Is Your Couch Sagging? These 2 Easy Fixes Will Make It Look Like New

While you may adore that comfy couch in your living room, chances are it’s started to look a little too loved over time, with flat cushions, hard spots, and general droopiness. But before you start shopping for a new one, there’s good news: Two quick fixes can make that sagging couch look like it did the day you bought it.

When it comes down to it, most older couches have two similar problems the longer that they’re used: Either the material in the cushions is worn down, or there are broken or detached springs within the couch itself. Even if you’re not the handiest person, replacing both of these parts is a relatively simple process.

How To Fix a Sagging Couch

For your cushions, you’re going to want to take the foam inside of them out slowly and deliberately so as not to accidentally rip them. Measure the height, length, and width of the foam from the cushion so that you can buy replacement foam online or in-person at home supply stores. The most important thing to look out for is that you’re buying more foam than what you’re replacing, since you’ll need to account for the fact that the cushions you have are flatter now than when your couch first arrived at your home.

Once you’ve bought your foam, you’re going to use a utility or electric carving knife to cut the shape of your original cushion with one inch added. This extra inch of thickness will account for the flattening and sagging over time. As soon as that’s done, you just need to put the new foam back in your cushion cover, and presto! Suddenly those cushions look fluffy and comfortable to sit on.

Second, for your box springs, simply turn your sofa over so that the bottom is facing up. Unscrew the legs of your couch and then pull back any black felt or other material covering the base. Once you look at the springs, see if any are just detached and hook them back into place. If you see any broken springs, take them off of the spring grid entirely (you may need to use pliers!) and replace each of them with a new spring. You can easily find these online and at any hardware store. Put the base of your couch back together and then flip it over. You’re done!

A Final Word

By just checking and replacing those cushion materials and box springs, you’ll not only get a lot more mileage out of your beloved but sagging couch, but you’ll also save a ton of money in the long run by not buying a new one. And if you want to take your furniture to the next level, check out everything you need to know about cleaning and deodorizing your couch.

This article was updated on Wednesday, October 26 at 11:30 a.m. EST. It was originally published on November 2, 2021.