How to Recover a Small Loveseat

We all have that one piece of furniture in our home that we just can’t get rid of, right? It may hold a sentimental value, perhaps, so even if it’s old, we try our best to fix it. If you are in that situation, we will teach you how to recover a small loveseat.

How to Recover a Small Loveseat?

 

how to recover a small loveseat

Examine your Loveseat

The first step in any reupholstery project is to familiarize yourself with the piece of furniture you’ll be working with. It is so that you can easily reconstruct it at the end. What happened to the staples? Is a slipcover available? Are the buttons tufted? 

Is there visible cording running through the seams? Is there a skirt here? Taking notes and photos for future reference can help you save a lot of time.

 

Take Off the Bottom Cover

A lightweight layer of fabric stapled to the underside of most couches is known as the dust cover. It is usually the last piece of cloth attached, so it should be the first to come off when reupholstering. Remove the staples from around the dust cover with your staple remover and set them aside. 

 

Remove the Upholstery Fabric Pieces

You can see how the pieces on the couch were stretched and stapled to the frame after removing the cover. Next, examine the layering and remove the top layer of upholstery fabric, often the piece on the back. Then, using your staple remover, gently lift the staples and discard them. 

As you remove each piece of upholstery, take photos so that you can easily reassemble the sofa later. You must know the order in which you removed the parts and where the pieces fit. Also, understand how they oriented it on the couch and how and where the fabric was stretched and attached.

It is also beneficial to know whether they made any special considerations when removing it.  These could be cardboard pieces below it or tack strips alongside the staples. Then, when connecting your new fabric, you’ll need to replicate those details.

 

The New Fabric should be Purchased and Cut.

You can purchase yards of fabric in the correct shape and size from a fabric store. With this, use the measurements from the old material on the couch. You can use any upholstery fabric you want. 

However, keep in mind that the thinner the fabric, the more quickly it will show signs of wear. On the other hand, heavy-duty material may be more challenging to staple to your couch frame than lighter fabric. These are the things you need to think about when choosing a fabric or cloth.

 

Fix the New Fabric to the Loveseat

Your new upholstery fabric should be attached in the same sequence as you removed the old one. Again, use your notes as a guide—the piece you removed last must be the piece you secure first. Next, staple the fabric back to the frame with a staple gun. 

When in doubt, consult your notes and photographs. Then, as you upholster, pull the fabric taut. You don’t want your couch’s material to be overly loose, causing it to droop awkwardly or wrinkle.

 

Reapply the Dust Cover

The final step is to resale the dust cover to the loveseat’s bottom. The dust cover will hide all of the staple work beneath the sofa and keep it looking neat. Make sure to apply it generously and neatly so it would be presentable.

 

Trim as Necessary

If your couch has corded trim to hide staples, you should purchase a matching cord. If none, you could buy a basic cable and sew a fabric cover for it. Then, to give your couch a finished look, use fabric glue to attach it.

 

Make Pillowcases

If your couch has back or seat cushions, you’ll need to sew new covers for them as well. Cut or unzip the covers. Then, use them as a pattern to cut the new fabric using the exact steps you used to deconstruct the upholstery. This step will necessitate the use of a sewing machine; replicate the stitching on the old cushions.

 

FAQs

 

Is it possible to reupholster over existing fabric?

If you’re reupholstering an old piece, you might be able to salvage the old batting. It would be the case if you stored it in a cool, dry place. You can even upholster right over the old fabric as long as it isn’t darker than your new fabric.

 

Is it less expensive to reupholster or to buy new?

You may give old furniture a new lease of life by reupholstering it. It usually costs more than buying new, so it’s best for pieces with sentimental value. For example, if you have an antique chair with a beautiful frame, reupholstery may be a good option.

 

What is the cost of reupholstering a small loveseat?

The cost of reupholstering a loveseat ranges between $600 and $2,000. Furniture with a tight back and seat requires 5 to 10 yards of fabric, lowering the cost. However, an artistic back may necessitate up to 18 yards of fabric, bringing the total to $2,000.

 

Conclusion

You don’t necessarily need to buy a new loveseat if you can still recover your old one. Let these steps on how to recover a small loveseat guide you on revamping your loveseat. You will not put the sentimental value you held on your small loveseat to waste.

 

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