reupholster or replace? beth j’s couch dilemma
My current couch is dingy and drab — 10 years of wear and tear plus two small children have left some ugly marks. If I reupholster, it will probably cost $3,000 for the labor plus extra for fabric (we need 30 yards). The original couch shape is decent and I feel like it’s timeless, but there’s part of me that wonders if it’s ’80s fluffy and big. The couch has good bones — with a wood frame — and it’s down, which is higher quality than a new couch that I would buy, which would be foam. But that also means lots of pillow fluffing, and down seems to be out of fashion. I don’t know the original price, but it was a hand-me-down from a wealthy family friend and probably beaucoup bucks. If I buy new, I would probably get something from Room and Board, and I like this couch-and-chair set that costs around $2,500. (I’m thinking Vick fabric in Graphite.) So the question is: Spend more and reupholster old couch? Or start fresh and buy new? –Beth J.
February 29th, 2008 at 5:58 am
Definitely buy the couch that you want. Offset the cost by selling the one you have now. Just at first glance I think you could get $250-$300 for the couch on craigslist.
February 29th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Ten years is pretty good for a couch — not to mention the additional years from the owner before you. If you LOVED LOVED LOVED the shape and feel of it, I would say reupholster, but for the same price or less, that Room & Board will last you another ten years. Of course… with out all those soft cushions it may not be nearly as comfy.
February 29th, 2008 at 8:20 am
I dunno… I REALLY love your old sofa. It’s very similar to WShome’s “Wilshire” sofa, except it has upholstered legs. LOVE! If you had it reupholstered in a very different fabric that you are excited about, it might be worth it. And from what I have seen, down cushions are not going out of style - I say comfy is comfy.
February 29th, 2008 at 11:34 am
I agree that ten years is good for a couch — I tend to move on around then, unless it’s a really classic modern piece. It might be my own personal style, but the only thing I dislike about your old couch is the covered legs. If you did recover, could they be exposed to look more like the Room and Board sofa? Or could the old sofa be covered with a slipcover and used in a family room/kids’ room? I was all for buying new, but now Eric M has started to talk me out of it! *shakes fist*
February 29th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I’d say reupholster the old sofa. 10 years isn’t that long for a quality piece of furniture. The underlying frame is most likely better than any new sofa. Down and feather cushions are most definitely not out of fashion and as a matter of fact, they are coming back in because they are more environmentally friendly than foam, unless you are going with an all natural foam such as that made from soy. The upholsterer might be able to save much of the cushioning, augmented with new. As for the covered legs - a decent upholster might be able to remove the legs and add new wooden or stainless ones. I don’t know where you live, but the $3000 labor estimate seems a bit high and depending on the material, you might not need 30 yards. A solid fabric will be less, a print would be more. I’d at least have a chat with an upholsterer about the piece - tell him who the manufacturer is if there is a tag, show him measurements and your photo and get his input. Then you can make a real dollar to dollar decision.
February 29th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Maybe there’s a middle ground - slipcover?
$3000 seems like a very high quote. Have you tried comparison shopping?
My instinct is to stick with the one you’ve got - at least until more eco-friendly couches become the norm. I would worry about the off-gassing from a new couch. Your down sofa is probably way healthier for your home and kids.
February 29th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I’m with the recover camp on this one ONLY because the style is so similar to the sofa you like. Doesn’t seem like it would take that much to transform and have the sofa you really want. You sofa will love you for it!
February 29th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
i am in the recover camp too - I just don’t think you can ever replace the quality of the past- and down is coming back - so by holding on to the past you are already ahead!
March 1st, 2008 at 5:11 am
Wow. You guys are so thoughtful. So it seems to be 4 for recover, and 2 for buy new. Just as I was leaning towards buy new! I keep going back and forth between all of the opinions shared here. And if I do recover, I really don’t know what fabric to choose so that kind of stumps me….
March 2nd, 2008 at 7:25 am
My suggestion as an interim would be to recover the pillows only. You could probably do this yourself. If you’re like us, what has happened is that there’s some wear on the frame, but the pillows/cushion is what really needs to be recovered.
I just wish I had a couch with removable pillows! Mine has a gorgous frame, but just as old (well…older) and I can’t figure how to recover it!
jkd
March 2nd, 2008 at 10:27 am
Consider all the nasty fire retarding chemicals they put in new furniture and the fact that you have kids who could be affected by those chemicals. I started digging into this a few years ago and quickly became very depressed. Ignorance is bliss in this case. I say slipcovers.
March 2nd, 2008 at 2:56 pm
REUPHOLSTER!!!
your current sofa has loads more character than the cheapo room and board… if your sofa has held up this long, the frame must be of high quality. plus, it has a great design!
find an amazing fabric and keep that great looking sofa. i am sure it will look worlds richer than the room and board when it is all said and done.
March 3rd, 2008 at 5:45 am
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March 4th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Reupholster, it’s a quality couch, handsome AND comfy. Get another quote for the material and the labor.
March 5th, 2008 at 9:24 am
I am going through the same dilemma as you. That is until I read these replies.
I have a couch the same style as yours (not as long). Last evening I had an upholsterer come in to give an estimate - $750.00 labor and 18 yards of fabric (solid) + 2 yds. or more for a pattern (depending on the repeat).
This is the second time that this couch will be recovered and because of it’s quality it is still in excellent condition.
I have decided to have it re-upholstered and I think that you should as well, but do get another estimate.