In this article, I’ll go over everything you can do to prevent sinking and sagging in couch cushions. The primary focus will be on what you can put under the cushions to make them firm. However, I’ll also go over some of the different ways you can prevent sagging in general.

Why Do Cushions Sag?

Before we delve into the topic of cushion support, we first need to get to the root of the problem. Namely, we need to know exactly why our couch cushion is sagging. Here are three of the most common reasons behind cushion sinking:

Uneven Weight Distribution

Couches usually occupy a prominent space in the living room. More often than not, you’ll place yours in front of a television set or in front of a coffee table. That way, people can have a seat in a relaxed atmosphere where they can see anyone they talk to or watch TV without any obstructions. However, the most frequent person on that couch will be you, and like everyone, you’re a creature of habit — you like to sit in one spot.

When you spend a lot of time sitting on a specific area of the couch, soon enough it will show a dent and begin to sag. That’s because you’ve been putting all of the extra weight on that one area instead of sitting on different cushions or even armrests. The same goes for the cushions at the back of the couch. When you’re relaxing and leaning onto them, you will cause them to sag.

Broken Frame

Sometimes, the sag of the cushion isn’t really because of the cushion filling or your weight. Quite often, you’ll see that the sag is concentrated on one particular spot. That’s a spot where the wooden frame might have broken, so I highly advise you to check it out.

Couch frames can be broken because of too much weight being exerted on it. Metal frames, on the other hand, are not that easy to break. They can rust or bend, however, and if you don’t give them a thorough check, your cushions will sag sooner than you think.

Sleeping on the Sofa

Sleeping on the sofa isn’t healthy. It’s an uneven type of furniture with very basic lumbar support, and it can be quite shorter than a standard single bed. However, we all still sleep on the sofa sometimes, especially after a hard day of work or if we need a place to crash while all other bedrooms are full.

Naturally, sleeping on any sofa will bring about some long-term problems. The biggest one is the weight pressure on the springs. If you sleep on the couch too much, the springs will eventually deteriorate and lose their elasticity. In other words, they won’t keep the cushions firm and you can spot early signs of sagging.

Why Should You Care That the Cushions on Your Couch Sag?

There are several reasons behind you needing to make sure that your cushions stay firm. By far the most important one is your health. A sagging cushion will provide poor support for your back and your posture in general. If you either lean on a sinking cushion or even sleep on it, expect a lot of back pain, sprained ankles, and a small ache in your neck.

The other major reason is aesthetics. Imagine walking into the house of your best friend and seeing that all of their furniture looks like it’s about to spill on the floor. A sagging cushion makes the whole sofa look unappealing to sit on. So in order for your couch to be a bit more inviting, you’ll need firm cushions.

How to Prevent Cushion Sinking

Before you focus on putting something under the cushions, you might want to try a few different methods that will reduce the amount of sagging. The three methods I found particularly helpful include flipping the cushions, fluffing them, and removing the fiber filling before washing them. Let’s go over them quickly.

1. Flipping the Cushions

Flipping and rotating the cushions is actually one of the most recommended things you can do to prevent cushion sagging. Some blogs recommend that you do it on a weekly basis, though once a month ought to be enough.

Of course, not all sofas have cushions that look the same after being rotated. In fact, lots of sectional sofas have cushions that have a specific design, so when you flip them, they look like they’re placed upside down. Obviously, the flip will help reduce the cushion sag, but your sofa will look weird. So, the best way to go about the problem is to flip the cushion once a day, even for a little bit, while you’re home alone.

Another good method for non-flippable cushions is to lay them on the floor and walk over them in all directions. By doing that, you’re redistributing the weight of the filling inside of the cushions. After a few minutes of walking, they should look good as new.

Now, if you have a deep sofa, the front edge of your cushion might start to sag and look deflated. That’s quite normal since you’re sitting on that edge all the time and constantly apply pressure. However, you can’t exactly flip the front and back edges, since the back edge usually has the cushion’s zipper. That’s the side which we are not meant to see on a sofa, which is why it has the zipper in the first place.

If this type of sagging happens, here’s what you need to do:

• Pull out the cushion
• Undo the zipper and take the filling out
• Rotate the filling so that the sagging side is facing the back edge of the cover
• Place the filling back in the cover
• Align the seams and welts
• Rezip the cushion

2. Fluffing the Cushions

Fluffing a sofa cushion might be a bit difficult since the cushion itself is quite large. With regular pillows, it’s as easy as grabbing it and giving it a good rustle. There are other methods, of course, but generally, they don’t require a lot of effort.

Luckily, there are ways you can fluff a big sofa cushion. I personally recommend doing it once every few months, since the filling will naturally start to sag over time, even without the pressure of your body weight. The fluffing goes as follows:

• Take the cushion out
• Place it with one edge on the floor, level, and a short distance away from you
• Hit the front and the back of the cushion repeatedly with your hand
• Alternatively, use a wooden spoon instead if you have one
• Bounce the cushion on one side several times to reshape it
• Repeat these steps for all four sides until the sagging is gone

3. Removing the Filling

You will need to wash the cushion covers from time to time. However, you can’t really do it with the fiber filling still inside. If you put the filling in the washer, it will become weak and lose its firmness.

So, when washing the cushions, remove the filling first, then either hand-wash the covers or put them in the washer. Keep in mind that not all cushion covers are the same and that some of them need dry-cleaning. Read the label of the covers carefully before you decide to put them in the wash.

Everything You Can Put Under a Sagging Cushion

Now that we’ve covered everything you can do with the cushion, let’s focus on the structural integrity of the couch. Sometimes, propping up the cushions can be done by simply putting the right thing underneath them. Other times, that item might go inside of a cushion, next to the stuffing already inside. From my experience, these five items will always give your couch’s structure a bit of a boost.

Plywood or Thick Cardboard

There are quite a few benefits to using cardboard or plywood as structural reinforcement. First off, it’s a DIY method that doesn’t require professional help and that anyone can do at home. And more importantly, as simple as it might be, it’s quite effective.

There are several steps to placing plywood under your cushions:

1. Remove every single cushion and leave the couch bare
2. Take a measuring tape and measure everything about the couch (length, width, depth, etc.); note all of the measurements and subtract roughly 3 inches from them
3. Take a big piece of ¼ inch plywood or cardboard and mark the couch measurements on it with a marker or a pencil
4. Take a circular saw or a jigsaw and cut the plywood into the necessary rectangular shape
5. Place the piece of plywood on the couch frame; cut off any excess plywood if it sticks out beyond the cushion edges
6. File the edges after cutting so they don’t snag the cloth of the cushions. Alternatively, you can tape over the edges with some duct tape.
7. Place the plywood onto the frame and put the cushions over it.

Additional Steps to Plywood Application

Of course, there are a few extra steps if you want to have an additional layer of support. For that, you’ll need some rubber foam, a large piece of cloth, a staple gun, and some staples. Once you get them, do everything from steps 1 to 7 first. The remaining steps are as follows:

8. Place the plywood on the rubber foam and mark it down, then cut the foam with scissors
9. Cut out a piece of cloth (it can be either brand new cloth or an old piece, like a blanket or a sheet); make sure the cloth is roughly 6 inches larger than the plywood on all four sides
10. Spread the cloth out flat on the floor; place the foam at the center and the plywood on the foam
11. Take one of the long edges of the cloth and place it over the plywood, then staple it
12. Turn the edge of the cloth on the inside and staple it at 2-inch intervals
13. Repeat steps 12 and 13 for all four sides of the plywood
14. When you’re done, place the plywood into the couch frame.

New Foam Inserts

A cushion foam insert will naturally lose its structural integrity over time. Once that happens, you might need to get some new foam at the store. Most people recommend polyurethane, since it’s quite firm and maintains its shape for a while. Depending on the store, you can either buy inserts that have the same dimensions as your cushions, or buy a large piece of foam and cut off what you need with scissors.

Start by removing the old inserts first. Next, slowly insert the new foam inserts and try to compress and squeeze them into shape. Once you get sharp corners and smooth edges, you can zip the cushions back up.

Batting

Batting is also known as polyester fiberfill. People often use it to furnish upholstery, like quilts and pillows. Interestingly enough, you can use it to make your cushions firm again, and you can do it on a budget.

Using batting is simple enough. All you have to do is unzip the cushion and stuff the batting underneath the existing foam insert. It will provide additional support and level the cushion out.

Cushion Supports

Not all of us are DIY enthusiasts, and sometimes we need a simple solution that can guarantee good anti-sagging cushion support. Luckily, there are amazing products out there that do the job perfectly.

Sagging Sofa Cushion Support | Seat Saver

• Helps make sofas sit up straight again
• Slip under seat cushion to give old sofas a new look
• Will improve your posture as you sit
• Just unfold and put into place

See on Amazon

An average cushion support is durable enough to withstand any additional weight. Moreover, it will improve our posture and prevent the cushion from sagging. And the best part is that you can quickly fold it away and store it in case you don’t need it anymore.

Of course, there are other cushion supports that function similarly to foam inserts. They are just as easy to use and are made from durable, firm materials that don’t sag.

New Springs

Springs are an important part of any couch. They provide firmness and elasticity to the seats and prevent the cushions from sagging too deeply into the couch. In addition, they act as shock absorbers.

If you have an old couch, chances are that some of the springs might be rusted, bent, broken, or have simply lost their elasticity. Any of these issues can lead to your cushions sagging. In order to prevent it from happening, you’ll probably need to install new springs. In fact, you can even try handcrafting springs for additional support. 

Final Thoughts

Having a firm, fluff cushion is important, both aesthetically and practically, which is why it’s important to know the best DIY method to prevent them from sinking or sagging.

There are other anti-sagging solutions for your cushions out there, like couch jute webbing repair and button tufting. However, if you need a quick and simple method, I highly recommend trying one of those listed above. Each of them will help you do the job easily and without having to buy a new couch in the process.

Related:

• How to Keep Your Couch Cushions From Sliding
• How to Fix a Sagging Mattress

The post What Can You Put Under the Couch Cushions to Prevent Sagging? appeared first on HomelyVille.

Not only that, but the constant repositioning of cushions can also take a toll on the overall look of your couch. Sofas naturally lose a bit of fluff and shape over time, but don’t think only old sofas can have a problem with sliding cushions.

Your couch cushions can start sliding only a month or two after purchase. It’s often the case that the upholstery just isn’t strong enough to keep them in place.

All of this probably sounds familiar, as it’s a very common problem. Thankfully, there are several solutions, and they aren’t expensive, either.

So, how can you keep your couch cushions from sliding?

1. Velcro Strips

Velcro strips come in many shapes and sizes, and they can be used in a variety of situations. They are also one of the easiest ways to keep your cushions from sliding. If you ever change your mind, you can easily remove Velcro strips from your couch, so that’s another bonus.

The entire process of installing velcro strips on your couch isn’t difficult, but make sure you buy strong and thick velcro strips. They need to be good quality so they can withstand the pressure they will constantly be under.

If sewing isn’t your strong suit, make sure to buy Velcro strips with an adhesive back. Otherwise, you will need to sew the strips onto your cushions on your own, or get someone else to do it for you.

VELCRO Brand Sticky Back Strips with Adhesive | 4 Count (Pack of 1) | Black...

• SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS - Numerous...
• BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR STUDENTS - Add closures to...
• SUITABLE FOR SMOOTH SURFACES - Sticky Back Strips...
• STRONG AND SECURE HOLD - Creates a long-lasting bond...

See on Amazon

How to Install Velcro Strips

1. First of all, remove your cushions.
2. Now, you need to measure your couch cushions, specifically the width.
3. Cut the Velcro strips into about 10 to 15cm strips for each cushion.
4. Velcro strips are connected. You need to separate them and place one side on the bottom of your cushion. If you bought Velcro strips with adhesive, you can simply stick it onto the cushion.
5. Make sure to align the other side of the strip with the first one, and place it on the couch where the two sides can meet up. Again, simply stick it onto the bottom of the couch.
6. Secure the cushions and let the adhesive dry.

2. Rubber Shelf Liners

Surely not many people would think that shelf or drawer liners could help with sliding couch cushions, but this is a great solution. You can find them almost anywhere: from your local home and kitchen supply store to various internet sites.

These liners are made of rubber, and are thin and very flexible. You can place them on any type of surface, including the smooth upholstery of your couch.

Shelf and drawer liners are non-adhesive, but they are usually textured and they keep objects from sliding.  You can find them in different sizes and colors. The best thing to do is to cut them yourself based on what your needs are.

HooTown Refrigerator, Freezer, fridge Shelf Liners and Drawer Mats 11.8 Inch...

• NOVEL DESIGN AND NON ADHESIVE: Non Adhesive EVA plastic...
• HEALTHY & SAFE MATERIAL: Made of high quality...
• EASY TO INSTALL AND CUT: Our shelf liner has the most...
• CONVENIENT TO CLEAN: Kitchen cabinet drawer mats is...

See on Amazon

How to Install Shelf or Drawer Liners

1. Firstly, remove your cushions and vacuum your sofa. This is important so that the shelf liner stays in place until you want to remove it.
2. Measure your cushions for the areas you need. You need both width and depth.
3. Now you need to cut your shelf liners according to the measurements. If you want, you can join pieces of shelf liner by using a sewing machine. However, if you don’t want to do that, it’s better to cut your liners a bit bigger than your cushions.
4. Put the liner down on the seat base. Because you cut the liners a bit bigger, tuck in the ends at the sides. If you can’t tuck in the ends for whatever reason, then go the opposite way: cut the liner a bit smaller than your measurements.
5. Check with your hands if everything is stable and secure.
6. Place the cushions back.

3. Hooks and Rings

This solution is a double-edged sword. It’s probably the most difficult one to execute, but it’s also the most convenient if you are looking for a permanent solution. It involves hooking the cushion to the couch, which keeps the cushions from sliding forward.

You will need some fabric, rings, hooks, and a bit of DIY skills. If you aren’t good at sewing, this might not be the right choice for you. However, if you are comfortable with a needle or have someone else to help you, this is possibly the best long-term solution for you.

Make sure you buy some stronger fabric, and a blunt plastic hook. Since you will be sewing them onto the fabric, not the sofa itself, you will always be able to remove the hooks and rings.

How to Install Hooks and Rings

1. Take the fabric and cut two smaller pieces.
2. Using a needle, sew one piece of fabric onto the sofa, and the other one onto the cushion you want to stop from sliding. Make sure the two pieces of fabric are more or less aligned.
3. Now take a small metal ring and sew it onto one of the pieces of fabric.
4. Then you take a plastic hook and sew it onto the other piece of fabric, opposite of the ring.
5. Repeat these steps for each of the cushions that keep sliding off.
6. Place the cushions back onto the sofa, and put the hooks through the rings.

4. Non-Slip Rug Mats

Another great solution for sliding couch cushions are non-slip rug mats. This is similar to what’s typically used for an area rug. You can find them at any place that sells carpeting equipment, furniture, or rugs. If you can’t find it in a local store, you can always find non-slip rug mats online.

Non-slip mats prevent the rug from sliding or moving around, especially on smooth surfaces. That’s why they are often used to keep sofa cushions from sliding. Make sure you buy a mat that’s similar in size to the length of your couch.

Slip-Stop Ultra Stop Low-Profile Non-Slip Rug Pad for Area Rugs and Runner Rugs...

• Non-Slip Rug Pad For Hardwood Floors: The Slip-Stop...
• Soft Yet Durable: This non-slip rug pad is made from a...
• Ready to Use: Simply unfold and use, or trim this...
• Easy Care: We offer a 10-year guarantee with proper use...

See on Amazon

How to Install Non-Slip Rug Mats

1. First of all, you need to remove all of the cushions.
2. Vacuum the couch. This step is necessary if you want the rug mat to stay in one place and have a stronger grip.
3. Now measure the length and the width of the sitting area.
4. Compare the measurements of the non-slip rug mat to the measurements of the sitting area. You will most likely have to trim off excess length and width.
5. Place the rug mat onto the inside of the couch and press it down. Smooth the surface completely, if there are any lumps or bumps.
6. Return the cushions back to their place.

If Nothing Works…

The lifespan of an average couch is from 7 to 15 years. However, it’s usually one of the most used pieces of furniture in a home, and it tends to look and feel older than it actually is.

If none of these solutions work for you, maybe it’s time to consider buying a new couch. Then, you can implement one of these solutions in advance, as a way to prevent couch cushions from starting to slide in the first place.

Related: How to Stop a Couch From Sliding

The post The Best Solutions To Keep Your Couch Cushions From Sliding appeared first on HomelyVille.