Guest Blogger: Should you Reupholster or Buy New Furniture?

 Guest Blogger #592, Entry #1379, July 10, 2012

They say that everything old becomes new again eventually, but looking at the couch from your parents’ basement (which now dominates your living room) you might not think the axiom applies. In fact, you’re pretty sure that the lumpy, sprung, stained piece of furniture has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. And yet, despite the deterioration of the fabric and the stuffing, the structure of the piece may be sound and salvageable. Or it could also have sentimental value. The point is, you don’t want to be too quick to dismiss a long-lived item of furniture just because it has gotten a bit uncomfortable or it doesn’t match your color scheme. While there’s nothing wrong with passing it along to new owners so that you can update your décor with a more suitable piece, you might find that it’s worth it to keep what you’ve already got. So here are just a few things to think about when you’re trying to decide whether to reupholster your old furnishings or replace them with something new.

Should you make use of your old furniture or get new?

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Is your furniture style outdated?

The first thing to consider is whether or not the style of your piece fits with your aesthetic. Suppose, for example, that your home is midcentury modern but your lumpy old couch and chairs are from the Victorian era. If these pieces are heirloom antiques you may wish to hang on to them so that you can one day pass them along to your kids. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you want to put money towards reupholstering them now when they clearly don’t suit your design sensibilities. In this case a new swath of fabric won’t solve the problem, so you should probably put them into safe storage for now and find something new for your current residence.

Reupholstering can save you money

On the other hand, pieces that match the style of your home or fit in with other furnishings can certainly be reupholstered, and there’s every reason to do so. For starters, this option will almost surely cost you less than buying new, especially if the frame and stuffing are still in excellent condition. As a bonus, you’ll have the ability to select whatever textiles and trim you desire, so you can make all of your pieces match in order to avoid purchasing a single item that doesn’t go with the rest of your set. And if you have an overall color scheme in mind for an entire room design, reupholstering will make it easier to pull off a precise look.

Reupholstering furniture can save money & look great!

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New furniture has its advantages

Of course, sometimes it happens that you’re simply ready to pass along a piece of furniture to a new home for someone else to enjoy, usually because it lacks the value that would prompt you to bother with reupholstering as opposed to purchasing something new. There’s nothing wrong with this if you don’t mind spending a little more to get the pieces you want. And while you can splurge on some furniture from Domayne or save a few bucks by going with IKEA offerings, you might also consider buying used replacement pieces yourself (say, from estate sales) in order to get the items you want, save a little money, and support the principles of greener living.

For more home furniture ideas on Stagetecture, click here.