LONDON — The average couch has been a part of 311 arguments, 316 drink spills, and 286 episodes of makeup sex.
On average, a sofa will stay in someone’s home for eight years, being the location of 401 naps, and playing host to 8,508 hours of TV time.
The study of 2,000 adults in the United Kingdom, commissioned by British furniture company Sofology, also found the typical couch suffers 65 scribbles from kids and sees men sleeping on it a total of 269 times after a fight with their significant other or a drunken night out. After all of this, 92 percent admit they will also always look to resell the furniture when they no longer want it.
“Our sofas are really at the heart of a home, and serve as the location for so many moments, big or small,” says Jan Duckworth of Sofology in a statement. “This fun bit of research proves that the sofa is really part of the family and endures a lot more than we could ever really imagine at each stage of the journey.”
The survey also found the average couch will double as cinema seating 537 times over its lifetime and will swallow the remote between its cushions 346 times. As for pets, couches will need defending from claws 488 times over their eight years of service.
1 in 3 ‘gift’ their used couch to family and friends
Brits also see the value in the piece of furniture they spend so much time enjoying, admitting they’re willing to shell out over $1,200 on average for their dream sofa. However, 71 percent of people have bought, or would consider buying, their sofa secondhand, with 43 percent of those doing so considering it to be more environmentally friendly.
Meanwhile, 44 percent consider the environmental credentials of a sofa before making their purchase. The main reason for replacing a sofa is when the fabric and stuffing starts to get old and worn out.
The final resting place of most sofas which have reached the end of their lives is the local dump, where 38 percent of those polled, via OnePoll, end up dropping off their long-serving couch. A third pay it forward and gift their furniture to a family member or friend.
Meanwhile, a forward-thinking 47 percent of couch owners try to ensure their sofa maintains some resale value when they no longer want it.
“Choosing the right sofa for you takes all kinds of considerations, from price to durability to its environmental credentials, adds Duckworth. “And we think it is so important that customers have access to all the information they need to make an informed decision and from a brand they can trust.”
The Average Couch By The Numbers:
- 311 arguments
- 286 make-ups
- 316 drinks spills
- 401 sofa naps
- 537 film screenings
- 346 lost remotes
- 269 nights on the sofa after an argument
- 8,508 hours of TV time
- 65 kids scribbles
Report by 72Point writer Grant Bailey