Reupholstering Breathes New Life Into Old Furniture
November 14, 2016
It’s an age old conundrum, replace old furniture or give it a new lease of life by reupholstering?

Often the answer lies in the age of the piece, the state it’s in and where it came from. Giving an old furniture piece new life with a touch of paint and a carefully chosen fabric can add a professional looking interior design element to any room.

What furniture items can be reupholstered?

Furniture today is often not meant for restoration and the structure itself won’t be worth the money spent on upholstering. It’s the sturdy family heirlooms that are the most difficult to simply replace that should be considered for an updated look.

Built-to-last, authentic antique furniture pieces with classic lines are getting harder to come by, and reupholstering will give an old piece a fresh, modern feel and will be well worth the investment.
Why is it so expensive?

People are often surprised at the cost of reupholstering furniture, mistakenly assuming that it will be considerably cheaper than replacing the item.

The truth is that there is no machine that can do the job quickly. Furniture upholstering is a skilled craft, an art form and a passion. Very often if a furniture item is old, it won’t just be the fabric that is split or broken, and fixing old dowel joints, springs and padding also require a knowledgeable skill-set.

What fabrics should be avoided?

There are a couple of things that should be considered when choosing the right look for your re-upholstery work. Avoid striped patterns on round pieces. Upholstering requires a fair amount of stretching and you may end up with ‘wonky’ stripes!

Also, be careful when using thin fabrics like silks and cottons; while they may come in beautiful colours they are likely to wear through and tear in no time, so use these only on statement pieces that are to be admired from far, but not actually used. A good upholsterer or interior décor consultant should be able to offer advice on the right fabric for your particular furniture item.

Heirlooms that have been passed down through generations can become emotional objects, and it’s hard to get rid of the smoking chair that your great grandfather spent many hours telling his stories from, or the rocking chair that pacified your great grandmother. Replacing these items is not only heart-breaking, it’s also impossible – but reupholstering them is always a possibility. However, if the piece was stored in a musty attic or damp place, the smell could easily be absorbed into the chair, and the wood. Under these circumstances it may be better to wave it goodbye and spend the money on a new item you can pass down to the next generation.

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