Furniture, Boat, Auto, and Commercial Reupholstering.
Furniture, Boat, Auto, and Commercial Reupholstering.
Upholstering questions, answered by experts
Doing your own upholstery work is possible, but it’s typically a better idea to leave the work to professionals. Without experience and the proper tools, it’s difficult to get a professionally finished appearance for your furniture, and many DIYers end up spending money on tools and materials only to hire a professional when they can’t get the fabric to look right. If you have reupholstery experience, feel free to give it a shot. However, if you’re not confident in your skill level or you’re working with antiques, it’s worth the money to hire a pro.
Part of the beauty of academia decor is that most textures and materials will feel right at home, provided they’re dark. Some common textures include natural wood, dark metals like iron, velvet, and leather. Incorporating these into your dark academia decor will make them look right at home. Glass is another option in some cases, so fill in gaps in your decor with small glass jars, or really lean on the gothic roots of dark academia with stained glass.
Not always—heavily worn or broken furniture often isn’t worth repairing or refinishing (if it’s even possible). While some damage can be repaired and some of the visual appeal restored, major flaws, such as structural issues, can’t be fixed as easily. If you still want a cost-saving furniture refinishing project rather than purchasing all new, consider shopping for similar secondhand pieces at thrift stores, garage sales, and estate sales.
It can be cheaper to reupholster a chair or other piece of furniture than to buy a new one, depending on how much it costs to replace. If the chair or couch originally cost less than $300, then reupholstery may not be the cheapest option. However, if the chair is expensive, vintage, or discontinued, reupholstery can be the more affordable option. This is especially true if the piece of furniture is out-of-production or holds sentimental value.
As with any project, weighing the pros and cons of upholstery can help determine if that is the right choice for you. The ultimate question is whether it’s worth reupholstering instead of buying new furniture. Here are a few of the benefits and disadvantages of reupholstering a piece of furniture.
Pros:
Preserving a family heirloom
Maintaining high-quality furniture in good condition
Reinventing an old piece of furniture
Keeping a piece of furniture from going to a landfill
Cons:
Spending (possibly) more than to buy a new piece of furniture
Finding out the frame is beyond repair
Waiting for the reupholstery work to be done
The Hessmer, LA homeowners’ guide to upholstering services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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