How Do I Know if a Sofa is Worth Upholstering?
Aby and her designer friend, Drew, answer readers’ questions on upholstery, design, and everything in between every two weeks. Email them at hello@abysupholstery.com and follow them both on Instagram @abysupholstery & @drewalbo
Just like so many of you all over the world right now, our team and I, here in San Jose, have been staying home a lot more often than usual. This has caused me and a lot of you, our clients, to look at their homes differently now that they’ve spent so much time in them. Needless to say, you’ve been reaching out, and we’ve listened. That’s why we decided to answer some of your essential questions here, On the Blog, regarding upholstery, design, and all of the things that fall in between.
Jackie Asks: My partner and I have been going back and forth for weeks on whether or not we should buy a new sofa for our living room or reupholster our current one. He likes the one we have because it was his fathers sofa and is sentimentally attached to it. I want something lighter and brighter and not outdated. He mentioned upholstery but I am nervous. How do you know if a sofa is worth upholstering?
I have answered this exact question for clients over and over again and usually, it consists of the same issues. One loves it, the other hates it. One is attached to it because it has sentimental value, the other can’t stand the 70’s chartreuse green upholstery covered in dog hair. The truth of the matter is simple. Upholstery can be an expensive practice, however, there are so many more pros to upholstery than cons. Not only does reupholstery keep furniture frames out of landfills, making it eco-conscious, but it also reuses quality furniture and increases the longevity of your piece.
YOUR FIRST STEP SHOULD BE determining whether the sofa is more than 10 years old. If you have a sofa that is older than 10-15 years then right off the bat you have better quality furniture. Younger furniture is usually not sturdy enough to upholster and should definitely be tested. If you’re considering buying from Craigslist, Facebook, or from a yard sale, ask questions, check whether it wobbles, rocks or makes noise, or feels unsteady, if it still feels sturdy, that’s a great sign and could be a good candidate.
NEXT, YOU SHOULD examine the frame. A sofa that is worth reupholstering should have a frame made of hardwood with relatively few knots. Joints should feel secure and steady. If you aren’t sure whether or not the frame is hardwood, remove the cushions and try to lift the sofa. It is heavy for its size, it is more likely to be high quality if it feels really light, the wood is probably not sturdy enough to reupholster, but always check with a good upholsterer if you aren’t sure.
IF POSSIBLE, take at the springs in the frame. Higher quality sofas have coiled springs tied with twine atop the platform. If the sofa looks like it has a thin spring webbing that feels flimsy and light, then it probably isn’t worth upholstering. Don’t be afraid to check the springs by patting the underside of the sofa and feel whether the dust cover is taut. A taught dust cover is a sure sign of good construction.
ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR GUT. If you love your sofa, then you love your sofa. If it is good quality and you’re on the fence about spending the money, ask yourself whether you are likely to find a piece you like as much. The perfect shape, size, and feel of your sofa are entirely up to you when you upholster. If you want something unique to your comfort level, then upholstery is a great choice. The care, quality, and craftsmanship that goes into upholstery is one-of-a-kind and is made by artisans who care about longevity and quality.
Aby and her designer friend Drew answer readers’ questions on upholstery, design, and everything in between every two weeks. Email them at hello@abysupholstery.com and follow them both on Instagram @abysupholstery & @drewalbo