Reupholster Versus Buying New

As we begin to see the first signs of Spring here at AbFab, clients are beginning to think about refreshing and updating their interiors, particularly, their upholstered pieces of furniture. As a result, we are getting lots of clients asking us about our sofa collection or the possibility of reupholstering an existing piece of furniture.

There are some pro and cons to reupholstering an existing piece, and we like to make our clients aware of this before they go this route. We have both an in-house upholsterer, taking on smaller jobs, such as dining chair recovers or footstools and an external upholsterer, who has the space in a dedicated workshop to reupholster larger pieces, such as armchairs and sofas.

Upholstery is a labour intense job, and this is where much of the cost comes from. Stripping a piece of furniture is time consuming, but a necessary part of the process to give a clean and professional finish. Until the layers of old fabric are stripped back, you are unaware what you will find beneath and what condition the foam, frame or other components will be in. Costs can increase significantly if more work than originally anticipated is necessary, and it is always worth considering the age of the piece before going through with a reupholstery job.

Whilst we are keen to reduce and reuse as much as we can, it’s worth considering if the original item would be cheaper to replace or reupholster. If it’s the former, consider donating to a furniture recycle centre rather than just dumping it. Furniture of sentimental value or older, well-made pieces should certainly be considered for re-upholstery before being disposed of.

Always have your upholsterer look at the item in question, ask them how much fabric will be required for the recover, and if the job is worth taking on. They should be honest with you and be able to give you a rough estimate for the job.

If a new sofa is what you are looking for, then why not come and look at our sofa collection displayed in our showroom. We work with trade suppliers, Tamerisk, who supply and make quality, hardwood frame, UK-made sofas. Their showroom is based locally in the Cotswolds, with all their sofas being bespoke made to your requirements in their Long Eaton mill, a renowned centre for upholstery. Our clients have been extremely impressed with not only the finished product, but also the customer service provided. Fabrics, fillings and frames are all made to a high standard, providing not only comfort but longevity to the sofas and chairs supplied.

Why not pop in and see us and we can discuss your requirements and help you make the correct decision.