Furniture in any living place is crucial to giving it a functional and aesthetic look. But the thing is that furniture gets worn down over time, especially upholstered furniture. The best example would be couches, sofas, armchairs, or even upholstered headboards. Instead of getting new furniture, we would recommend reupholstering them. Now, the question that everyone asks ‘’is it better to reupholster or buy new?’’
We will answer this question today for our readers. This will help them make an informed decision based on your needs.
What Does Reupholstery Of Furniture Mean?
Reupholstering furniture means stripping the existing fabric and padding to replace it with something new. This process applies to almost any furniture that has an upholstered surface. These include sofas, chairs, ottomans, and headboards. It is done with great care. Check for signs of frame damage and repair them; add the new springs and padding. Following these steps, cover the furniture with fresh fabric.
When Doing Reupholstery Is A Good Option?
One needs to consider the upholstery of their existing furniture in the following 3 options.
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Furniture Has Sentimental Value
Some furniture pieces are family heirlooms or carry your personal cherished memories. Such furniture pieces have sentimental and emotional value. They can be an old sofa passed down a few generations or an antique chair. With reupholstery, you can keep those memories alive.
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The Furniture Has A Sturdy Frame
Furniture made in the past was much sturdier than today’s. The frames, in particular, were much more robust than the mass-produced modern ones. So, if you have hardwood furniture, it is better to keep reupholstery in a new style rather than buy a new one.
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You Want Custom Furniture Look
The option of reupholstery allows one to choose the specific design, fabric, and padding for the new upholstery. So, if you have found a specific furniture look, it is better to reupholster it to save on the costs.
What Benefit Does Reupholstery Hold?
When considering reupholstery, one weighs the benefits of having it. To help you make the better choice, let us tell you what benefits reupholstery offers.
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Its Cost-Effective
Reupholstery can sometimes be quite expensive, especially when using high-end fabrics. Still, it would be much cheaper than buying a new piece of furniture. This is specifically true for large furniture pieces such as sectionals or unique pieces.
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Reupholstery Is Eco-Friendly & Sustainable
Among the many great advantages of reupholstery is its eco-friendliness. You are not throwing out your old furniture as landfill waste, lowering your carbon footprint. Also, reupholstering the old furniture gives it a new life.
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You Preserve A Style Statement
Many older furniture pieces have a unique aesthetic charm and style. These pieces add an aesthetic statement to your interior decor, which is hard to find in today’s market. With reupholstery, you retain the furniture’s original look and charm while keeping up-to-date with modern styles.
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You Get Comfort
With the passage of time and usage, the padding within the furniture tends to break down, making it less comfortable. This is true, especially for chairs, sofas, and other seating furniture. When you go for re-upholstery, you also get the opportunity to change the worn-down padding.
Factors That Affect The Cost Of Furniture Reupholstery
The cost of furniture reupholstery varies from piece to piece. Several factors affect the cost of reupholstery.
- The size of the piece factors in the overall cost of the upholstery, especially for large furniture items. For example, the upholstery of couches and headboards will cost more.
- Fabric choice also determines the cost of the reupholstery. The high-end fabrics tend to be more expensive, but they are also long-lasting.
- Labor costs are a must for any upholstery work because you can’t do the upholstery yourself. Always hire a skilled upholstery expert for better reupholstery work.
When To Buy New Furniture
Here are some cases when you should invest in new furniture rather than reupholster the old furniture. Have a look at them:
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Outdated Style Furniture
When your furniture is very outdated, the ideal decision is to buy new furniture. This way, you will not be limited to that odd style of furniture. The new furniture with trendy designs and styles will refurnish the overall ambiance of your interior.
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Severe Damage
We recommend not investing in reupholstery for furniture whose structure is severely damaged. Reupholstery only works best when the furniture’s frame remains intact. Buy new furniture when the frame is severely damaged.
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Change In Need
When you want to adopt a new lifestyle. For instance, trying different furniture layouts and reupholstering is not a good option. Reupholstery will not change the functionality of furniture.
Conclusion
The final decision on the question of whether is it better to reupholster or buy new depends on various personal factors. If your furniture has some sentimental value, you consider your environmental impact, or you wish for a custom look, reupholstery will be the best option. To conclude, this choice for reupholstery is all about your priorities and your budget needs.
