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Over time, your furniture will become worn down, damaged or stained, leaving you to wonder which is better: reupholster or buy new?
In our fast paced society, we used to adopt a ‘throw-away’ culture where, when things got broken or damaged, we threw it away and replaced it with something new.
But as we move into a eco-conscious society, people are opting to reupholster more often. This is especially true with the cost of living rising, with many turning to more affordable alternatives to revive their furniture.
Both household reupholstery and buying new have their use cases, but understanding which option is best for your circumstance can save you time and money.
We currently live in an economy where money is tighter than ever and the price of materials have skyrocketed. With this in mind, how does this impact your decision on whether to reupholster or buy new?
Buying new isn’t as cost effective as you might think. New furniture from high street retailers tend to cost a premium, which is a result of branding and convenience.
Even if you choose to buy a mass produced piece of furniture, it might even still be worth the same as your current piece of furniture, even in the state it is in.
There tends to be a myth that reupholstery is extremely expensive, but this isn’t necessarily the case.
Depending on the furniture piece, the materials used and level of expertise of the upholster, the cost to reupholster your furniture piece can vary. Take a look at our blog on ‘How Much Does Furniture Upholstery Cost?’ to find out more.
The lifetime value that reupholstering can bring will save you money in the long term. For example, if your well made piece of furniture cost you £3,000 and cost another £700 to reupholster, that’s £3,700 for a piece of furniture that could last you 10+ years. But buying new will set you back a minimum of £1,500. On top of that, the build quality of mass produced furniture pieces are poor.
In summary, it is more likely that you will save money reupholstering your furniture as opposed to buying new. On top of this, you could be letting go of a valuable piece of furniture.
Bespoke pieces of furniture like gym pads or restaurant/pub banquette can cost a small fortune to have built within your specifications.
Some banquette seating can cost up to £10,000 to build and fit into a restaurant. This makes reupholstering a much more economically sound option for your business.
At South West Upholstery, we have helped a variety of businesses with their bespoke upholstery needs including leather banquette seating, gym pads and more! Take a look at our case studies to find out how we’ve helped businesses across the UK.
Some pieces of furniture are worth a large sum of money as they could be antique and/or rare pieces from a well renowned brand.
If you buy a new piece of furniture, it instantly loses its value after it leaves the warehouse.
Unless the piece is a designer piece that is unique and well sought after in the future, the furniture will continue to depreciate in value.
Older pieces of furniture tend to be made from quality materials, meaning that they’re much more sought after. Some pieces are even antique and can drive a high ticket value.
Another reason people choose to reupholster is because of the sentimental attachment they have to a particular piece of furniture. Perhaps it’s a family heirloom passed down through generations, or maybe it’s a chair that has been with you for a very long time.
Household reupholstery allows you to retain the emotional value and financial value whilst refreshing its look.
One of the more rewarding parts of being an upholsterer means that we get to work on historic pieces that are rare, one-of-a-kind or antique.
Sometimes people don’t understand the piece of history that they have with their furniture and these pieces are then discarded or left to rot beyond repair.
The quality of furniture is vital for improving longevity and keeping costs down in the long run.
With fast furniture becoming increasingly popular, the quality is typically neglected. This means that you will inevitably have to buy a new piece again in a few years.
The longevity of these furniture pieces are almost nonexistent in comparison to a quality built furniture piece.
If your furniture is older or vintage, it may be made from high-quality materials that are hard to find in today’s mass-produced market. Solid wood frames, intricate carvings, or sturdy joints are often worth saving.
Reupholstering such pieces can give you a longer-lasting product compared to buying cheaper, modern furniture made from particleboard or MDF.
As a society, we have become very aware of how much our actions and lifestyles can impact the environment.
Recycling and repurposing has become much more prominent as we look to reduce waste going to landfills, polluting the planet.
New furniture production involves the consumption of several natural resources—trees for wood, energy for manufacturing, and fuel for transportation. The environmental impact, including deforestation, can be devastating.
Additionally, many affordable furniture pieces are made with synthetic materials that aren’t biodegradable, contributing to environmental degradation.
As professional upholsterers, we can advise on more eco-friendly and less toxic materials for your furniture pieces.
On mass produced furniture pieces, some materials that are used include microplastics and have been known to cause cancers. Understand the materials being used in your furniture before bringing them into your home.
Reupholstering old furniture is often a more sustainable choice. By opting to refurbish rather than discard, you’re helping to reduce waste in landfills and limiting the environmental cost of producing new furniture.
The “reuse” aspect of reupholstery aligns with the growing trend towards eco-friendly living.
You can find out more on our blog 5 Reasons to Reupholster Your Old Furniture.
Replacing your existing furniture piece may be difficult when you have built a theme around the colours or patterns of your existing furniture.
Some high street furniture retailers do give you the option to customise your upholstery, however, the options are typically limited. Quite often, you will struggle to find the pattern, colour or even material that you want to relive the theme you had with your older piece.
When opting for expert reupholstery, you will be given a much wider variety of choice when it comes to colours and patterns. At South West Upholster, we offer free samples of materials to help you choose the perfect material for you and your furniture.
Take a look at the range of free sample materials we have available.
Are you ready to reupholster your old furniture piece? Whether you’re wanting to bring an antique back to life or looking for an eco-friendly alternative to buying a new piece of furniture, contact us.
A member of our expert upholstery team will be happy to provide you with a no-obligation quote. Simply head over to our contact page to fill out a form, or alternatively you can call us on 0117 171 0165 or email us at [email protected].
