Most people view furniture as an investment. Unless you are the kind of person who likes to switch things every now and then, or you plan to move to a new place soon, chances are that the furniture you have will stay with you for a while.
Still, there are times when one needs to consider replacing furniture due to wear and tear and other reasons. This is not to say that old furniture does not add a certain type of charm. We still have antiques and items that have been passed down generations, but these are different.
Nowadays, the wide variety of options we get along with increasing disposable income is making items more dispensable. Before we get into each item in detail to understand if it is time to replace them, these are some questions you might want to consider:
- Is the item broken in a way that it cannot be used anymore?
- Has the cushioning taken a beating?
- Does it not fit in the area it is supposed to be used in? (Usually, a point of consideration when you move to a new place)
- Is the furniture uncomfortable to use?
- Have your requirements changed?
If the answer is “yes” to any of the above questions, it is probably time to purchase new furniture.
Living Room Furniture
Photo by Katja Bayer on Unsplash
Sofa/Couch and upholstered chairs:
Average life: 7-10 years
Key indicators that it needs to be changed:
- Parts of the sofa creak when you sit on it
- Cushions are sagging, and no amount of “fluffing” the cushions is helping anymore
- Lumbar support has declined to a great extent
- Stained, damaged, smelly upholstery
- Threads from the sofa can be ripped off easily
- The uncomfortable feeling of ‘sinking into’ (and not in a nice way) the sofa
Pro tip: Leather products are highly durable, and can last three times more than regular sofas/chairs. If durability is something you are looking for, go for a faux/real leather based sofa/chair!
Photo by Rick Lobs on Unsplash
Wooden chair:
Average life: 10-15 years
Key indicators that it needs to be changed:
- Legs of the chair have become wobbly and no amount of tightening helps
- Legs of the chair have been chewed into by your pet
- The arm rest has become weak
- Chipping can be noticed on the armrest or other parts of the chair
- Wood is splitting on the seat. These splinters can be extremely dangerous, and if you are seeing these on your chair, get rid of the chair immediately!
Pro tip: If the only part of the chair that is damaged is the upholstery, consider getting the chair re-upholstered. This can be done if the overall structure of the chair is sturdy!
Coffee/End/Centre tables:
Average life: 5-10 years
Key indicators that it needs to be changed:
- The table is chipped along the edges of the table
- The surface of the table has scratches and dents
- Weak and wobbly table legs
- Lots of stains due to placing excessively hot/cold objects on the table
- The table does not fit the space it is kept in
Pro tip: Place a sheet on the table to avoid making glass rings that might be hard to get rid of later, and use coasters whenever you can!
Kitchen and Dining
Dining table:
Average life: 15-20 years
Key indicators that it needs to be changed:
- If the table has some chips on the edges, making it look less appealing
- Scratches and dents along the surface of the table
- The legs of the table have become weak and wobbly
- You need a bigger/smaller table depending on the space you need the table to be kept in
- Discolouration of the table due to sunlight
Pro tip: The dining table can be structurally sound for several years, however issues like chips, dents, and scratches can make it less appealing a lot more earlier. Consider getting sturdy furniture, and ensure you regularly maintain it. Polishing cleaning are a must, if you want it to last a long time
Kitchen Island:
Average life: 10-20 years
While the kitchen island itself need not be replaced, it is possible that some kind of repair work may be required including replacement of drawers
Key indicators that it needs to be changed:
- Wear and tear due to frequent opening and closing of the drawers and cabinets in the kitchen
- Other stressors on the kitchen island, such as chopping vegetables/fruits on the countertop, leaving marks which do not easily go
- The drawers have become loose, or they do not open and close easily
- The modular chimney in the kitchen is smokey, and might need replacement
Pro tip: Kitchen Islands are highly durable, and can last more than 20 years if you can regularly maintain it. Make sure to be extremely careful in the kitchen, and have frequent top-to-bottom cleanups
Bedroom furniture
Bed:
Average life: 15-20 years
Key indicators that it needs to be changed:
- The bed frame is starting to creak and is bending towards the centre
- If you have a smaller bed, and need to exchange it for a bigger one
- The base of the bed feels weak, and the mattress seems like it is putting more pressure than usual
- The mattress foundation has dents, scratches, or splinters or is bent
Mattress:
Average life: 5-10 years
Key indicators that it needs to be changed:
- The mattress is sagging
- If you have spilled a lot of liquid items over the years. This will make it smelly, and it is never hygienic to keep such an item for too long
- The mattress sinks in when you use it, making it uncomfortable on your back
- The mattress has developed bumps at different points
Pro tip: If you want your mattress to last longer, flip and/or rotate the mattress every year. The life span does not change according to the type of mattress you purchase (such as memory, foam or spring). However, the amount you invest does indicate the durability of the mattress - so consider going for a sturdy mattress which might be slightly more expensive.
Drawers:
Average life: 10-20 years
Key indicators that it needs to be changed:
- The frame of the drawer or drawer unit is not sturdy anymore
- The drawers do not open or close easily
- The drawers get stuck when you try to open them. This can happen if the wood increases in size due to humidity
- The drawer has wobbly legs, or it is coming off easily
Pro tip: Although drawers can last years, it is best to get them replaced once you see these signs. This is especially important if you have children around, as these could become safety hazards
Desk:
Photo by Domenico Loia on Unsplash
Average life: 15 years
Key indicators that it needs to be changed:
- You are working from home and need to get yourself a desk that is an actual work desk and is ergonomically efficient (Consider the Quratory Ergo desk)
- The legs of the desk have become wobbly
- The drawers do not open or close easily
- There are splinters coming out from the desk, and it has chips and dents along the surface
Pro tip: Consider covering the desk with a bedsheet or a tablecloth to minimise wear and tear
Pillow:
Average life: 2-3 years
Key indicators that it needs to be changed:
- The pillow has become lumpy and you often wake up with a pain in the neck or head
- It doesn’t spring back up when pressed down upon
- It is very uncomfortable when you set your head down. It sinks in instead of staying fluffy
- The pillow has stains on it due to irregular cleaning
Pro tip: Regularly launder your pillows, or give them a nice clean so they can last longer
So, there you have it! Now that you have a fair idea of how long your furniture lasts, we hope it helps you make accurate decisions around such purchases in the near future! You can sell your old furniture, revamp it, or donate it before getting some new items to jazz up your home.