Prepare to Reupholster Furniture with These Crucial Tips (2024)

Reupholstery is a significant furniture project. It involves stripping the piece down to its frame—and sometimes disassembling it—before re-stuffing and recovering it with new fabric. Hiring a professional to reupholster furniture is pricey, and it's a lot of work to do on your own, but the results are stunning.

That said, not every piece of furniture is a good candidate for a reupholstery project—and you should know a few things before you begin. With tips on which items to reupholster, the types of upholstery fabric that work best, and ideas for decorative embellishments, this expert reupholster advice will help you turn old furniture into personalized pieces you'll love for years to come.

How to Choose Furniture to Reupholster

When determining whether a piece is in a condition to be reupholstered, look beyond ugly fabric to the furniture's bones. An item is generally worth reupholstering if it's in good shape and made with quality materials. Check a few important elements to decide whether to reupholster or pass on a furnishing you're considering.

A Sturdy Build

Look at the bottom frame and make sure it's hardwood and kiln-dried. Check for strong, intact corner braces and stable construction. Additionally, determine if the furniture was made with 8-way hand-tied springs. That means the springs were tied in eight different places so it is secure in every direction: side-to-side, front-to-back, and on both diagonals. This type of construction is durable and tailored to each piece for exceptional comfort and support.

Minimal Damage

Test the furniture to make sure it doesn't rock during use. Check for any damage (such as warped or cracked wood or peeling veneer) that can't be easily repaired.

Reputable Makers

Look for a recognizable brand name. Henredon, Vanguard, Michael Thomas, and others produce furniture worthy of reupholstering and reusing.

How to Choose Fabric for Reupholstering Furniture

Upholstery fabric can be costly, but it's typically built to last. Fabrics come in various weights, and the best one for your reupholstery project depends on where and how the piece will be used. Bedroom furniture fabric, for example, doesn't need to be heavy-duty, but fabric for living room furniture often does. Non-upholstery-weight fabric works for a purely decorative piece.

Check the Rub Count

When shopping for upholstery fabric, check the back of the fabric swatch for the Wyzenbeek rating, or the rub count, to gauge the fabric's durability. This rating is determined by an abrasion resistance test in which a machine rubs the fabric and keeps track of the number of rubs before it's worn. The industry standard for upholstery-grade materials is about 30,000. Ask the manufacturer for the rating if the fabric description doesn't list a rub count.

Test Fabric Samples

Like paint swatches, being drawn to a bolt of fabric in store doesn't necessarily mean you'll like it in your space. Take home one or more fabric samples and set them against existing furniture to see if they work with your interior aesthetic. If needed, ask to borrow a bolt or sizeable hanging sample to cover as much of the reupholstery project piece as possible. Live with it for a few days before making your decision.

Embrace a New Look

Remember that reupholstering furniture is an opportunity to update the piece to a more contemporary design, not just renew the previous look. Choose a different color, go from a solid to a pattern, or change pattern scales for a bold new look.

Other Reupholstery Touches

You can change more than just the piece's fabric as you reupholster. To redesign the shape and contour of furniture, consider adding or altering other details. For example, a contrasting color welting (also called cord or piping) can be used to define lines. This looks best on a sculptural piece. You can also try a mingled cord (three colors twisted together) or a cord with a lip instead of a contrast welt.

Another way to update furniture as you reupholster is to add, remove, or change the skirt. This works great on older furnishings that now look squat or dated because of their short skirts. Install a skirt higher on the piece for a more graceful look, or add banding to the bottom of the skirt. You could also add channeling or tufting for a vintage look (or take it out to modernize the piece).

Typical Costs for Reupholstering Furniture

The cost to reupholster furniture will vary according to region, fabric choice, and project details. These estimates for popular professional reupholstery projects can give you an idea of the average cost:

• Couch or chair cushions: $70-$200 each
• Dining room chair: $150-$600
• Armchair: $300-$1,000
• Sofa: $600-$1,800
• Large sectional sofa: $1,000-$4,000

Check with an upholstery company for exact details on pricing, or try reupholstering the piece yourself to save on labor costs.