Unless you never sit down, your sofa (or couch) will eventually wear out. And then eventually, you’re left wondering what you should do with it. Your first thought may be to pitch it and buy new, but is that really the right answer? When it comes to upholstered pieces, figuring out what to do with them once they hit a certain age can be a challenge. To help make the decision easier, here are 3 options to consider:

Reuse it.

If the sofa has good bones, there’s really no reason for tossing it. Instead, think about giving it a good spruce-up. Have it thoroughly cleaned to get out old stains and set-in odors. Buy a new throw or some updated accent pillows to give it an updated look. You can even slipcover it! If it’s still usable, consider moving it to a secondary space, such as a guest room, game room, basement or garage. Be sure to cover all of your options before getting rid of it for good.

Another option is having your sofa reupholstered. You can either do it yourself or leave it to a professional. There is a plethora of fabric at your disposal, so don’t discount this option. Yes, a professional reupholster can cost as much, if not more, than a new sofa, but you’ll end up with a custom piece that will never have to see a landfill.

How do you know if your sofa is worth the cost of reupholstering?

Not every sofa should be reupholstered, but there are some exceptions that would be better off getting a facelift. To decide, here are some questions that you should ask yourself:

Is it an antique or family heirloom?

If so, you should seriously consider making it look new again. Many pieces have a beautiful story to tell and the value is immeasurable. A replacement just won’t cut it. When dealing with pieces like this, find a reputable professional to handle it. Unless you’ve reupholstered several times before, taking a risk on a special piece isn’t worth it.

Does it fit your needs and your space?

If the piece gets the job done exceptionally well, then preserve it. The majority of mass-produced pieces are made with a one-size-fits-all mentality, but that’s really not the case. Everyone’s needs and spaces are different, so if you’ve found a piece that suits you in every way, hang onto it.

Would you like it to reflect your personality and style?

As mentioned earlier, furniture isn’t meant to be one-size-fits-all. Where’s the individuality in that? Certain home decor sometimes requires a particular color, pattern or texture, which can often be hard to find at the average furniture store. Picking your own fabric gives you the freedom to design a piece you are completely happy with.

Do you enjoy have some extra pocket change?

Yes, reupholstering can cost more than buying a new piece, but not if you have to replace all the pieces so they “go together”. When you reupholster a piece of furniture, you can pick a fabric that will mesh perfectly with the other pieces of furniture you have. If you’re an experienced DIYer and will be taking on this project, then reupholstering will definitely be the cheaper way to go.

Recycle it.

I don’t know about you, but seeing junked furniture on lawns, in parking lots, or on the side of the road bothers me. Not only is illegal dumping well, illegal, but it’s also unsightly. Plus, it costs the municipalities quite a bit of money to clean up.

A better option would be to recycle it.

Yes, recycle! Did you know that you can have your sofa recycled? I didn’t either, until recently. Couch recycling is a much greener alternative, offering up all sorts of benefits including:

• Prevents pollution caused by reducing the need to harvest new raw materials
• Saves energy
• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change
• Saves money
• Helps sustain the environment for future generations
• Allows products to be used to their fullest extent
• Reduces the amount of waste that will need to be recycled or sent to landfills and incinerators

Since it does require extensive labor for the process, however, your options may be few. To find out where you can take it, check out places like Earth911. If all else fails, you can dismantle the sofa and then take individual pieces to various recycling facilities.

Replace it.

If you have to replace your worn out sofa, you have a couple of options: sell it or donate it. If the piece is clean and sturdy, there’s a pretty good guarantee that you can sell it–for a little bit of money, anyway. Post some pictures on Craigslist or check for local buy-sell-trade pages on Facebook. If you don’t care about the money, post it as free and it’ll probably be gone by the end of the day.

You could even check with friends and family who may be in need. Perhaps they know of a college student who could use some extra seating in their dorm. And don’t forget about places like Goodwill, the Salvation Army, or local churches.

If your decision is to reupholster…

Let us help. Stop by one of our showrooms or browse online to see our fabric selections. We have an amazing selection of designer discount fabrics that will make your project easier. With such variety, there’s sure to be something that will create a style you’ll enjoy for years to come.