How to Firm-Up Your Sofa and Chair Cushions

When your old sofa starts to sag, do you dread the idea of having to buy a new one? The endless shopping and driving around to find just the right sofa at just the right price. The trouble is, none of them are going to compare to the one you have now; they don’t have the look or that comfortable feel that you fell in love with. Well, there’s good news that you are going to want to hear. You can breathe new life into your old sofa or chair cushions and make them feel as good as they did the day you bought them. Read on to find out how. Firming-up you old sofa or chair cushions is easier than you think and it costs a lot less than buying a new one. You can go the fast and easy way and place a thin board under your cushions to give them more support, but that doesn’t really fix the problem. You could even go so far as contacting the manufacturer, if they are still around, and checking to see if they offer replacement cushions for your particular model. That way is easy, but it could become very expensive when you factor in the cost of custom cut cushions and oversized shipping. No, we are suggesting a more DIY approach to firming up your cushions; one that will save you money and give you the satisfaction of doing it yourself. Follow the simple instructions below and, in no time, your old sofa or chair will feel new again. Let’s get started! Measure the Cushion and Purchase Materials To begin, you want to remove the old, sagging cushions from your sofa or chair. In some cases, not all, there may be a layer of synthetic or cotton batting and a layer of netting which is used to keep the batting in place. You will need to remove these. Next, you can now begin to measure the old cushion. Measure the width, length, and thickness of the foam and remember that the cushion you are measuring is old, it may be misshapen or compressed in certain areas. If this is the case, measure the cushion cover instead measuring the area between the seams of the sewn section to get the most accurate results. You will need to 1 inch to each dimension to find the final foam size. For example, if the cushion cover measures 32 inches wide, 42 inches long, and 5 inches deep, your foam should be 33 by 43 by 6 inches. Now you are ready to purchase new foam, we have a great selection here which comes in three thicknesses. Be sure to order some batting to cover the foam cushion as it will add extra protection and a plusher feel when you are done. Purchase new foam from a foam supplier or upholsterer. As a rule of thumb, if your cushion is standard 4- to 5-inch-thick foam, choose 25/35 (density/firmness); if it’s 6 to 8 inches thick, choose 22/30. If ordering online, put everything back together so you can still use your sofa and you don’t damage any of the covers. Now may be a good time to clean the covers as well. Be sure to follow all manufacturers’ instructions and clean them accordingly. Stay tuned for Part II of How to Firm-Up Your Sofa and Chair Cushions, where we will cut our new foam, cover it with the batting and put it all back together. Here’s a tip from the pros: when you need upholstery materials or supplies for your next DIY project, shop where the pros do, Heritage Components. You’ll always get the right product at the right price.