Armchair Upholstery
No one wants to say goodbye to a favourite armchair, and the good news is that you don’t have to. Reupholstering treasured pieces of furniture is a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly way to ensure they are there for you for many years to come. While high-quality upholstery is not cheap the satisfaction you get from reclaiming your armchair from the clutches of time will make it worth the investment.
Considerations
Not every piece of well-worn furniture is a candidate for reupholstery. So before you go ahead and try to reupholster an armchair consider the following:
The age of the chair: If the chair has been in your family for more than 100 years it has earned “antique” status and disposing of it would be a mistake. If it is more than 20 years old it’s considered “vintage” and will still have some value above and beyond what you paid for it.
The chair’s build quality: If the frame has maintained its structural integrity over many years it’s likely fashioned from hardwood with dowels holding the joints together, making it a good candidate for reupholstery. If it’s fairly new and it creaks and shifts when you sit in it, the frame is likely made of engineered wood held together with staples and is not a reupholstery candidate.
Its personal value: If the piece has real sentimental value then it may make sense to reupholster the armchair regardless of its build quality. The first rule of art collecting is “buy what you like”, and the same could be said for furniture. If you are truly fond of the chair that may be reason enough to reupholster it.
The Pros and Cons of Bespoke Armchair Upholstery
If you are still undecided about whether to reupholster an armchair consider the following pros and cons:
Pros
Reupholstering brings quality old furniture back to life: Many features of old chairs are hard to replace or replicate, which is why they have historic and aesthetic value. By reupholstering you can continue to enjoy the irreplaceable qualities of your favourite piece.
You have more control over the final product when you reupholster: Finding brand new things that dovetail with your tastes can be devilishly difficult. That’s just as true for furniture as it is for shoes and clothes. By reupholstering you can ensure the finished armchair is exactly what you want.
Cons
Quality upholstery can be expensive: Depending on the state of the armchair it may cost more to reupholster it than to replace it. However, if the armchair has real sentimental or market value it may well be worth the financial stretch.
Reupholstery may be overkill: In some cases, all that may be required is recovery, not full reupholstery. Recovering armchairs is a more cosmetic process that usually entails replacing only the outer fabric. Make sure you need to reupholster before you commit to it.
Our Process
We are not here to tell you what to do. We’re here to listen to what you want and deliver it if possible. The first step in the process of reupholstering or recovering armchairs is to open a dialogue. To do that you get in touch with us and provide some information about your armchair, its current state and what you hope to achieve. If you have photos you can provide us before we talk, even better.
We will listen as you describe the situation, ask questions when necessary and provide our expert opinion regarding what we think is the best way to achieve your goals. In some cases, it may be necessary for us to visit your location to assess the piece in greater detail. We believe this type of close collaboration is the best way to ensure the desired outcome.
And, of course, if you want to leave everything to us, we are open to that as well.
Contact Jerome Shorter
The decision to reupholster an armchair should not be made in a hasty fashion. The best thing to do is to contact Jerome Shorter and discuss the situation with us. If reupholstery is the right course of action you can be certain the finished product will meet or exceed your most optimistic expectations.
Call Jerome Shorter today on 01892 725304, or write to us at jerome@jeromeshorter.co.uk.
Our Upholstery Services:
Contact Us
T 01892 725304
Unit 1 Pullens Farm Lamberhurst Road Horsmonden Tonbridge TN12 8ED