- Aesthetics and comfort are often the two most important factors in how long you’ll love your furniture, so save your dollars for premium padding and showstopping fabric. As long as the shape is pleasing, I’m attracted to the dirtiest pieces with the ugliest fabric for a fraction of the cost. They also make the best transformations!
- Think beyond a fabric exchange or removing a skirt. We’ve shortened sofas, changed arms from round to square, and turned coffee tables into ottomans all at the hands of upholstery.
- Always refinish and repaint when furniture is completely stripped. Old fabric and padding often cover the exposed frame, resulting in a sloppy-looking paint job when pieces are reupholstered.
- Pneumatic tools are an upholsterer’s best friend, saving loads of time and worn-out hands.
- Think outside the box for fabric, using blankets, vintage curtains, tablecloths, and rugs. Have a special textile that seems too thin for upholstery? Have it backed to add thickness and durability.
- Instead of spraying a stain blocker on your furniture after upholstery, have fabric treated before putting it on the furniture. This gives you stain resistance even in the nooks and crannies and protects exposed wood from stain blocker overspray.
- When attaching fabric, shoot staples in halfway (sub-stapling) while you’re perfecting the position of the pattern and smoothness of the upholstery.
- Upholstery requires very little sewing. When I began upholstery, I hadn’t sewed much more than a straight line, and it took very little time to pick up the rest.
- Piping/welt cord is easy to make. Contrary to popular belief, it requires no skill just the right sewing machine attachment.
- Don’t be intimidated by leather. It’s surprisingly easy to work and lasts forever
