There comes a time when you’ll want to replace various furniture items, and this is certainly true of your bedroom. When furniture pieces are past their prime, it’s time to consider swapping them out for fresh ones.
If you’re wondering when to replace furniture in the bedroom, ahead, we’re detailing exactly when to replace each of these items.
Signs it’s time to replace bedroom furniture
The bedroom deserves care and attention like all the other rooms in your home. Part of this care includes swapping out old furniture.
After all, your bedroom is arguably the most important room in the home because it’s the place where you start and end each day, notes Olma Fuentes, founder and principal at Deni + Dove Interiors.
“It’s where you go to unwind, where you go to rest up for the next day, and it should bring you comfort and ease the minute you walk into it,” she says. “If you walk into your bedroom and feel a sense of dread from an unrelaxed or visually unappealing environment, then it’s a sign that it’s time to change your bedroom furniture.”
Your bedroom furnishings should provide “so much more than just basic functional support—it should help set the mood for a restful slumber, induce serenity, and provide adequate storage for your belongings,” she adds.
Here are the top signs it’s time for new bedroom furniture:
Visible wear and tear
Those tears and scratches definitely count as visible wear and tear. While some upholstered pieces with minor wear and tear can be restored, anything more than that should either be replaced or reupholstered, Fuentes says. “Otherwise, the tear will continue to widen and stuffing and support will start to come out,” she says.
No longer comfortable
“Once you find that any of your upholstered bedroom furnishings, such as chairs and benches, have lost support—whether the cushioning is uneven, is sagging, or is generally uncomfortable to sit on—then it’s best to replace those pieces with something more comfy and durable,” Fuentes says. “Uncomfortable furniture will go unused and wind up cluttering your space, which is exactly what you want to avoid having in your bedroom.”
Change in style
Perhaps the furniture in your bedroom no longer fits your aesthetic, which is something that’s bound to happen. “Your design preferences are likely to change over time, so it’s expected that you may want to update your bedroom furniture to reflect your new style,” says Fuentes. “Design trends and innovations generally start to evolve after five to 10 years, so if your room is filled with a lot of contemporary furnishings that are no longer in vogue, you may want to update a few pieces so that you’re bedroom doesn’t look dated.”
Safety concerns
If one of your bedroom furniture pieces is wobbly, that creates a risk of it falling over. “Dressers, chests, and nightstands that come with self-close drawer slides are rackety and tend to break down much faster,” explains Fuentes. “This can quickly become a safety concern if the slides suddenly break and you have drawers that are at risk of falling onto someone or something.”
When to replace bedroom furniture
Mattresses
Fuentes says that mattresses generally have an eight to 10-year lifespan—and this is one bedroom piece you should never compromise on replacing.
“A proper mattress will improve the quality of your sleep and leave you feeling well-rested in the morning, but a mattress with inadequate support can wind up hurting your neck, back, or spine,” she says. “Mattresses can also accumulate a lot of allergens and bacteria over time, so it also makes sense, hygienically, to replace your mattress every few years.”
Bed frames
If you have a relatively new mattress but still feel some sagging or unevenness, then your bed frame could be a contributing factor and should be replaced, says Fuentes. “Excessive creaking is another sign that your bed frame is starting to wear down and lose its shape,” she says. In general, bed frames should be replaced every 10 to 15 years.
Chairs and benches
It’s a good idea to replace the upholstered chairs and benches in your bedroom every 10 years or so. As Fuentes mentions, visible wear and tear may cause you to replace those pieces earlier. If it’s minor, it can be restored, but if it’s expansive wear and tear, it’s best to replace those upholstered items.
Nightstands and dressers
While solid wood pieces can last a couple of decades or more, lower-quality nightstands and dressers will need to be replaced at around 10 years or less. One big reason to replace these items? They can pose a safety risk as Fuentes notes that the self-close drawer slides on these items tend to break down quickly, which can cause the drawers to potentially fall onto someone or something.
Wardrobes and storage units
In general, these larger bedroom furniture pieces don’t need to be replaced frequently, but if there’s visible wear and tear or if they no longer fit your style, it could be time to replace these items.
Light fixtures and other accessories
“Quality light fixtures can last for decades, but they’re also relatively easy and inexpensive to upgrade if you’re looking to make some quick improvements,” Fuentes says. “Recessed lighting technology improves pretty frequently, so you may want to consider upgrading those lights first. Decorative accessories are another easy, inexpensive swap to make, so it’s really a matter of preference as to when you would like to replace these items.”
Pillows
“Pillows should be replaced as needed once you start to feel less support in your neck,” Fuentes says. “Same for decorative pillows. Saggy, flat pillows offer no support and look visually unattractive in a bedroom.” Pillows usually need replacing every one to two years.
Beyond furniture, it can be helpful to keep in mind when to replace non-furniture items in the bedroom as well.
Choose the perfect bedroom furniture at Saatva
Saatva Classic Innerspring Mattress
Our flagship luxury mattress is expertly engineered with coil-on-coil construction for durability, a layer of memory foam for enhanced back support, and a cushiony Euro pillow top for extra comfort.
Choose the perfect bedroom furniture at Saatva
Minori Bed Frame
An understated bed frame, with a lower profile headboard and gently tapered wings. Featuring a nailhead trim and fully upholstered back. Available in natural linen and taupe and graphite vintage velvet.
Choose the perfect bedroom furniture at Saatva
Arno Cushioned Bench
The sleek Arno Bench exudes modern style with plenty of comfort. It’s designed to pair seamlessly with our low-profile platform bed frames.
Choose the perfect bedroom furniture at Saatva
Como Swivel Chair
With its geometric silhouette and abundantly plush seat, the Como makes the perfect reading chair to transform your bedroom.
Choose the perfect bedroom furniture at Saatva
Choose the perfect bedroom furniture at Saatva
Latex Pillow
A core of shredded natural latex, wrapped in a breathable organic cotton cover. Plush and responsive for the perfect head and neck support.
FAQs
How often should I replace bedroom furniture?
There’s no hard rule for changing out the furnishings in your bedroom. “Quality furniture can last a lifetime, and you can rejuvenate some older furniture with new upholstery or simple restoration methods,” she says. “I would say five to 10 years is around the time when you want to start evaluating what you have, which pieces are no longer in fashion or are starting to deteriorate, and then decide what’s most important to purchase first.”
Find the best bedroom furniture for you at Saatva
Now that we’ve got you pondering swapping in some fresh, new bedroom furniture, you should know that we offer many high-quality pieces to suit your style, from chairs to benches to nightstands to bed frames. Check out our wide selection of bedroom furniture to upgrade your bedroom decor.
