Erik J. Martin, CTW Features
Before you prepare to send that old sofa, loveseat, La-Z-Boy, or dining room chair to the dump, stay your hand a moment. Perhaps you can extend that furnishing’s life, possibly retaining a family heirloom, by re-skinning it.
Put another way, consider reupholstering that weathered, worn, or outdated piece. It’s the green thing to do nowadays, and it may save some greenbacks, too.
“Reupholstering is a sustainable choice that allows us to work with materials in their current condition rather than sourcing new products from nature. It’s a bit like recycling,” Rachel Waldron, an interior designer with Waldron Designs, explains. “A reupholstered piece can allow that furnishing to age and stay in the family for many generations.”
Replacing the upholstery is a great way to breathe new life into outdated furniture, “making it look and feel like new. It also allows homeowners to customize the furniture piece with unique fabrics, colors, and textures to make the furniture match their home’s current décor,” notes John Linden, a Los Angeles-headquartered interior designer. “It can also be more cost-effective than replacing the furniture altogether, possibly saving you more cash in the long run.”
Truth is, most well-crafted furniture is built to last a lot longer than we keep it for. Often, we put it to the curb when the outer fabric or leather becomes worn, ripped, stained, or otherwise damaged. But like a car that can instantly look and feel more valuable via a fresh paint job, reupholstering can salvage a perfectly functional piece of furniture.
“A piece that is a good candidate for reupholstering is one with strong bones, meaning a good frame and a unique style or shape,” adds Waldron. “Great choices include vintage pieces, family heirlooms, or designer furniture that was purchased through the trade.”
However, if the frame is in poor condition with signs of damage or wear, the existing upholstery is of low quality, and the design of the piece is outdated, the furnishing is most likely not a good candidate for this option, cautions Linden.
You don’t necessarily have to choose the same fabric or leather when reupholstering.
“It depends on the look you are trying to achieve. If you want to maintain the original appearance, then using the same fabric and materials is the best option. But if you want to give the furniture a fresh look, consider a different fabric,” Linden continues.
Robert Johnson, a home improvement/DIY expert recommends replacing leather, cotton, and linen fabrics with polyester or leatherette, “which is much more durable, less wrinkled, doesn’t absorb spills and stains and is easy to clean and maintain. Cotton and linen fabric quickly smell when something spills, and they stain easily.”
He also advises choosing a darker shade or color than the original fabric so that the stapled side of the seat is covered neatly.
A reupholstering service/professional in your area can likely be found easily online.
“You could also enlist a local interior designer who may have quite a bit of practice working with this trade and be able to direct you to a reupholsterer that has proven to do excellent work,” says Waldron.
Linden recommends checking with local furniture stores to see if they offer reupholstering services or can refer you to one.
“Make sure you shop around and get a few cost estimates before making a final decision,” he says.
Reupholstering can be highly complex, which is why the experts recommend enlisting a pro for the job. But some projects might be worth tackling as a DIYer.
“A dining room chair with an upholstered seat and wooden frame can be a piece you can attempt to reupholster yourself at least practice on,” Waldron suggests.