Does your favourite furniture unit have an expiration date? The answer is no. Unlike food, furniture doesn't expire, but it does depreciate in quality. For some furniture, like those made with wood and leather, the value increases as they age. That's why furniture is such a good investment for a beautiful and comfortable home. However, not all furniture can last a lifetime. You may notice some cracks, stains, creaking, and an uncomfortable feeling as you use your furniture. You will also see changes in colour and quality of materials. While antique furniture was made to last, modern furniture is designed to adapt to trend changes, relocations, and fast-paced lifestyles, resulting in a shorter furniture lifespan.
Is your bed old enough? Does your couch feel saggy already? If you are uncomfortable using your furniture, it's time for an upgrade.
How Long Does Furniture Last?
Your living room, dining room, bedroom, kitchen, and outdoor furniture's quality depends on the materials used in line with your lifestyle and furniture care. Teak is one of the most reliable furniture materials in terms of durability. In fact, it's one of the recommended outdoor furniture materials that can endure extreme weather conditions. Other furniture materials, like fabric, last for over 15 years, considering modest use and proper care. Leather furniture lasts longer than fabric furniture when properly taken care of. Other than the exterior cover, other factors like the structure, spring, and feel should be considered when looking for high-quality furniture that lasts.
Here is a quick view of the average lifespan of your furniture. Note that the lifespan depends on the quality of the materials, how the furniture was built, and how it is used.
Bedroom Furniture
Average Lifespan in Years
Bed frame
15-20 years
Wardrobe cabinet
15-20 years
Chest of drawers and dressing table
10-20 years
Mattress
6-10 years
When Should You Replace Your Bed Frame?
Bed frames are built with comfort and longevity in mind. As long as your kids aren't jumping on your bed on a daily basis, your bed frame can maintain its quality for a long time. Once you notice creaking sounds, sagging, and a lack of support from your old bed frame, you need an upgrade. Another reason to replace your bed frame is a change in lifestyle or preference. If your kids have outgrown their shared bunk bed, it's time to replace it with a bigger bed frame. If you change your comfort preferences, you can change your bed frame. Modern bed frames come in various designs, materials, and sizes. You can switch to an elegant wooden bed frame, a sturdy metal variety, or a comfortable fabric piece.
When Should You Replace Your Wardrobe and Chest of Drawers?
Wooden bedroom wardrobes and chests of drawers are prone to mite infestations that cause their quality to deteriorate. The wobbly frame or leg support and loose drawers are signs that you need to replace your wardrobe.
When Should You Replace Your Mattress?
Aside from comfort, it's important to maintain proper hygiene during sleep. Mattresses, as they age, collect oils, dirt, dead skin cells, dust mites, and allergens that are unsightly and unhygienic.
If your mattress is old enough to feel saggy, uncomfortable, and unsafe, it's time for an update. When buying a new mattress, focus on the right materials, firmness, and size that suit your needs and comfort. Also, look for mattresses with hypoallergenic properties to keep you comfortable and worry-free.
Average Lifespan in Years
Sofa
7-15 years
Coffee table
5-10 years
TV console
5-10 years
When Should You Replace Your Sofa?
Signs are pretty much noticeable when replacing your sofa. Colour fading, sagging, creaking, and a lack of lumbar support are signs to replace your upholstered sofa. Exposure to weather changes and frequent water spills affect the quality of wooden sofas. Checking the durability of your couch is crucial to your safety, especially if you live with kids who love to play in your living room. If you notice the lack of support in your wooden sofa, it's time to get a sturdier one. Rusty and squeaky metal sofas are due for an update. When buying a sofa, consider the quality and build of your new unit.
When Should You Replace Your Coffee Table?
Another type of furniture that is prone to spills and heat is coffee tables made with wood, which are prone to wear and tear and therefore need to be updated more often than other furniture varieties. When you update your coffee table, consider getting a variety made with sturdy material that is less prone to scratches and can stand liquid spills and heat.
When Should You Replace Your TV Console?
Your television console must be exceptionally sturdy to support your television and entertainment unit. Always check the surface and legs of your TV console to prevent accidents that can lead to further expenses and inconvenience.
Kitchen and Room Furniture
Average Lifespan in Years
Dining table
15-17 years
Wooden dining chair
7-15 years
Upholstered dining chair
7-10 years
Kitchen cabinets
15-20 years
When Should You Replace Your Dining Table?
Like your coffee table, your dining table is prone to spills, burns, and constant exposure to heat—lots of those. While dining tables are considerably sturdier than coffee tables, most homeowners update their dining tables due to design preferences or changes in lifestyle. To preserve the quality of your dining table, it's good to use a tablecloth, coasters, and placemats. Choose scratch-resistant tables for a clean look and effortless maintenance.
When Should You Replace Your Wooden and Upholstered Dining Chair?
Wooden dining chairs have a considerably longer lifespan than upholstered chairs. This is because the upholstery sags and fades over time, resulting in an uncomfortable feeling even if the frame still feels sturdy. Regardless of the material, unsteady dining chairs are not welcome in your dining room. When buying new dining chairs, consider the lumbar support and leg structure. Aside from upholstery and wood, plastic stackable dining chairs are also reliably sturdy.
When Should You Replace Your Kitchen Cabinets?
Your kitchen cabinets can last for decades, depending on the materials and usage. The usual updates a kitchen cabinet needs are knobs and hardware. To maximise the quality of your kitchen cabinet, make sure to place heavy kitchen appliances on the lowest shelf, where pressure is better supported. Use containers with lids for your pantry supplies, and remove rotten food that brings moisture to the furniture unit. When buying a kitchen cabinet, always take note of your storage needs, especially when you have large equipment and liquids to store, so you don't force your kitchen cabinet to work harder than it should.
When Should You Replace Your Office Furniture?
Comfort and safety are paramount in your home office. Since you sit for 40-45 hours a week on your office chair, getting proper back and lumbar support is essential. It's also paramount to maintain an efficient reclining function. If your seat is saggy and you don't get adequate support anymore, it's time to change your office chair.
When Should You Replace Your Outdoor Furniture?
Indoor and outdoor furniture exhibit the same signs of needing replacement. Wooden indoor and outdoor furniture becomes saggy and unable to support the weight of the person sitting on it, and metal furniture develops rust. But compared to indoor furniture, outdoor furniture is more prone to frequent wear and tear due to extreme weather changes.
What Should You Do with Your Old Furniture?
I decided to get a new set of furniture, but where should I place the old ones when I have no room left in my flat? It is a challenge to figure out where to place old furniture. If you're updating your furniture because of design and lifestyle upgrades, it's good to donate the old one or sell it to a thrift store. For defective furniture, you can look for reliable disposal services in Singapore. If you buy your new furniture online, companies offer disposal services for medium and large furniture that are convenient and fuss-free.