"That chair sure would make a nice addition to my home but it looks in need of too much tlc!" Isn't this what you say when you see an old piece of furniture somewhere. There is so much potential in these pieces but they get overlooked for newer, cheaply built pieces of furniture because they are a little worn and need a little fixing. When it comes to older pieces of furniture, a lot of people don't want them because they don't look the greatest but that can be remedied by re-upholstering it and cleaning up the woodwork. You can get some great finds at places like flea markets or second hand stores. A lot of people have problems with knowing what's worth putting money into and what's not. What you want to look for is the quality of the furniture. Age plays a part in deciding to re-upholster but if there is no quality in it, then it's not worth it. The first steps after finding a keeper include figuring out where and who this furniture will be used for, how it will be used and how firm it needs to be based on what it's used for. To the right, is an example of some tools that can be used when re-holstering furniture.
It's important to know what goes underneath the fabric. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not important. For example the second picture below features midcentury dining chairs which show the multiple layers underneath. First you have the jute webbing and foam, then goose down or in some cases upholstery foam depending how expensive you want to go. Next is a layer of polyester or cotton batting then the fabric. This is probably one of the most important steps, this is a where a major part of the integrity of the piece comes from. This right here is the meat of any chair or sofa.
Something to keep in mind when re-uholstering is the fabric selection. Yes, you want something that looks good but you also have to think about the durability and how it will fare after being used. Here's how they break it down. WORKHORSES-is for the pieces of furniture that are constantly used. They recommend tightly woven indoor-outdoor textiles that are water and stain resistant. MIDRANGERS-is for the pieces of furniture that are used but not that often. Some silks and cotton velvets can be used but are prone to marking. DELICATES-is for pieces that are a look but don't touch. Fragile fabrics such as silks, brocade, damask, satin, and linen aren't ideal for sitting on but make a great statement piece. You also want to use screen printed or embroidered by hand fabrics on these pieces as well.
One of the last important decisions in re-upholstery is the finishes. You can do anything from tufting to nail head trims. The finishing touches are where a lot of the fun comes in and this helps make the chair your own.
Below are two examples of the multiple ways you can make the same chair look different.
This blog and photos was referenced from The Lonny Magazine-the October 2013 issue, article "The Lonny Guide to Upholstery" written by Allegra Muzzillo and photographed by Genevieve Garruppo
They got a lot of their information from
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