Life is not always kind to upholstered chairs, sofas, and other furniture, especially if your family includes children and pets. Even without these hazards, sometimes your furniture simply needs an updated look. Before you decide to reupholster your furniture, consider these three questions:
Should You Reupholster or Replace Your Furniture?
The answer really depends on the piece itself. Is it particularly valuable or well-made? Does it hold sentimental value? If the piece you are considering meets some (or all!) of these criteria, you may want to consider reupholstering:
- It is an antique
- It was made by a well-known designer
- It is still structurally sound after 10-15 years
- It holds sentimental value for you
- It is a hard-to-find size, shape, or style
However, if the piece was relatively inexpensive when it was new, or its underlying structure has started to sag, you are probably better off replacing it.
DIY or Hire an Upholstery Repair Service?
If you are skilled with a sewing machine and have the necessary tools, you could reupholster your furniture at home. However, if you have never completed a DIY upholstery repair project, consider starting with something small such as a dining room chair. Don’t rip the existing upholstery off your couch only to realize that the project is beyond your skills.
Antique upholstered chair
If the piece is an antique, you should trust the job to a qualified professional upholstery repair service with experience repairing and restoring antique furniture.
How Much Does Furniture Reupholstering Cost?
There are two main components to the cost of furniture reupholstering: fabric and labor.
Upholstery fabric generally costs between $20-$70 per yard, with designer or specialty fabrics costing much more. Labor costs are determined by the amount of work required. A sofa with elaborate tucks and thread weaving will require more labor than a simple dining room chair. In general, it often costs as much to reupholster a piece as it would to buy a new one.
The best way to find out the real costs of upholstery repair is to shop around. Call several furniture reupholstering shops in your area and ask for a quote. Some will want to see the piece in person, while others will be able to give you an estimate based on photographs.
Once you have a ballpark cost, you can decide for yourself whether the piece is worth repairing, or if you’d rather simply replace it.
