Do not worry if you don’t know how to reupholster an antique sofa because we created an easy-to-follow three-step guide. The process is somewhat similar to reupholstering a leather couch. But this time, you want to be extra careful, considering antique sofas are heirlooms.
And if you’re having second thoughts, we will answer the question of “is it worth it to reupholster an antique sofa” below!
Complete Guide On How To Reupholster An Antique Sofa At Home
Step 1. Remove the current upholstery
Inspect the antique sofa to know the best method to remove the current upholstery. You may need to flip it over and remove the staples that secure the material. Carefully remove the staples or tacks with the right tool without damaging the sofa itself.
It would help to document where you took off each upholstery piece and group the ones in the same section of the sofa together. This will help you later when installing the new upholstery. And since the vintage sofa is uncovered, it’s the perfect opportunity to inspect its padding, frame, and other parts.
You can repair damaged wood, paint the chrome, or replace the padding. Fix the issues accordingly before reassembling and reupholstering the couch.
Step 2. Install the new material
Lay your desired upholstery fabric right side up onto a clean surface. Place the removed materials over it and use them as stencils. Pin the old upholstery onto the new one and allocate two inches of allowance during cutting.
Install the new upholstery material in reverse order when you removed the old one. Refer to your documentation and groupings during reupholstering. Additionally, pull each piece when stapling it in place to ensure that there will be no wrinkling once finished.
Strategize your staple placements at the edge of each upholstery piece and trim the excess material. If your vintage furniture uses several pieces, learn the techniques on how to reupholster a sectional.
Step 3. Fix the sofa stuffing and finish
Continue reupholstering the vintage couch in an orderly fashion. If your new material has patterns, check your work each time you’re installing a piece to see if you’re following the design correctly. And since you’re restoring the antique furniture, fix the sofa cushions as well.
Try repairing the covers if they’re still salvageable, or make the sofa cushion cover yourself with the proper material. You might also need to add more filling or replace the sofa cushion foam altogether. If either the cover and insert are unusable, recycle the zippers instead.
Do You Have To Remove Old Fabric When Reupholstering?
You don’t have to remove the old fabric when reupholstering, but some instances will require this procedure. For example, reupholstering an antique sofa might also mean that you have to replace the batting. Vintage furniture that is not stored in a dry location can develop mold inside.
It would be best that you strip your sofa down to its frame to check its interior. Otherwise, you can encounter issues even if the couch ends up looking visually pleasing. But if you’re confident that the sofa is stored well, you can reupholster the sofa directly, especially if the old fabric won’t show up with the new one over it.
How Do You Reupholster A Couch Without Removing Old Fabric?
Reupholstering a couch without removing old fabric is not that different from how you’ll reupholster a sofa traditionally. You will simply lay the new material over the couch and follow how it’s installed. The current fabric will still serve as your pattern, but you will need to measure the sofa to know how much material is required for each section.
Should You Reupholster Antique Furniture?
You should reupholster antique furniture if it is a valuable antique or a prized heirloom. Furthermore, upholstering vintage sofas is a great way to incorporate them into your home.
Is it worth it to reupholster a sofa?
A sofa is worth reupholstering if the frame isn’t severely damaged, to begin with. You might save more money reupholstering than getting a new one since you’ll only pay for the new fabric. And best of all, the landfill is saved from one more sofa.
On the contrary, reupholstering a sofa is not the same as restoring the furniture. The cost of replacing other parts such as the batting or frame itself might cost you more than getting a new couch altogether. And even if you get everything repaired, it might not be as comfortable as before.
How much does it cost to reupholster an antique couch?
Reupholstering an antique sofa can cost anywhere from $1000 to $3000. You have to account if you’re doing the project yourself, the materials you’ll need, the size of the sofa, and additional payment for labor if needed.
Conclusion
Do you want to rejuvenate vintage furniture? This article discussed how to reupholster an antique sofa at home, and it’s surprisingly easy. You only need to remove each material piece carefully and use them as a guide for reupholstering.
However, you might also have to repair the other parts of the antique couch. Think it through if this project is worth doing or getting a new sofa is more sensible.