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When it comes time to move to a new
space or redesign a room, many people paint the walls, clean
the rugs and order new window
treatments, only to wonder what to do about their old
sofa and chairs. If furniture
looks faded but you still love the comfort and quality, should
the pieces be replaced with something new or reupholstered
to extend their life? The question commonly presents itself
to homeowners and renters in the process of making an interior
design change.
The first step in the process, assuming the furniture
shows no serious damage or need for repairs,
is to have the pieces professionally cleaned. This way, one
can determine how the pieces look when they are in their cleanest
state. If after a deep cleaning, the furniture
still appears dull and in need of a lift, the question becomes
whether to replace or reupholster
the piece. For many people, the answer comes down to cost,
sentimental value and overall quality of the furniture,
especially if the pieces are vintage or antique.
On the cost front, it is important to consider how much the
furniture
originally cost and how long it has been used. If, for example,
one paid a few hundred dollars for a sofa more than 10 years
ago, it probably makes sense to purchase something new rather
than reupholster
the well-used piece. The cost of reupholstering
a sofa typically runs into the hundreds of dollars, which
makes less sense if the job costs more than the old sofa is
actually worth. On the other hand, if the sofa or other furniture
piece is relatively new and could still be sold at a high
price, it makes sense to freshen it with new upholstery
rather than discarding it outright.
Another factor to consider is what the furniture
means to the customer, no matter how little or much it cost
at whatever time. If a sofa once belonged to a deceased love
one, for example, or has been passed from generation to generation,
it could hold high sentimental value that makes it important
to reupholster
the piece and keep it in the family. No price can be placed
on emotions.
On the quality front, before one decides to buy new or reupholster
an older piece, it is key to know how well made the furniture
is. A frame made of hardwood, for example, that is tightly
glued and screwed together, most likely offers many more years
of use, provided the piece has not been reupholstered
previously. Likewise, furniture
with high-quality, hand-tied springs usually is worth keeping
and reupholstering.
The more a customer knows about their furniture,
particularly if the pieces are antique or vintage, the easier
it is to decide what to do.
Should you decide to reupholster
the furniture
rather than buy something new, know that it pays to shop around
and get the best possible price for the job. One way to save
is to gather sample fabrics from high-end retailers and then
find the closest approximation to that material at a discount
store. Make sure to involve the upholsterer
in the selection process because they bring the experience
needed to order the right amount of fabric.
In terms of labor, look for an upholsterer
who offers an eye for old-fashioned detail and knowledge of
vintage and antique products. Even if your pieces are newer,
companies that focus on traditional work generally offer high
quality, no matter the age of the piece. Remember to take
the opportunity to update cushions to complete the look of
the reupholstered
sofa.
Whether to reupholster
older furniture
or buy something new presents one of the most common questions
in home interior design. In general, the criteria are cost,
the overall quality of the item in question and whether it
offers sentimental value. Using these factors, one can calculate
whether to hold on to their cherished piece, or open their
home to something new. |
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