Couch looking drab? Instead of buying a new one, transform your couch with a DIY reupholstery job. Whether you’re looking to give your space a complete makeover or simply restore its prior look, reupholstering your couch can be a huge change. Plus, reupholstering gives your old furniture new life without sending it to the landfill. Thus, it’s a very eco-friendly and sustainable design option.
What Is Reupholstery?
Reupholstery is the practice of recovering your furniture with new material. It typically requires the removal of all the furniture’s fabric to replace it with new fabric. It’s a widely used practice that allows you to revamp a piece of furniture with a frame that isn’t broken or damaged.
Before You Begin
Keep in mind that reupholstering a couch yourself is fairly time-consuming and requires some elbow grease to get the job done correctly. While we think it’s best for advanced-level DIYers, a motivated intermediate sewer could be successful, too. That said, we suggest that beginners try reupholstery on a smaller piece of furniture before taking on a couch reupholstery project.
Warning
Throughout this reupholstery project, you’ll be removing a lot of staples. Wear shoes to protect your feet in case you step on a stray staple, and be careful to not send any staples flying toward your face during the removal process.
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
- Staple remover
- Staple gun
- Needle nose pliers
- Flathead screwdriver
- Strong fabric scissors
- Paintbrush (optional)
Materials
- 10 yards upholstery fabric
- Heavy-duty staples
- Sewing machine (optional)
- Sandpaper (optional)
- Fabric glue (optional)
- Furniture stain (optional)
- Furniture sealant (optional)
- Furniture paint (optional)
Instructions
Measure Your Couch
Take precise measurements of each piece of fabric on your couch, including the outside couch fabric, the interior fabric, the dust cover on the underside of the couch, and any round, upholstered cording. (If you plan to remove all fabric anyway, taking measurements may be easier if you remove all the fabric at this step, lay them out, and measure the dimensions of each flat piece.)
Write down all of these measurements and use them to calculate how much fabric you’ll need to purchase for your reupholstery project.
Pick Your Upholstery
Bring your notes and measurements to your local fabric store and check out their upholstery fabric options. The thicker the fabric, the longer it will last on your furniture piece, but stapling heavy fabric to your couch frame may be more difficult than stapling thinner fabric. In this case, you’ll have to pick your poison, but we recommend purchasing thicker upholstery fabric.
Tip
Purchase more fabric than you think you will need. More often than not, it will come in handy. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Remove Dust Cover
Most couches have a dust cover, a thin layer of fabric stapled to the bottom. This cover extends the life of your furniture by protecting it from dust, pests, and pets. Remove it completely before reupholstery.
- Turn your couch upside down and take its legs off.
- Use a staple remover to carefully remove the staples around the dust cover. If complete removal requires a stronger tool, use a needle nose pliers and flathead screwdriver.
- Remove the cover completely being careful to avoid rips or tears during the process.
If the dust cover still seems functional, you can reuse it and staple it back onto your couch once you’re done with the reupholstery. Stash it in a safe place where it won’t get damaged for the time being.
Remove Old Upholstery
Remove the old upholstery fabric on your couch very carefully. Each couch is different, but in general, you’ll want to remove fabric pieces in the order in which they were attached to the couch.Always remove the top layer of fabric first.
- First, remove the upholstery panel on the back of the couch - if there is one.
- Use your staple remover, screwdriver, and needlenose pliers to pry off each staple as you remove the layers of fabric.
- Take lots of notes and photos throughout the process so that you can refer back to them, later on, to determine how the original fabric was stretched and where it fit.
It's possible to reupholster a couch without removing the old fabric but it's not recommended to DIYers who want their couch looking fresh and new. An additional layer of fabric may look bulky and chunky. Consider making a couch cover instead of reupholstering to refresh your couch with a simpler project.
Tip
When removing staples, place the old ones in a bin to keep them away from kids or pets. Dispose of them in the trash or bring them to a metal recycler.
Add Stuffing as Needed
Purchase stuffing or poly-fill at your local craft or big box store. For a more budget-friendly option, you can buy used pillows or cushions at your nearby thrift shop, cut them open, and reuse the stuffing for your own cushions.
With the couch cushions removed and uncovered, use this time to re-stuff them to look plump and new again. Be wary of over-stuffing, which can make your couch look a bit gaudy and over-the-top. Use your own judgement here. This seemingly simple re-stuffing step can do wonders for an old, sagging sofa.
Refinish Frame
Unless your couch is an expensive antique or family heirloom, you can refinish it before attaching the new upholstery fabric.
Sand it down, apply stain or paint, or do whatever you need to do to get the frame looking in tip-top shape. If you do decide to stain or paint it, be sure to add a sealant to prevent it from bleeding onto clothes or cushions in the future.
Cut and Attach New Fabric
You can use the upholstery fabric you removed as patterns to cut your new fabric. That way, the new fabric will fit your couch perfectly.
- Use strong, sharp fabric scissors to cut the upholstery fabric to avoid snags or frays.
- Let your notes and photos be your general guide as you attach your new fabric.
- Attach each piece of fabric in the reverse order in which you removed your old upholstery fabric. The fabric piece you removed first will be the last piece you attach and vice versa.
- Pull the fabric so it's taught to avoid wrinkles and staple it onto the couch frame using heavy-duty staples to avoid wrinkles.
Reattach Dust Cover
After you’re finished stapling the new fabric onto your couch, it’s time to reattach the dust cover that you removed at the beginning of the project. This piece of fabric covers up all of the staples underneath, leaving the couch looking neat and tidy (and covering up any mistakes).
You can reuse the original dust cover that you removed. Or, if it’s in bad shape, cut and attach a new piece of fabric as your dust cover. Use a piece that matches your new upholstery to make the couch look seamless. If you're really in a pinch, you can use a bed sheet, but remember that thinner fabric won't last as long and may leave your couch more vulnerable.
Cut and Add Trim
Many sofas come with decorative cording or trim to cover up staples and add a decorative touch. If that’s the case with your couch, purchase some matching cord and use strong fabric glue to attach it to your sofa.
The trim will give your couch a nice finished look while covering up any unsightly evidence of your upholstery. To make it look seamless, it's important to find high-quality fabric glue and follow the instructions on the back of the bottle.
Tip
If you can't find a matching cord, buy something close and use a sewing machine to make a cover for it using any leftover upholstery fabric. If you don't have any upholstery fabric left, choose a fabric that complements the color scheme.
Add Finishing Touches
Add finishing touches to your couch to make it look even more beautiful. If desired, repaint or stain the couch legs that you initially removed. Using any leftover fabric, you can also sew pillow covers to make cute matching throw pillows. Experiment with different shapes and sizes to find the style that's right for you and your space.
If your couch has tufted cushions, purchase a tufting kit from your local craft store to add decorative buttons and threading.
DIY Cost vs. Professional Reupholstery
If you’re a thrifty shopper and can reupholster your couch yourself, it’s a relatively budget-friendly DIY project. This is especially true compared to having it professionally reupholstered, which can cost thousands of dollars.
Professional couch reupholstery can cost between $600 and $4,000, which is often just as expensive as it is to buy a whole new couch. The total cost will be determined by the condition of your couch, transportation expenses (if the pro has to come to you), and extra features like tufting, new fabric, and labor. Labor costs between $40 and $100 per hour on average.
Most of the cost to reupholstery a sofa comes from the upholstery fabric which costs between $50 and $70 per yard. Factor the size of your couch before deciding whether or not to have it professionally reupholstered. Smaller projects may be more DIY-friendly, whereas sofas with frilly details, like lots of trim and skirting, may be more difficult.
Tip
To snag a deal, browse for upholstery fabric at second-hand shops or use an inexpensive but durable drop cloth. If you decide on thinner fabric, remember that it will wear more quickly, and another reupholstery project may be in your future.
When to Call a Professional
Reupholstering a couch is a meticulous and time-consuming project that takes a lot of patience and hard work. There’s no shame in calling in a pro if you’re in over your head. If you’re not a skilled DIYer, consider taking your couch in to be reupholstered professionally. Call your nearest professional upholstery business to make an appointment.
FAQ
What's the difference between reupholstering and recovering a couch?
Recovering a couch is a cosmetic makeover, whereas reupholstering may involve replacing other parts of the couch as well as the fabric. If your sofa's structure and filling are in great shape, recovering may be enough. If more is required, such as refinishing the frame, fixing the springs, or replacing the padding and filling, reupholstering is the method to go with.
How long does DIY vs professional couch reupholstering take?
A DIY reupholstering job can vary in length depending on the size of the piece. It may be completed in a day's work. A professional couch reupholstering will rely on the schedule and timing of who completes the job for you.
