To reupholster or not? Multiple factors enter into decision

DEAR CONNIE: Reupholstering will definitely give your sofa and chair an updated look, but you do need to take a couple of things into consideration first.

Yes, most times reupholstering is less expensive than buying new. I say most times because there are a couple of price factors involved in reupholstering that will affect the total cost.

First, is the style of your sofa and chair one that you want to keep for the next 10 years? If you’re going to invest in reupholstering pieces, you’ll want to keep them for quite a few years in order to recoup the costs.

Were they good-quality pieces when you bought them? Are the frame, springs and cushions still in good condition? In my opinion, unless the pieces were good quality pieces to start with, I would not suggest reupholstering them.

But, of course, there are always exceptions. Do the pieces hold any special memories or meaning to you? Was it your grandmother’s favorite chair or is it something you purchased on a special trip? Did you have the piece custom made to fit in just the right place? Or is it the most comfortable piece you’ve ever had?

Nowadays, you can purchase fairly inexpensive upholstery. So if you paid less than around $1,500 for the two pieces, they are probably not worth reupholstering because you can buy new.

In estimating how much it will cost to reupholster, let’s look at your sofa. Since you didn’t mention the size, let’s assume it is an average-size sofa of 86 inches long by 36 inches deep with exposed feet and loose back cushions in good condition.

The two costs that you’ll have are fabric and labor. If you select a plain solid fabric that is 54 inches wide, you’ll need approximately 15-17 yards of fabric, depending upon the style of the sofa. If you’re looking to select a print fabric that has a pattern repeat, you’ll need to add another 10-35 percent more fabric, depending upon how large the pattern repeat is. Fabric, like everything we purchase, has a very wide price range from just dollars to more than $100 per yard. So, let’s take an average price of $35 per yard, which gives you a good selection to choose from.

Along with the fabric, there are labor costs. Reupholsters also range in price from about $30-$40 per yard, plus normal pick-up and delivery charges.

Now, let’s do some calculations using the average yardage, fabric and labor costs so you can compare reupholstering to buying new. If your sofa needs 16 yards of solid fabric — at $35 per yard for fabric, a reupholster charge of $35 per yard and a pick-up and delivery charge of $25 — it will cost $1,145 to reupholster your sofa.

If you only paid $1,000 for the piece I would suggest buying new. You would be able to update the style, have a tight new frame and new cushions. But if you originally purchased a good-quality piece for a couple thousand dollars or more, that still has a good tight frame and the springs and cushions are still in excellent condition, you might consider reupholstering it.

Reupholstering is a great way to transform a good-quality piece of furniture and extend its life, but just make sure it’s the right choice for you.

Gail Mayhugh, owner of GMJ Interiors, is a professional interior designer and author of a book on the subject. Questions may be sent by e-mail to: gail@gmjinteriors.com. Or, mail to: 7380 S. Eastern Ave., No. 124-272, Las Vegas, NV 89123. Her Web address is: www.GMJinteriors.com.