Sofa Biz designs and builds custom furniture and can restore existing pieces --- even antiques! Whether you need a sectional, sofa, love seat, chair or bar stools, Sofa Biz does it all! We would be honored to stretch your leather and stuff your cushions.
Sofa Biz designs and builds custom furniture and can restore existing pieces --- even antiques! Whether you need a sectional, sofa, love seat, chair or bar stools, Sofa Biz does it all! We would be honored to stretch your leather and stuff your cushions.
Upholstering questions, answered by experts
In most cases, it is more affordable to reupholster furniture than it is to replace it, but it depends on the quality and age of the furniture you’re considering getting reupholstered. Antique pieces are always worth reupholstering, as it’s the only way to preserve the piece and extend its life. Newer pieces of furniture are more often made using lower-quality materials like medium-density fiberboard or plywood that don’t have the same lifespan as things like hardwood. For newer pieces, your furniture reupholstery specialist should be able to help you determine the best course of action.
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.
It is possible to reupholster directly over old material in some cases, and it can save you a bit of money. If you are going to go this route, make sure you use a darker color than you had previously. Otherwise, you might see the old fabric beneath the new material. You should also keep in mind that reupholstering over old material is only possible with certain materials. For example, reupholstering over leather usually isn’t possible. You can ask your professional to see if this is an option for your piece.
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 is usually worth repairing leather furniture, as it tends to retain its value, provided you care for the material. A typical repair for leather furniture will cost about $250, which is significantly more affordable than replacing the furniture entirely. Even if you spend toward the upper end of the typical cost range for a full reupholstering—around $4,000—you’ll still save money over replacing it. Of course, the quality of the leather and the piece of furniture matters. Consult a leather repair professional about whether it’s worth repairing your leather furniture.
By submitting this question, I acknowledge and agree that Angi may publicly display my name, city, state, and question on the website for professionals and others to see.
The Heart Butte, MT homeowners’ guide to upholstering services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Your furniture refinishing cost will vary depending on the refinishing method, the type of furniture, and labor costs. Learn your potential furniture refinishing cost.
Discover the cost to reupholster a couch in 2025, including average prices, key cost factors, and tips to help you budget for your next upholstery project.