Reupholstering Chairs On Your Own: Is It Such A Good Idea?

Reupholstering a chair is not difficult if you have at least some basic sewing skills and the materials to work with. Yet, you should not forget that reupholstering your own furniture requires time and effort – especially for the novices. Plus, there is no warranty that changing the velvety cushioning on your chairs will actually give them the new look and feel you are striving to create. Sure, the choice is yours, but before you set onto this undertaking, you should objectively answer a couple of questions – they will help you define if the idea is worth the trouble. Start with the following:

Evaluate the state of your furniture

The first thing you will have to is to carefully evaluate the state of your furniture. Quite often, it is not only the upholstery that needs saving. Cushioning material, in particular, tends to deteriorate with the time, and replacing it is way more challenging than changing the upholstery. Also, take a good look at the chair backs, legs and armrests. Are they still in a good shape? Is the fixation still solid? If not, the upholstery is not the biggest problem – quite often, it is simply too late to try and rescue the item that is already past saving.

Think over the new materials you are looking for

Next, you have to define the materials you are going to work with. Whereas velvet and fabric are relatively easy to replace, leather is a way tougher material, so you might require some professional assistance. Reupholstering genuine and faux leather chairs requires a set of special tools – tools that are not normally in the domestic arsenal. Plus, it is usually impossible to borrow these tools, so you will also have to add shopping for special needles to your to do list.

Estimate your time

The next, and probably the most important question is whether your free time is worth it. With our hectic lifestyles, long working hours and a multitude of personal obligations, every second of ‘me’ time is a treasure that has to be cherished. Plus, you should not forget that quite often the first attempt is a failure – even though it sounds tough, you should be prepared that not everything will go smooth and count on some extra hours of work.

Consider your budget

And, of course, there is your budget. Is your time really worth it? Wouldn’t it be easier to hire a professional that has the skills and the experience to take care of this job for you?

Do not forget that there are plenty of professional renovators who can help you with this task. Plus, as it was already mentioned – some items are long past saving, so buying new furniture may actually be a wiser idea – especially, if you take your time to look on sales . A lot of stores  introduce them on a regular basis, and quite often it is easier and cheaper to find new items than try to repair the ones you already have.