My Design Secrets

You have a favorite sofa that you’ve snuggled into comfortably for the past 8 years.  The style is perfect and the size is just right.  But the fabric leaves a bit to be desired.   All the good things in life….kids, dogs, eating, drinking and being merry are reflected on your sofa.  Many clients ask me whether it’s worth it to reupholster their sofa or chairs.   It really depends on a few factors.  So let me step you through it and perhaps the decision will become clear…

Condition

How is the sofa or chair holding up?  Does it creak each time you sit down?  Is it sagging in the middle?  Or is it just the cushions that are shot?  If the frame is weak, then it’s time to move on.  If you just need new cushions, that’s an easy fix.

Style

How attached are you to the style of your piece?  Because if you really like the certain small details, it may be very difficult to find them again.  Styles change over the years and if you are looking for a duplicate piece, you may be searching for a needle in the haystack.

When the fabric is fastened directly to the frame, you need to apply welt to cover the staples. Click on the photo and you will see it's a much more involved process.

Budget

Reuphostering  a sofa or club chair is probably not going to save you money. The truth is that except for higher end furnishings, most furniture frames are not very well made.  Instead of kiln-dried hardwood and 8-way hand-tied seats, they are made with sofa woods and inexpensive metal coils.  So even when a company makes a brand new sofa, most of the money goes into the fabric and labor.

While you might be able to get a great deal on fabric, the labor costs to reupholster is significant.   If you’d like to get a quote from a local vendor, some may give you an estimate based on the sofa measurements, but they will have to come and determine the exact fabric yardage needed and take a look to give you a firm quote.  Don’t forget to ask about new cushions if yours are deflated!

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DIY

I do not recommend tackling a sofa or club chair unless you have expert guidance or an enormous amount of patience.  Most homemade jobs I have seen are very sad looking.  There is an exception to this rule.  Dining Room chairs that have slip seats are a snap to redo.  Check out the great video below for some helpful guidance.

If you are saving for a new sofa but cannot stand the look of what you have right now, then be sure to consider a slipcover for the time being.  When the time comes to purchase a new sofa, you certainly don’t want the old one to wind up in a landfill.  So if you are ready to move on from your old sofa, please explore your options to donate it to a worthy cause.

If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to ask me below!

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