A question I often hear is ‘when should I replace my bed/sofa/mattress?’ 

Furniture does not come with a ‘Best Before’ date so in some respects the question is a moot one.  Many of us still have a prized item tucked away somewhere such as great, great grandmother’s dressing table.

Generally speaking, though, most items of furniture do have a date by when they are likely to be worn out:

Average Lifespan of Home Furnishings

• Sofa 7-15 years
• Upholstered chair 7-10 years
• Wooden chair 10-15 years
• Dining room table 15-20 years
• Coffee or occasional table 5-10 years
• Bed 15-20 years
• Chest of drawers 10-20 years
• Desk 10-15 years
• Wicker or rattan furniture 10 years
• Mattress 5-10 years

Obviously some pieces of furniture are better made and more hard wearing than others so these are just rough guides.

There are also some tell-tale signs that an item of furniture is wearing out:

Sofa or Upholstered Chair – listen for creaks and look for sagging cushions.  Check the upholstery for odours, stains and rips.

Wooden Chair – danger signs are wobbly legs and splits in the wood.  Upholstered chairs can have the upholstery replaced if the chair itself is sound.

Dining Room Table – they may suffer scratches, dents and burns but the most common reason for changing a dining room table is because it is no longer the right fit for the room it is in.

Coffee or Occasional Table – can be marked by hot cups, wet glasses and unwanted feet! 

Bed – if it creaks it probably needs to be replaced.  Children’s beds are often replaced as the child grows.

Chest of Drawers or Desk – if the drawers no longer move freely or it becomes unsteady it is time for a replacement.

Mattress – think about replacing if it sags or is uncomfortable, no longer providing a peaceful night’s sleep.

If you are in Gloucestershire and thinking about replacing some of your furniture, then pay a visit to Furniture Factory Outlet.