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It’s only natural that your furniture deteriorates over time. There’s no escaping that reality, and when the time comes, you need to make a decision; are you going to purchase an entirely new piece of furniture or simply reupholster it?
Each one has its positives and benefits, but reupholstering has advantages that may tip the needle in its favor. Consider some of the top reasons to reupholster your furniture to give your living space your own unique look.
When To Know You Need To Replace Upholstery
Before considering why you should reupholster, you need to know the telltale signs that fabric on furniture needs to be replaced at all. For older pieces of furniture, look out for:
- Persistent odors, even after washing.
- An increase in allergy symptoms when in close proximity to the furniture.
- Visible stains that cannot be removed.
- The cushioning is no longer comfortable to sit on.
Why You Should Opt for Reupholstery
Your Style Changes
One of the major reasons to replace old furniture fabric is that your tastes change over the years. What you enjoyed years ago or what may have been the traditional “look” may have aged. This can give your room a dated look and result in an uncomfortable living space.
If this is the case, then the piece of furniture is most likely still in good condition—it just needs a new look. You can save yourself the expense of purchasing brand new furniture by redesigning the current pieces you already have that are still structurally sound.
Repairing Quality Pieces
Or if the style is not the problem, then perhaps it is an issue of damage. It can be easy for the fabric to stain, split, or tear, whether it be because of a family pet, children playing, or a glass of colored liquid spilling. It is the same principle as a style change to your furniture; the internal structure is still quality and can hold for years to come; it is just the outside that is the issue.
How Can You Tell If It Is Worth Saving?
The easiest way to see if a piece is worth the effort or not is to first check how much it weighs. As a general rule, if a piece of furniture is heavy, then it is most likely made out of robust material. But even the sturdiest of materials can break down over time. This is when you should rock the piece back and forth.
If there is excess wobbling and creaking, then the structure has loosened over time and is likely on its last legs. High-quality craftsmanship is increasingly hard to come by, so hold on to a strong piece for as long as you can.
The Piece Holds Sentimental Attachments
Other times, a piece doesn’t need to be sturdy for you to want to hold on to it. It could be something that holds value to you beyond just a place to sit down. It can be something passed down to you by a family member or something that you enjoy the look of and can’t find anywhere else. Refurbishing the fabric to regain some of its old luster is a great way to preserve the memories attached to it.
More Value for Your Purchase
The constant theme with reupholstery is to preserve. What is typically being preserved is the quality of the build by replacing the outside. That outside part is easily and cheaply replaceable, but the inside structure is what counts most. If you have a piece that is well-built, then replacing it with something else of suspect quality will only turn out poorly in the long run.
Purchasing cheaper furniture to replace older pieces can result in multiple purchases over time. To buy all new pieces each time, with lesser quality, will be harder on your finances.
Look for Ways To Do It Yourself
While you can choose to have your furniture serviced by reupholstery businesses, you may decide to try the art on your own. Learning to do it on your own can save you money and give you the skillset you need to put it to use around the home. You can apply your developing carpentry skills to other aspects of the home that could use updating.
Beginner Tips On How To Reupholster
The Right Tools for The Job
Upholstery does require a few materials to get started, but most of those items include what type of fabric you are going to use. The other major tools include:
- Upholstery nail gun
- Staple remover
- Scissors for cutting fabric
- High heat hot glue gun
- Upholstery sewing machine
Choose Your Fabric Wisely
If you are going to maintain a sturdy piece of furniture, then you need to have the fabric that can match. Going with the cheaper fabric as an alternative is more economical at first, but with reduced price also comes reduced quality. Rips and tears will quickly appear, which will result in further refurbishing. You will end up spending more and working harder on fabric that is not designed to hold up.
Start Small and Work Your Way Up
For first-time attempts, you do not want to start on your most expensive and difficult piece of furniture; that is a project for later when you are more experienced. In the beginning, do not bite off more than you can chew. Start your endeavors on stools, small ottomans, dining chairs, and headboards. Working on these pieces gives you a chance to hone your skills without the risk of ruining larger and more irreplaceable sets of furniture.
Accept Your First Attempts
Your first pieces may not turn out how you envisioned them in your mind. This is the case with trying any new hobby; you just need to accept that that there is going to be a period of working, reworking, and refining. Think of it as failing upwards; the more experience you gain from disappointing upholstery projects now, the more you will learn to avoid those mistakes in the future.
A Solution Best for You
Whether you decide to have your furniture reupholstered and if you decide to do it yourself or not is all dependent on your circumstances. Consider what your options are and what your reasons to reupholster your furniture are before committing to any one decision.
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