You have a chair you want reupholstered. So you call a local upholsterer and ask “How much does it cost to reupholster a chair?”
The answer might have surprised you. It might have been higher than you thought it would be?
So you might wonder: What does that price really include? Is my chair worth reupholstering? What is involved in reupholstering a chair? Can a beginner reupholster a chair? I’ll try and answer these common questions.
What does that price really include?
Let’s say you were quoted $1500 to reupholster your chair. The breakdown of the cost might look something like this:
Upholstery Fabric: $500 to $700 depending on the quality and price per yard
New padding and supplies: $100 to $200
Labor: $700 to $800 in labor includes tear down, minor frame repair, adding new support systems and retying springs and finally adding padding and fabric.
Is it worth the effort and cost to reupholster?
Reupholstering furniture environmentally friendly. However, it is not always the most inexpensive choice. Reupholstering furniture can be more expensive than your average furniture store purchase depending upon the quality of the furniture you purchase. It is more comparable to purchasing a good quality piece of furniture.
For example, the cost to reupholster a chair cushion or replace the cushion padding may be less than $150 but repairing and re-padding the same chair can raise the price more than $1,100 to $1,500. In that case, you need to decide whether it’s simpler or cheaper to purchase an entirely new chair.
Here are some things to think about when deciding if it’s worth reupholstering a chair:
How old is the chair? Has it been regularly used? If the chair has lasted many years, chances are it is well made, and sturdy enough to last.
Is the frame solid, sturdy, and made from hardwood? When building high-quality furniture, manufacturers use hardwood for the frame and attach the joints using dowels and glue or screws. Inexpensive furniture usually has engineered wood and staples for the joints.
How much do you truly like the piece? If you love the style and cannot find a similar piece in a store, reupholstering is the way to go.
Is it a sentimental piece, or a family heirloom? You may just want to bring it back to life no matter what.
Can a beginner reupholster a chair?
There are many styles of chairs that would be appropriate for a beginner to tackle. If you think you'd like to give it a try but you're not sure if you can tackle it just contact me and we can talk about it! If you're excited to get started just go to dbdupholstery.com/diyupholstery and book a time.
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