Reupholstering vs Buying New: 3 Important Questions to Ask Yourself to Help You Decide

When someone contacts me to design their living room, often the first question they ask is whether they can reupholster their sofa instead of buying a new one. There are various reasons to consider this: maybe a part of the seat is sagging, there is some ripped fabric but otherwise the couch is "good," or it's quite new and they would prefer to keep it. Before answering, there are a few points that I go through with them to decide if a beloved piece is worth saving:

Question 1: "Do I Love this Piece?"

It is not uncommon for people to have attachments to furniture; a chair can remind them of someplace or someone. A sofa brings them back to a particularly joyful space and time. This is completely understandable, and one of the things to consider. Do you really want to keep it, and if so, can it retain the memories even if it looks slightly different? Are you willing to invest in what needs to be done to repair it (fabric, suspension, cushions) even if it ends up costing the same (or more) as a brand-new sofa? Or would you feel better not changing it, and donating it instead, knowing that another family will be able to create new joyful memories with it?

Question 2: "Is the Frame Still in Good Condition?"

The second question to ask is whether the frame is in good condition. If so, then updating the fabric and suspension is a viable option. However, if the frame has been damaged from one too many moves, then the cost of repairing it, along with new fabric, suspension and cushions will almost certainly make the cost prohibitive-or at the very least the same as buying a new sofa. In this case I suggest my clients to go with a new sofa.

Question 3: "Was this Piece Once Comfortable?"

The third thing to ask yourself is whether the chair/sofa/lounge in question was comfortable to begin with? If it never was, then reupholstering won't fix that issue. However, if at one point in time it was the spot everyone fought over because it was so cozy, then perhaps it is a piece that just needs a facelift. Suspension and cushions can be repaired and revived to get that original feel back.

So there you have it, three questions to ask yourself on your design journey when it comes to reupholstering vs. buying a new piece of furniture. Once you've done this, you will have a clear picture of what steps you need to take next!

Until next time,

Would you like some help with reupholstering? Or sourcing a new piece? Schedule a call with us!