom of it is covered as I associate that particular attention to detail with quality, especially if the edges are finished nicely. Details are important and often something that flimsier furniture can't match. Joints should match up well, sewn corners should be neat and tidy, legs should be even, that sort of thing.

As for how much it would cost to reupholster vs. how much to buy a new couch, well, that's anothe story. First, is the body of the couch holding up well? Does it feel loose or shakey? Then it might be better to replace it. If not, you could slipcover it or recover it yourself. If you love the shape and it's holding up well, by all means, reupholster it. It might be more expensive (depends on how high quality you go on the new couch) but it might not and if you love the shape, keep it.

@cyli, I paid about $1,200 for mine from a furniture clearing-house (I'd guess that was about half of retail based on some research afterwords). I love it dearly and have had it for nearly five years. If it weren't for the cats scratching at it, it would look brand new. The cushions don't sag, the body is solid, etc. I would bet that if I recovered it in cat-proof fabric it would last me at least another decade, possibly more. My mother has a couch from the late 1800s, early 1900s that she still uses in her house, so they can last quite a long time, although the horsehair cushions were replaced when she had it recovered about 15 years ago.

Being an old jo-ann employee..5" green high density foam is about $30 a linear foot. Then I'm sure you can find fabric from a local home decor fabric store. But there are a few things you have to consider with the fabric. If you husband is using this thing daily you might want to get a crypton fabric or similar to prevent wearing showing through. Commercial grade fabric is meant to be sat on daily for long periods. Places like crate and barrel don't expect your husband to be working 8 hours a day on the couch. This is also most likely why the foam is going bad.

you can also have a reupholster do the work and make sure you pick a fabric that can withstand daily use, and high quality foam. And when you go shopping for the fabric make sure that the upholster is comfortable with what you have picked for being able to be used on your couch. I have come across people who pick the fabric without consulting and pick something that puckers, etc.

I know that the eco stance is to reuse/fix, but you might be better off donating this couch to good will and starting over (especially if you are moving). I would suggest looking at a higher grade of couch in the future. Surprisingly Macys has some really good couches. And you can also look at finer local home furniture dealers that are independent and sell name brands. You are going to shell out some dough to get a quality couch that is going to last you 30 years, but it is a one time expense that won't have to be repeated every 2 years.

I know I might get chastised for this, but your best bet for upholstery that is going to stand up to wear and tear is going to be leather. Good quality leather. Most couches at Macy's have a guarantee that your cat can't scratch their leather. There is a difference between top grain leather and that crap you get on $50 leather office chairs from staples.

To respond quickly to the first post- no, the photo posted is not our sofa, alas. That looks a ton better than ours :)

Thank you for the detailed reply. I think we paid about $1500 for this sofa. The cushions do come out, but the arm is showing wear too. (It's a microsuede fabric.)

If I found an uphulsteror I would work with them to pick out the appropriate fabric. The structural integrity of the couch is still perfect, but Mom seemed to think that we'd pay almost the cost of a new couch to get it redone. Of course, if it's $1200 to get it fixed up with good fabric versus a ton more to start over with good fabric I'll fix it!

cyli- we won't buy IKEA couches because they just don't last for us. We had one and it fell apart pretty quickly and was replaced by this one.

Thanks for the helpful replies everyone. :)