New Year Renewals: What to Know About Reupholstering
Is the New Year making you think about what can be renewed around the house? Reupholstering a worn piece or a family heirloom can give your room new life. And in these disposable times, reupholstering may be the perfect answer. Why add something to a landfill when you don’t have to? Recover it and have a beautiful, responsibly-sourced piece to enjoy for years. Second-hand stores are filled with good reupholstery candidates with sturdy hardwood frames. Calico designer Maryanne Shackelford has picked up high-quality pieces for as little as $45. “If you look beneath the outdated surface, you can find some real gems,” she says. Watch the video below to see what Maryanne has done for customers – and with bargain finds.
Calico’s Maryanne Shackelford has a passion for making easily overlooked old chairs into works of modern art.
Reupholster • /ˌrēəpˈhōlstər/ /ˌriəpˈhoʊlstər/
Upholster with new materials, especially with a different fabric.
Here are a few more things you should know…
1. Don’t feel limited by what was done before.
While you can always try to restore a piece to its original look and feel, many successful reupholstery projects juxtapose an antique frame style with updated fabric choices. Calico has an incredible fabric selection and gives you the option of using multiple fabrics on a piece, along with details like contrast welts and nail heads. And our designers are always available to help you make the right choices. Need inspiration? See these before and after examples »
Often, a good portion of the work – and expense – in reupholstering goes into what’s underneath the fabric.
2. Reupholstery is more than new fabric.
Reupholstery is not just a cosmetic facelift. Once the old fabric and padding is removed, the interior of the frame is checked head to foot. The frame may need to be reinforced, webbing may need to be replaced, and existing springs tightened or retied. On top of that (literally), seat cushions will probably need high-density foam and new batting to feel like new. And if your furniture has exposed wood, now’s the time to refinish it – perhaps in a new color.
3. The cost of reupholstering can be close to the cost of new.
Reupholstery isn’t intended for pieces that weren’t built to last in the first place. But if your chair or sofa has good bones or is an antique with unique character, it can be well worthwhile – especially if it has sentimental value. A good example: when new mom and Cedar + Rush blogger Nicole Regan wanted the perfect storybook chair, she updated her Mom’s old club chair with stunning results. Read the blog »
The stories Cedar + Rush’s Nicole Regan reads to her daughter are some of the same ones her Mom read to her growing up – and it’s the same chair, too – reupholstered by Calico.
4. Look into performance fabrics.
If you have kids or pets, you may wonder how you’re going to maintain your good-as-new furniture. One answer is to reupholster them in performance fabrics – stain-resistant, easy to clean fabrics from Crypton, Sunbrella, Inside Out and Fortress. Calico has more than 1,000 performance fabrics to choose from in a wide variety of patterns, textures and colors. Learn more about performance fabrics »
With performance fabrics like stain-resistant Crypton®, spills aren’t a worry.
5. Reupholstery… or slipcovers?
If the sit or comfort of your furniture is not in question, custom slipcovers might be the answer – and they usually cost less than reupholstery projects. With the help of Calico consultants, who can recommend the fabrics that work best, you can achieve a totally different look for your room – whether you want a relaxed look or slipcovers that fit like a glove. Even if your upholstery doesn’t need replacing, keep slipcovers in mind as a perfect option for vacation homes or a change of look for the season. They will extend the life of the upholstery fabric beneath the slipcover.
Slipcovers may be the right choice to refresh dated pieces that are otherwise in good shape.
6. What can I expect if I decide to reupholster?
Reupholstering isn’t an off-the-rack process. Pricing will vary by the piece itself, the cost of the fabric you select, the structural defects that need repair, and details like buttons or skirts that you may want to add.
If you’re looking for a place that does it all, Calico is an excellent choice. They have more than 5,000 fabrics to choose from, and their upholsterers can pick up and deliver your furniture. If you bring a photo of your old piece to a Calico store, their designers can guide you to appropriate fabrics and give you an estimate. Even better, they’ll come to your home and help you select the perfect fabric for your room, your piece and your lifestyle.
Calico in-home consultants will come to your home, free!
7. How do I find a dependable reupholsterer?
In recovering furniture, much of the critical work is done on the inside of your piece, so it’s important to choose an experienced reupholsterer. Calico has been in the reupholstery business for years – and they work with the best craftspeople who use the labor-intensive, time-honored techniques that mean the job is done right. Their quality and workmanship are fully guaranteed.
