You can quickly learn how to reupholster a leather sofa in three easy steps. Below, you will find a three-step tutorial on reupholstering a leather sofa at home. We will also discuss other common upholstery questions regarding leather couches.

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Do you have other leather sofa issues? Perhaps your furniture doesn’t immediately need reupholstering, and you only have to fix the leather sofa. You can also read this guide for repairing faux leather sofa where you’ll learn how to patch up holes.

Is It Possible To Reupholster A Leather Sofa?

Step 1. Remove the current leather upholstery of the sofa and prepare the new leather cover

Flip the leather sofa so you can access its bottom and remove the staples that secure the current leather upholstery
Remove the leather material carefully from the furniture so you can use it as a template for the new upholstery
Cut the old leather material with a seam ripper according to the sections in the sofa
Place the new leather material right side down on a flat surface and have the removed leather pieces on top of it face down as well
Pin the edges and cut the new leather material accordingly
Cut the leather upholstery with a rotary knife to ensure a neat finish

Step 2. Place the new leather cover on the sofa one section at a time

Attach the new leather cover on the sofa, starting with the back piece
Place the leather piece on the top edge of the sofa’s back with a staple gun
Attach the front leather piece by having it drape down at the back before stapling it over the back piece
Tighten the leather upholstery and tack the inside of each corner
Staple inside the bottom of the back part and sides of the sofa
Cover each sofa arm with the new leather and secure the material by stapling inside and outside behind the sofa to hide the staples
Flip the leather for the sofa’s bottom front over the top and secure it at the front edge
The staples will be hidden because you will flip the leather again and secure it underneath the front of the sofa
Cover the remaining back portion of the couch around the arms and staple the leather under the furniture

Step 3. Reupholster the sofa cushions and finish

Measure and cut the leather material according to the size of the seat cushions
Pin the leather pairs right sides in
Sew around the cushion cover with a seam allowance and leaving the backside open
Attach a piece of hook and loop tape on the rear opening of the leather cushion cover
Turn the cover right side out and place the cushion inside
Close the backside using the hook and loop tape
Repeat for the rest of the sofa cushions
Finish the reupholstered sofa with tacks along the bottom of the front edge and arms

How To Reupholster A Leather Couch With Attached Cushions

Remove the current leather material and use it to determine the amount you’ll need for the new leather cover
Drape the upholstery over the sofa and tuck it at the space between the back and attached cushions
Be sure to stretch the leather fabric before stapling it to the wood frame inside the space
Reupholster the arms, front, and back of the sofa onto the frame
Staple the leather into the base of the frame for a neat finish and cut the excess

When To Reupholster A Leather Sofa

You can reupholster a sofa if you notice that it’s visibly worn out. The time it takes for a leather sofa to show signs of damages will vary depending on its quality and how you use and maintain it.

How much does it cost to reupholster a leather sofa?

Reupholstering a leather sofa can range from $600 to $5000. Remember that even if you’re not bringing it to a professional, the cost of the leather itself can be high. You want to consider that the best quality hide can be around $750, and you will multiply this by the sofa’s size.

A larger sofa set that uses multiple pieces will require more material for reupholstering than a loveseat, for example. Read this guide on how to reupholster a sectional sofa to get more ideas.

Is it better to reupholster or buy new?

If you think which decision is better between getting a new sofa or reupholstering the current one, it’s simply finding out which will give you more value. Check your options if it will cost less for you to reupholster the sofa, but often, it’s cheaper to buy a new one. It would be best if you also remembered that getting a couch reupholstered only addresses the outer parts and not the interior of the furniture.

However, it’s also understandable that some leather couches are worth reupholstering. Perhaps the leather sofa has a significant meaning to you by being a family heirloom, or it has a sentimental value. The furniture might also be unique, and it’s impossible to find something similar to it.

Conclusion

Is your leather sofa worn out? It would be helpful if you know how to reupholster a leather sofa to restore it. You only need to remove the leather material and use it as a stencil for the new leather.

Then, staple the leather material one section at a time while ensuring that it’s not loose and the staples are hidden well. However, it’s always best to weigh your options since reupholstering a sofa can cost more than new furniture.