Should I Reupholster My Chair?

The next time you feel that you need to replace some old and worn out furniture, instead of throwing everything out, and spending thousands of dollars to replace it, ask yourself some simple questions. The first of these questions needs to be along the lines of should I reupholster my chair? Reupholstering older furniture is going to not only save you money, but also breathe much needed life into the decor of any room.

Prior to making your final decision, there are a few things that you should ask yourself. The guidelines below are designed towards helping you determine whether you should in fact reupholster that chair, or whether you should instead concede to the expense of new furniture.

• Condition of fabric. One of the first things that needs to be evaluated is the condition of the fabric on the piece of furniture. Can it be cleaned? Is it worn, torn or ripped? Is it faded beyond belief? Does the new piece of furniture have a more durable, or attractive type of fabric? Is it possible to purchase the same or similar fabric somewhere else?
• Condition of frame. What condition is the frame of the chair or couch in? Is the frame still fundamentally sound? Are there excessive cracks or bending? When sitting down does the piece of furniture creak excessively, or is there noticeable sagging? The reason that you want to know what condition the frame is in is simply due to the fact that if the frame is shot or beyond repair, then there is no need to attempt reupholstering your furniture. If you answered yes to these questions, then I would suggest throwing it out and purchasing new.
• Time. How much time do you have to devote to completing the task at hand? Whether you are planning on purchasing new furniture (which can take up to a month or so for delivery), do your own upholstery work (which means that the time is almost solely up to you) or you have someone else do the work for you (meaning it is up to their schedule) is all going to take some time. There is going to be a slight variation regardless of which course you decide to take, so be sure that you carefully consider your options.
• Expense. Finally, the expense that you shell out is going to depend on which course you take. On average though, the least expensive option would be to reupholster your chair yourself. This is because you are not paying for such things like labor or delivery. Be aware though, that even with this option the cost can get quickly become more than you would expect, depending on the materials that you use.