How to Soften a Sofa Cushion

The comfy sofa you tested in the showroom may not feel like the same couch that gets delivered to your home. The couch at the store had the benefit of being broken in by many shoppers, while your new furniture feels stiff to the touch. The cushions on your couch will soften over time, but if you want to speed up the process, try a few tactics to compress the foam insert and loosen its fibers.

In addition those sofas which are made with premium leather being a natural product, may also be slightly stiffer initially. This is because its brand new and will become totally pliable after some usage. This is combined with the foam relaxing after some days. 

1. Sit on your sofa as much as possible throughout the day to squish the cushions under your weight. Bounce up and down a few times to compress the cushions and break down the foam insert a little. Shuffle the cushions around and flip them periodically so they soften evenly.
2. Lay the cushions on the floor. Put on a clean pair of socks and walk all over the surface of the cushions for a couple of minutes. Flip over the cushions and repeat walking on them. Put the cushions back on the couch and test their softness. Repeat the process until the cushions reach the desired feel.
3. Replace the foam inserts by taking your cushions to a reupholstering business. Foam inserts come in varying degrees of firmness, so choose a product that will give your cushions the amount of softness that you desire.

Tip

Lay a thick comforter on the couch as you wait for the cushions to break in. The comforter will act like a pillow top and provide some softness.

Warning

Be careful when bouncing or walking on your cushions. Certain materials, such as leather, can rip easily if handled too forcefully.