Tips & Tricks for Reupholstering Your Furniture
Looking to breathe new life into your well-loved furniture? Whether you wish to add a splash of colour to your living room furniture or you want to revive a perfectly good footstool, reupholstering is a great way to refresh your interior whilst being kind to the environment.
In today’s blog, we share everything you need to know about how to reupholster furniture, so you can begin your project with confidence.
Reuse, recycle, reupholster
Besides just enhancing the look of your furniture, reupholstery is one of the most sustainable choices you can make when updating your home’s interior. Instead of buying mass-produced fast furniture that inevitably leads to landfill waste, reupholstering helps to extend the life of your existing furniture pieces and contributes to a circular economy.
Here at Vanessa Arbuthnott Fabrics, we are passionate about the planet and we do everything we can to minimise our environmental impact. As our founder Vanessa says in our sustainability statement, “I care deeply about what I make and how it is made, from sourcing sustainable fabrics to supporting my local community.” By purchasing your eco-friendly fabrics from us, you are helping to support traditional craftsmanship and preserve our planet for future generations to enjoy.
Choosing the best fabric for reupholstering furniture
Selecting the right fabric is one of the most important decisions to make when reupholstering furniture. Your chosen fabric needs to complement your interior design style and be durable enough for everyday use. Here are just some of the factors you should consider:
Opt for sustainable fabrics
When looking for your reupholstery fabric, always try to choose organic cotton, linen, wool, or hemp blends. These natural fibres are biodegradable and free from the harmful chemicals that are often found in synthetic fabrics. Linen, in particular, is the perfect choice for furniture reupholstery – it’s heavy duty and looks great, too.
We offer a range of fabric materials that are suitable for all reupholstery projects, including linen union (a blend of 60% linen and 40% organic cotton), 100% linen, wool, and woven fabrics. All our linen and organic cotton is sustainably sourced from Belgium or Turkey, before being woven and printed here in the UK. This helps us to create long lasting products that cause minimal damage to the environment.
Choose high-quality, hardwearing textiles
If you’re reupholstering a piece of furniture that is frequently used, such as a sofa, you should opt for tightly woven fabrics with a high rub count. Heavy linen and linen union fabrics are ideal for upholstery projects, as they can withstand wear and tear, whilst still looking beautiful for years to come.
Think about pattern & texture
Before beginning your project, you’ll need to consider how your chosen fabric will interact with the rest of your decor. For example, subtle weaves in the fabric can add depth and interest to your furniture, whereas classic stripes create a timelessly elegant appeal. If you’re working on a statement piece, opt for bolder prints, as these add personality and interest to your space.
Read more about combining colours and patterns in upholstery in our dedicated blog post.
Our top furniture reupholstery tips
After choosing your perfect reupholstery fabric, you may be wondering what comes next. Follow our DIY upholstery techniques below for the best results.
1) Assess the structure of your furniture
Before you get carried away with stripping your upholstered furniture’s existing fabric, you should always check the condition of the frame. If your dining room chair leg is wobbly or damaged, for example, it may need reinforcing before reupholstering. Solid wood frames are always worth saving, as they are far superior to modern chipboard furniture.
2) Carefully strip away the old fabric
Once you’re confident that your piece is structurally solid, you can begin to carefully remove the old fabric. Make a mental note of how the fabric was attached, as this will serve as a handy guide when applying the new fabric. It’s always worth saving any padding that is in good condition, too.
3) Measure & cut your new fabric
This is where the fun begins! Lay the old fabric flat on your workspace and use it as a template for cutting your new pieces of fabric. Make sure you add a little extra fabric for tucking and securing – you don’t want to get caught short…
4) Secure the fabric using staples or tacks
Using a staple gun or upholstery tacks, secure the fabric at the centre of each side first, then gradually work towards the corners. Ensure even tension across the surface to prevent any wrinkles or bunching of fabric. If necessary, gently pull and readjust as you go to maintain a consistent and smooth finish.
5) Apply the finishing touches
Now it’s time to apply the finishing touches to your furniture piece. If you’re looking to add that professional touch, finish any raw edges with trim, piping, or hand-sewn seams. If you’re reupholstering a chair with a removable cushion, we recommend adding a zippered cover that can be easily detached for cleaning and maintenance.
Discover Vanessa Arbuthnott’s upholstery fabrics
At Vanessa Arbuthnott Fabrics, we offer fabrics by the metre in a huge variety of colours and patterns. Whether you’re looking to enhance your lampshade with elegant floral printed fabric, or you want to match your sofa with your new duck egg blue walls, we’ve got the perfect furniture fabric for your upholstery project.
So, are you ready to roll up your sleeves and give that tired old armchair a second chance?
We sell fabrics exclusively designed by Vanessa Arbuthnott, along side small, bespoke collection of Made to Measure items which includes curtains, blinds, sofas, footstools, chairs, headboards, and quilts, all handmade specially for you by master crafts people.
