As you’ve spent time in your current home, you may have seen it show wear and tear, and that’s also something to look out for when shopping for homes to buy or rent. Unfortunately, the furnishings you put in any home, from a sofa bed to a kitchen table, are also subject to wear and tear over time.
Replacing furniture is an eventual responsibility, but it might be hard to know when to do it. Unlike the food in your fridge, furniture doesn’t come with expiration dates. Fortunately, there are ways to know when to replace your furniture. Even better, it’s all part of a broader eight-step process you can go through to replace the furniture in your home, whether it’s one or two items, a whole room, or your entire residence.
1. Signs You Need New Furniture
How long a piece of furniture lasts varies. A king mattress can last 10 years or longer, but you might need a new one if it starts sagging or gets uncomfortable. Sofas can last seven to 15 years, but they might need replacement if you see a deteriorating frame, sagging seats, or fabric stains. Dining room furniture can last decades when properly cared for. It’s helpful to know the approximate year your furniture was made, but inspecting its condition on a regular basis is a better way to know when it might need replacement.
2. Why You Might Replace Furniture
Some of your older furniture might be physically viable but still something you want to replace, and there are multiple reasons you might start shopping for new bedroom furniture sets even if your current pieces remain technically functional. For starters, many pieces of furniture might have worn-out fabric and fading upholstery. Others can have noisy parts and creaking sounds, whereas aging, cheap materials make you feel old just by looking at them. Perhaps the biggest reasons are comfort and support. If you don’t feel good in your bed or on a chair, then it’s no longer serving you well.
3. How to Get Rid of Older Furniture
To make room for the new, you need to free your home of the old. Whether older furnishings are past their prime, or you overcommitted too many pieces as a common layout mistake, there are many options for eliminating current furniture that you don’t want anymore. Selling online is sometimes a possibility. You can also check out local nonprofits and charities to see who welcomes donations. Lots of furniture — such as filing cabinets, bookcases, desks, and couches — can be recycled. You can also do this with furniture made of natural materials, such as metal, wicker, and wood. Curbside disposal is an option in some municipal areas. If that’s not allowed in yours, you can rent a dumpster or hire a junk removal service.
4. Consider Your Needs
Think about how you actually use your home. Are you replacing a piece of furniture you acquired just because you thought your home should have one? If you don’t use your dining room table and chairs all that much, it might reflect a lifestyle where you eat out a lot or you use a breakfast bar in the kitchen instead. Likewise, your living room might have a chair for guests that is never used. Choose your next furniture so that your home adapts to you instead of you to it.
Source: insta_photos/Shutterstock.com
5. Articulate Your Style
Once you know you’re going to satisfy your physical needs from your home’s furnishings, think about furniture that works together. What is your true style? What kind of furniture would balance your personality with your way of living? Finding something fashionable is good, but trends come and go. Buying something timeless might cost a bit more money up-front, but it can become a piece of furniture with enduring appeal.
6. Harmonize Colors and Materials
As much as you want furniture that works well together in terms of function and aesthetics, it also needs to work in harmony with the space you put it in. Consider the colors of your flooring and walls when envisioning a piece against the backdrop of the entire room. You don’t have to avoid combining colors and styles. In fact, doing so can bring a new level of visual intrigue to a room.
7. Take Lots of Measurements
Measure the furniture you dispose of so that you will know exactly how much space it is taking up. Using those measurements to look for replacement items makes it easy to swap out new pieces. You also need to consider the proportions and scale in a room. Measure the room size to figure out how much total square footage you have, and then decide on the right balance between furnishings and open space. How much space you want in each room varies based on the type of room. Generally speaking, 60% to 70% of a home’s floor space should be left open for movement, but that might be higher in bedrooms than it is in a living or dining room.
8. Don’t Rush the Process
Getting rid of old furniture, deciding on what to buy, budgeting for it, and then moving it in or assembling it are all specific tasks that can take time and energy. When combined into one large process, you’ve got a lot to deal with, so don’t rush it, as that will make mistakes more likely. Your home can serve you best in the future if you invest the time and money to find high-caliber furnishings that make the most of your resources. You can enjoy living with your furniture for decades when you do things right.
Source: PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock.com
Embrace the Opportunities
Furnishing your home can be an exciting start to life in a new residence or a chance to breathe fresh vibes into your current abode. Getting rid of old furniture and replacing it with new pieces can be an intimidating process, especially if your home is temporarily lacking crucial furnishings. However, it’s also an opportunity to invest in high-quality pieces that are worthy of your time and investment and elevate the aesthetics of your home at the same time. Figure out your style, needs, and budget, and use these tips to free yourself of what no longer serves you while replacing it with items that forecast a better future.