Whether we like it or not, our first apartments are usually filled with furniture we came by one way or another…a friend was moving and lightening the load, a yard sale down the street, the combination of pure necessity and a chance craigslist listing. It’s not always sunshine and rainbows and choosing your ideal set of furniture. Couches seem to be the thing that gets passed along from one owner to another. I myself have been the proud owner of a hand-me-down couch once or twice in my lifetime and while it’s convenient it can leave you feeling like someone else furnished your apartment.
So if you’re the owner of an orphaned sofa and you’re looking for ways to give it new life, there are strategies to make that old couch feel like your own. And if you’re on a budget this beats the heck out of shopping for a new one!
One of the ways you can improve on your old sofa is to switch the legs out for new ones. If the original ones are looking dull or aren’t the style you want, you can purchase new ones at your local hardware or home improvement store. If you’re looking for something more specific, try online as well. This simple switch can make your sofa look dramatically different.
If you have a cat who’s been picking at your sofa or its upholstery has just simply seen better days, slipcovers are a great option. Upholstery can be cleaned but if it’s beyond repair, a cover is in order. Slipcovers don’t traditionally sound glamorous, but they truly can breathe new life into a lackluster sofa.
Sometimes all an old couch needs is a little distraction from the minor flaws and picks. Oversized throw pillows make a great cover-up. Without making any dramatic changes to your sofa you can avert the eye and make a cozier place to sit while you’re at it. There’s a whole world of every kind of throw pillow you can think of out there – or you can try a website like Society 6 for a pillow design that’s more customized or alternative.