How to Fix a Sagging Couch — The Expert Guide to Reviving a Frumpy Sofa

Knowing how to fix a sagging couch is key to ensuring the longevity of your sofa, especially if you paid a lot of money upfront. Indeed, a good, well-made couch should last you around 10 years, but only if it's properly maintained. So if your cushions start sagging, you want to remedy that ASAP.

Don't let a strange sit and some loose cushions ruin what's supposed to be the best sofa for you and your family. As Livingetc's genuine couch expert, I'm here to guide you through the simple process of restoring your sagging sofa so you can enjoy movie nights, cocktail hours, and mid-afternoon naps without incident for years to come.

To help today, my colleagues and I have spoken with TaskRabbit furniture assembler Vanessa Garcia and Peter Triestman of Olek Restoration, a furniture restoration and reupholstery company, for their expert tips on how to fix a sagging couch. These conversations supplement my own couch research and testing, which currently adds up to over 30 hours of independent writing and interviewing with sources at some of the leading sofa brands, as well as 60 couches (and counting!) sat on and tested, including models from Anthropologie, IKEA, Albany Park, Burrow, and more. It's all in service of you, the Livingetc reader, and, in this case, your beloved but sagging sofa. Here's how to fix it.

Step 1: Determine the source of the sagging

First up in your sofa rescue mission — locate the cause of your saggy sofa. Droopiness can result from one of three things: an issue with the cushions, an issue with the frame, or an issue with the serpentine springs.

If it's your cushions, the problem is likely a result of sofa age, general wear and tear, poor-quality foam, or uneven weight distribution (have you been sitting in the same spot repeatedly?). To make sure you're dealing with a sick seat and nothing more, remove the cushions from the couch frame. If they no longer look saggy, you know the problem is the frame or the springs; but if they're still dropping, even while separate from the couch, you've found the culprit.

Once you've ruled out the cushions, look at the springs. Remove the cushions once again. Take a peek at the springs directly underneath. Are they all in place? Does one look broken or disconnected? Depending on your sofa, you might have to remove your sofa's dust cover to check things out. If anything is out of place with the springs, you know that's what caused the droop.

And finally, it might be your sofa frame. To determine if it is, turn your sofa on its side so you can see the bottom. If the frame is broken or needs replacing, you'll either see a crack through the frame or bowing in the wood.

Step 2: Fluff your cushions

If the cushions are the culprit, you're in for a simple solution.

"This is actually the easiest fix," Vanessa tells us. You can rotate the cushion, to better spread out the wear and tear; fluff and plump the cushions for some added volume; replace the cushion with an entirely new cushion; or add extra or entirely new foam.

Foam is generally more durable and less expensive than feathers or down, so that might be the preferred option, especially if you have little kids at home. Once you've restuffed, just be sure to shake and plump the reinvigorated cushion before sitting to evenly distribute the filling. Boom —you've got a stylish sofa, once again.

Step 3: Check the springs and webbing

If the problem lies with your springs or the webbing (a woven, hammock-esque platform for your cushions), unfortunately, you're in for a bit more work. The issue here could be that the webbing, the coil springs, or the zig-zag springs (whichever is used in your couch) are stretched out, broken, or in need of replacement, Peter tells me.

If that's the case, "go to a reupholsterer," he advises. "Couches are not for amateurs." To pick your professional, search Google for companies that reupholster couches near me and "select the one with the best reviews to contact."

Step 4: Check the frame

If it's not the cushions or the springs, it might be the frame. And if you've determined as much, you once again won't be able to (or at least shouldn't) fix this one on your own.

Depending on where you purchased your couch, the frame itself might come with a warranty. If so, contact the manufacturer and see what can be done. They might be able to disassemble the couch, fix the frame, and reassemble it for free.

If your frame does not have a warranty, it's time to call in the professionals. Of course, you should weigh this against the cost of buying a new sofa entirely. From a sustainability perspective, it's better to repair the couch you already have. But I understand that from a cost POV, that's not an option for everyone.

At the very least, get a quote. And as you do so "make sure [the company] replaces the materials they say they will," Peter tells me. "Get photos of the work in progress, as part of the work to be done."

In summary, problem cushions are an easy fix. You can solve for this one on your own with either a replacement cushion or some new filling. But if you're dealing with a spring or a frame issue, call in the experts, lest you damage your sofa beyond repair. At the end of it all, maybe you'll have made your sofa look more luxurious.

How do I stop my couch from sagging in the first place?

For starters, make sure you're assembling your couch properly.

"While assembling, every single screw has to be tightened 100% unless instructed otherwise by the instruction packets," Vanessa says. "Using a drill usually will help tighten the screws or bolts that human strength most likely will not."

We'd also suggest getting in the habit of flipping your couch cushions regularly (i.e. every few months) and sitting in different spots on the couch. Choosing a quality sofa in the first place also leads to less sagging.

And if you really want some backup, try investing in cushion supports, or rigid inserts that live underneath the couch seat to help retain their shape.