Reupholstery on the cheap?

TrulyMadly

Hello everyone,

We have a wonderful 25year old 3 piece that we would like to reupholster. The framework is fine.
Two questions.
Can anyone recommend the best type of foam cushions to buy. There's latex, dunlopillo and all sorts of types. I've priced some sample sizes online and have had prices back ranging from £25 to £90. Does anyone have any experience of buying foam and what would your recommendations be.

Second question is a bit more specialist. The suite was purchased from Barker and Stonehouse (when it only had one store in the north east) The fabric is black with birds, peonies and crysanths in pinks and russet. I have enough newish fabric (taken from matching curtains purchased at the time but mainly unused) to cover half of the cushions. I am currently trawling the internet unsuccessfully to try and purchase some more fabric. I thought it was called Bird of Paradise but that just brings up a load of types of fabric.
I know it's a long shot but does anyone have any ideas on how to locate an old fabric.

Thank you

hilstep2000

We had my dad's sofas reupholstered recently. They were done locally, and cost £1200 each, but worth doing as they should last another 30 years according to the man who did it!
Can you remember where you got the material from in the first place? They may be able to help you locate some more. Otherwise, a large material shop may be able to help with contrasting material.
Foam can be difficult. You must get fire-retardent foam, and it's worth paying a bit extra, if you are going to do it at all. Ours were redone, and are guaranteed for seven years.
Good luck with it!

Badrick

If you have enough material to cover the faces and edges of cushions you can see, you could have the backs done with a different material that would complement the original material.
Another option would be to salvage the backs from old cushions if they're in good enough condition.

mancmum

hilstep2000 wrote: »

We had my dad's sofas reupholstered recently. They were done locally, and cost £1200 each, but worth doing as they should last another 30 years according to the man who did it!
Can you remember where you got the material from in the first place? They may be able to help you locate some more. Otherwise, a large material shop may be able to help with contrasting material.
Foam can be difficult. You must get fire-retardent foam, and it's worth paying a bit extra, if you are going to do it at all. Ours were redone, and are guaranteed for seven years.
Good luck with it!

Do make sure the fabric you are using is fireproof. The curtains may look the same but is the weight of fabric the same. Curtains are often thinner than upholstery fabric.

I've made loose covers and it is an evil job. If you could at all afford to have someone professional re-upholster then I think I would put my energies into finding roll ends of upholstery fabric that I like rather than a lot of time and energy re-upholstering a sofa.

However if you just mean recovering cushions then that's a much easier job that re-upholstery. If you use foam in cushions its worth making a cover for the foam before you put the foam into the cushion covers.

carefullycautious

If you write to the Sunday Times 'Home' section they may be able to help. Lots of people write in with just this sort of request.

ormus

matching fabric 25 yrs old is virtually impossible. when a production run is finished and all sold off, they rarely make it ever again.
with a few exceptions. ie the liberty shop.

make sure you get the correct material for upholstery. unless money is really tight.
ie dressmaking fabric material isnt suitable.

IME foam fillings are very expensive unless youre buying in bulk.

dander

I have replaced foam and recovered a suite that just had loose cushions. I got the foam pieces cut to shape by a local foam supplier. Most foam seems to come in various grades of strength and I was advised that it was worth paying more for the really good stuff on the seats because they do the most work - backs and arms don't need the same grade.
I'd recommend talking to the foam companies and explaining exactly what you're doing and they'll recommend which of their products is most suitable for the job. I *think* the blue latex is the most common seat foam, but I'm not certain.
I know for mine it cost me over £500 just for the foam - but that was for one hell of a lot of foam because I had backs, seats, arms all done. It was so much I really struggled to get it all in the car!

As far as the fabric goes, I'd start by talking to the original company that supplied. Even if they don't still stock it they might at least be able to identify what the name of the fabric is which will help you if you are searching discontinued fabric specialists or online. Also check the seams of the curtains, if there's any selvedges still there, they might have the fabric name printed on. (although I think professionals would usually cut the selvedge off)

As far as upholstery fabric goes, I think lighter fabrics are fine for cushions etc - as long as you bear in mind it won't be as hard-wearing. I think the biggest problem with lighter fabrics would be where you are nailing the fabric to the frame - and you don't want a fabric that could fray or tear under any strain around the nail. Certainly I've done seat cushions and loose covers in what's considered curtain fabric without any problems.