If you’ve recently wondered about reupholstering furniture and want to know if it’s worth it, you’ve come to the right place.
I was in the same boat recently and here’s what I’ve learned to look for and what to consider when reupholstering furniture.
If you follow me on Instagram, you may know we recently found some amazing furniture pieces at some thrift stores.
We weren’t necessarily looking for furniture that day but I’ve low-key been on the lookout for a small sofa for our back family room. I’ve found that it’s always when you’re not looking that the best stuff seems to appear.
I had my eye on a new sofa from GreenRow for our family room. I want something fun and different than what I normally gravitate towards. When I crudely mocked this one up in a mood board I kinda fell in love.
I also mocked up a few other options using the GreenRow sofa in their floral print, as well as a classic navy stripe.
But I kept coming back to the yellow plaid flannel. I absolutely adore it with these apple green swivel chairs with the fringe. Mike vetoed them though and I could cry.
Once I selected the size, fabric, and fill on their website, I hesitated to purchase when I saw the cost. It was over $6,000 and that’s before tax and shipping.
The fabric I picked is out of the box for me. Even though I love it, I’m worried about the longevity of it. If I was going to spend that amount of money on a piece of furniture, I wanted to make sure it was a quality, well made piece that I would love for years to come.
This led me to consider looking for a sofa second hand. To see if I could reupholster and customize it to exactly what we wanted for much less.
Here is what I’ve found is important to consider when looking for furniture second hand to reupholster.
- Quality Matters
- Cost
- Time
- Style and Fit
- Ability to Customize
Find A Quality Piece
If you’re thinking about shopping second hand for a furniture piece you can reupholster, look for quality. You want a well made piece that’s held up over time. That’s what will make reupholstering worth it.
If the frame and the springs are still in great shape, this is one indicator that it’s a well made piece. Also, if it’s heavy that’s another indicator that you have a quality piece. You know it’s made from solid wood rather than MDF or particle board with veneers.
The way a piece is constructed and the quality of the materials used is another way to identify a well made piece. A handcrafted piece with mortise and tenon joinery is constructed to last years. Whereas most pieces made today use other options like screws and other mass produced connectors.
If you shop with these things in mind and find a piece with great bones, reupholstering is a great option.
If you’re still unsure of what to look for and how to identify quality, looking for pieces by high end furniture companies that have a reputation for producing quality items can take the guess work out of it.
When I worked in residential design, Henredon, Hickory Chair, Bernhardt, and Baker were some of the companies we worked with. Other names that are known for handcrafted well made pieces are Sherrill, CR Laine, and Bassett. Just do a quick Google search if you’re unsure or unfamiliar with a brand.
Cost
Another big factor for people when considering buying new vs. reupholstering a second hand find is cost. I think most people assume having a piece of furniture reupholstered would cost way more than purchasing new.
I know I did.
But, when I started looking into it, I learned that’s not necessarily the case.
If you shop on Facebook Marketplace or at your local Habitat Restore or thrift store, chances are you can find a quality piece for cheap.
Mike and I recently found a sofa, loveseat, and chair and a half, all made by high end furniture brands, for under $500.
From my research, I had a rough idea of the amount of fabric needed and labor costs for these items. If you’re unsure of the costs in your area, find a local upholsterer and check with them.
With some quick math, I knew it was worth it to buy these pieces second hand and have them reupholstered. I could get exactly what I was looking for, for HALF the cost of the new sofa I was looking at online.
Plus, I knew these pieces were solid and we’d have them for years to come. Maybe even reupholstering multiple times if tastes changed.
Time to Source
For most people, I think time is another big factor when it comes to selecting furniture from a retailer vs. waiting to find something secondhand.
If you don’t have the time or the desire to search Facebook Marketplace, local antique and thrift stores, or garage sales to find what you’re looking for, then retail stores are the prefect option.
But, if you’re not in a rush and like the thrill of the hunt, I think it’s worth the wait.
We have a large sectional that we purchased a few years ago from The Loft by Arhaus which is their store offering discounted new, slightly imperfect, and discontinued items.
We got a great deal on it and it was perfect for what we needed and what we were looking for at the time.
Since we weren’t in a hurry this time and I enjoy the hunt, I opted to take my time and source exactly what I wanted.
Style and Fit
The style and size of furniture you’re looking for is another thing to consider. If there are specific measurements you need to stick to for your space, shopping retail may be the better option. You can plug in the dimensions you need and easily narrow down options that would work.
If you have some flexibility with the size, and are open to different options, shopping second hand may be the way to go. Being open to a slightly larger or smaller piece will give you a wider range to select from.
Same thing with style. If you have your heart set on a certain style or look, It’s easier to shop online retailers and find what you are looking for.
Having an open mind when shopping second hand will widen your options. You may find the perfect piece in a style you wouldn’t have considered shopping only online.
I will say you can most likely find whatever style you’re looking for second hand. It’s just the amount of time you want to spend looking for it that makes this something to consider.
You Want to Be Able to Customize the Piece For a One of A Kind Look
If it’s important to you to have something unique, reupholstering a secondhand furniture piece may be the way to go.
I’ve always loved the look of an English roll arm sofa. For a while I considered the Carlisle from Pottery Barn. They do have some customizations and over 100 fabrics to choose from. But nothing that felt special, unique, or had a pattern.
Not only did I want an English roll arm sofa but I had my heart set on a ticking stripe fabric. It feels classic and timeless and would work with everything. Pottery Barn doesn’t offer this sofa in a ticking stripe and my online search for other options proved futile.
Either the stripe wasn’t right, or the color options were off. If I did manage to find something that I thought could work, it was more than I wanted to spend. So I turned to secondhand.
I was able to find an 83″ Sherrill English roll arm sofa at our local Habitat For Humanity for only $95. The size is perfect and the seat is nice and deep. Also, the sofa is in great shape, and the style and size is exactly what I want. And while the fabric isn’t terrible, I know I’ll be able to get a ticking stripe I’ll love.
Besides fabric, there are so many other customizations you can select when reupholstering furniture. I could remove the skirt or change it to a box pleat, gathered skirt, or add fringe if I wanted.
With reupholstering, I can decide to run the stripe horizontal instead of vertical or a combination of the two. I can also add a contrasting or coordinating welt. Which is what I plan to do on one of our pieces.
These are just some of the changes you can make to create a high end unique look that can’t be found in a box retailer.
A Case for Shopping Second Hand and Reupholstering
After doing my research and weighing the options, reupholstering a second hand find just made more sense.
Finding a high end quality piece that I can customize to my exact specifications for less than what a new sofa would cost is a no brainer for me.
I found a local upholsterer I want to work with and got labor costs along with fabric yardage needed for each. I don’t think they allow COM (Customer’s Own Material) so I’ve been working with them to select fabrics from the brands they carry.
Check back to see what I select and how I’m customizing each piece. I’ll also share a cost breakdown if it’s helpful but know this will vary by location.
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