There is nothing like giving new life to something old and forgotten. You could have a dining room table, two chairs with a vase on top belonging to your grandparents, or an old bench with a few cushions. The best part about restorations is there are no limits to what you can do. It can be as simple as having a professional clean the upholstery fabric, or you can take it further by re-upholstering the piece in new fabric. It all depends on your time, budget, and experience level.
Renovating old furniture is a great way to save money and give new life to an old piece. However, how do you know if the old upholstery is salvageable or needs replacement? Here are some tips on how to restore your old upholstery.
Choose a Quality Piece of Furniture
A good-quality piece of upholstery can last for decades when treated correctly and will always look fresh. Choose a quality piece of furniture you love and want to keep for many years and dedicate yourself to restoring the fabric.
Get Plenty of Quality Upholstering Fabric
The fabric you choose is more than just an aesthetic. It’s essential for protecting your furniture and ensuring your comfort. The first step in deciding on a style is considering what kind of feel the fabric should have. Here are a few basic guidelines: Plain and plain fabrics in solid colors like white or khaki can feel casual, but they also permit you to add additional color with pillows or other accent pieces. Lighter textures such as linen look sophisticated and work well in high-traffic areas such as kitchens and living rooms. And when looking at textiles, it’s essential to consider any dyes that may contain lead so that you don’t put your family at risk when sitting on the couch. Upholstery fabric isn’t hard to find either, as most home stores carry various options.
Before you begin, make sure you have the tools you need. You’ll want scissors, a pair of pliers, an awl, and a hammer to pull out staples. A vacuum cleaner is handy for cleaning up the loose fabric. Check with your local hardware store for specialty adhesives made especially for upholstery work.
Prepare for your upholstery project by gathering all of the required tools. If you’re not sure what tools you will need, consider providing additional supplies to have on hand. You may also want to bring extra paper towels or rags, especially if you’re unsure how much cleaning solvent or paint stripper you will use. Make sure you’re comfortable with the job before starting an upholstery project.
Stretch and Refasten
To restore your old upholstery, you must first stretch and refasten the springs. The most common technique is to use a flat screwdriver to open up the top coil and then insert one end of the spring on it, looping it around tightly. The other end of the spring should be placed in a metal ring or eyelet at the bottom of the coil that’s already been stretched out. Repeat this process for each loop you want to put back into your sofa or chair.
Know Your Goal
Before starting any restoration project, it’s essential to know your goal. If you’re thinking of making your old upholstery look new, it’s unlikely that your plan will involve using original accessories, which typically means removing them. In some cases, the fabric may be too damaged to reuse; many people use their old upholstery because they’re looking to refresh or update a piece but not necessarily redo it entirely. No matter your goal with restoring your upholstery, it helps to know where you are coming from before starting any project.
Restoring your old upholstery is a relatively simple process. Unlike sewing, restoring requires little-to-no skill, so it’s something that anyone can attempt. You’ll need to remember to work slowly and carefully and always allow the glue to set completely before proceeding to the next step.
