Reupholstering A Prized Piece Of Family Furniture

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It’s never easy to say goodbye to a piece of furniture that has been in your family for some time. As strange as it sounds, it’s quite easy to develop a particular bond with the items we use every single day. If you have a favorite chair, then throwing it out can be quite difficult, and of course, it might even be a waste of value. Yet unless the item is an antique, it can be hard to assign a valuation on it in the first place.

A good third way is to consider reupholstering the furniture. Provided it retains its structural strength, you may be able to do this more easily than you realize. With a careful and consistent output, a little care towards its finish, fixing problems that you may have noticed, and in the long run adjusting it to your needs can be helpful. For instance, you might wish to upgrade to a larger sofa in a newer home, but you could still use this for a conservatory space if well-kept.

In this post, we’ll discuss a few ways to reupholster a piece of furniture, especially if it’s an item you prize.

Replacing Its Fabrics

The first step in the process is to remove the old fabric from the piece of furniture. This can be done by carefully cutting away the fabric from the frame using scissors or a sharp knife. Once the old fabric is removed, you can then measure and cut the new fabric to fit the frame. It’s important to choose a high-quality, durable fabric that will stand up to regular use, and if you can, try to match the prior aesthetic. When cutting and attaching the new fabric, it’s important to take your time and pay attention to detail. A smooth, wrinkle-free finish is important for a professional-looking reupholstery job. Take extra care to make sure that the fabric is stretched tight and attached to the frame securely. To finish the process, you can add any additional details like buttons, tufting or any other embellishments that you may like – this will help secure it readily.

Treating The Wood

Before you begin the reupholstering process, it’s important to clean and treat the wood. This will help to remove any dirt, dust, or grime that may have accumulated on the piece over the years. You can use a mild detergent and warm water to clean the wood, and sometimes this might involve sanding the wood down and filling any cracks, followed by a coat of wood conditioner or oil to protect the wood from damage. You can also consider these resources on beeswax furniture care for the best results. 

Replacing Structural Breakages

Sometimes a prized piece of family furniture may have structural issues, such as loose joints or broken legs. Before you begin the reupholstering process, it’s important to address any structural issues that the piece may have. This will ensure that the piece is safe to use and will last for many more years to come. If the piece has loose joints, these can be tightened using a clamp, for example. If there are broken legs, these will need to be repaired or replaced. In some cases, you may need to call a professional furniture restorer to help with these repairs.

With this advice, you’ll be able to reupholster a prized piece of furniture in the best way.