Sofa Upholstery

To Reupholster or Replace?

Reupholstering a sofa can cost nearly as much as replacing it. But cost alone should not be the determining factor in whether you choose to save the sofa or discard it. Instead, consider the following:

The age of the sofa: If the sofa is more than 100 years old it warrants antique status. If it’s more than 20 years old it is considered “vintage”. In either case, you would be ill-advised to dispose of it as it will have market value above and beyond its functional value. If the sofa is only a few years old and is falling apart it probably isn’t worth saving.

The structural integrity: If you shake the sofa back and forth vigorously and it moves as a single piece it’s still structurally sound and may be a good candidate for reupholstery. If, on the other hand, you shake it and it seems like there is a lot of play in the joints it’s probably not worth reupholstering.

The quality of the framing: Most modern furniture is made with composite woods with joints that are stapled together. Older furniture, however, was often made with high-quality hardwood and had joints that used dowels and glue. If your sofa is the latter kind it’s likely worth reupholstering.

The springs: A high-quality sofa will have coiled springs, while a sofa of lesser quality will have S-shaped springs. In some cases, modern furniture makers will forego springs entirely and use rubber panels. Unless yours has coil springs it may not be worth it to reupholster the sofa.

The padding: Before deciding to opt for bespoke sofa upholstery give the padding a good squeeze. Squeeze the arms and the back. Does it feel firm or does it give way easily and compress with little effort? If the padding feels stout this is another indication of quality furniture. In fact, if the padding is in good shape, sofa recovering may be all that’s required. The recovery process is much simpler and typically involves replacement of the outer fabric only.

The style: Did you have to look long and hard to find this sofa? Was it the only one that fit your stylistic requirements? If so, replacing it may be no easy task. If you’re fond of the style and feel it’s a perfect complement to the space you should think twice before discarding it. Reupholstering it may provide greater long-term satisfaction.

Sentimental value: Some will argue this is the most important consideration when deciding whether to opt for bespoke sofa upholstery or to discard the sofa. Regardless of its objective build quality and style, if the piece has significant sentimental value for whatever reason it makes sense to reupholster the sofa instead of replacing it.

The Case for Upholstering the Sofa

There are a lot of good reasons to invest in upholstery for sofas including:

Not having to shop for a replacement: If you’ve had your sofa for a while you are no doubt fond of it, and replacing it will not be easy. You could sift through mountains of catalogues and dozens of websites and still not find one that dovetails with your tastes. Reupholstering will save you a lot of aggravation.

Acting in an environmentally responsible manner: Most discarded sofas wind up in landfills where they can take centuries to break down. In addition, if your sofa had a hardwood frame that is still intact then discarding it is just a waste of precious natural resources.

Being able to make a statement: New upholstery for sofas does not have to mean simply replicating what you had before. Reupholstering is a great opportunity to take the look of the sofa in a different direction. In the end, it can seem like you bought a brand new bespoke sofa.

Creating an heirloom: If you have the sofa reupholstered you pretty much guarantee that it will soon achieve “vintage” status, if it hasn’t already. In time it may even qualify as a genuine antique. If it was well-made it is likely to increase in value as time passes.

Our Upholstery Services: