Is it worth getting reupholstered?
With this information, you’ll know.
Whether or not it is worth getting an item reupholstered depends on various factors. In this brief article, we try to explain what these are and give you some information to make a more informed decision.
Is it worth it to you?
As with many decisions in life, whether or not you get an item reupholstered is partly subjective. Ultimately, if you really like a piece of furniture, it’s comfortable, it fits in your room perfectly, and completely serves your needs in every other way, then yes, it makes sense to have it reupholstered when you can’t find anything as suitable in the shops. Yes, you will pay more – generally speaking – than if you’re purchasing a new piece from a mass production company, but you’re getting precisely what you want.
Is it a traditional brand/period piece?
We see many items of furniture pass through our workshop from companies like Ercol and Parker Knoll. These styles are quite iconic, generally have a distinct style, and have authentic batch numbers and other paraphernalia that give them a socio-historical value. Parker Knoll wing backed chairs in particular fit this mould, and we upholster a great number of these in sympathetic fashion.
Quality Materials & Bespoke Customisation
When you have something reupholstered, you have considerably more choice than buying furniture from the shops. To give you a few examples of this from our own workshop, we have recently undertaken work for a client who wanted one large seat cushion instead of three individual cushions – not a problem for us to do. Furthermore, our fabric ranges are superior to the vast majority of fabrics used to cover furniture you’ll see in the shops. We offer fabrics made with pre-treated stain resistant fibres – super to scotch guard treatments – as well as fabrics durable enough for prisons and cruise ships.
Designer furniture
Branded furniture from companies such as Duresta, G Plan or Stressless is often suitable for reupholstery from multiple perspectives. With settees in particular, reupholstery makes complete sense. We have upholstered a number of Duresta suites so we know that the frames are made with quality hard wood, and that we have saved clients a lot of money in the process.
The Weight Test
If you’re still unsure whether or not you wish to explore having your furniture reupholstered, check the weight of the frame. Gently lift or attempt to lift one end of your sofa, for instance, and if you’re struggling and it’s heavier than you’d expect, it’s probably worth getting it reupholstered. This is because quality furniture is made with hard wood, whereas cheaper furniture that’s mass produced for high street retailers.
The Bottom Line
Ultimately, whether or not to have something reupholstered is a subjective and personal choice. However, we hope this article has given you food for thought and will enable you to make a more informed decision.