Why upholstery affects comfort, function & longevity

I have this little green chair that I’ve been carrying around with me for at least 10 years now. It is tattered, dusty from sitting in a basement, and missing the cushion. I have been putting a pillow in place of an actual cushion for the same reason all tradesman don’t have nice things — we put our clients first and let our projects sit and contemplate their existence.

The point of that admission is not to rant on myself or get into my issues with putting myself first. No, this is to tell you about how that chair has become necessary in my life, why it’s worth saving, and how spending the money on myself is a must.

My wonderful, little chair

This wonderful, little chair was something I picked up on Marketplace many moons ago because it was the right size for the potential client I wanted to flip it for. When I got it home I realized it was the perfect size for me. It gave me this lovely little hug every time I sat in it, who gets rid of chairs like that?! I didn’t mind that the fabric and the welt were a little worn because, well, I know how to fix it, but also because I wasn’t done with charm that was still there. It is a heavy weight fabric with a tight weave, which lends itself to longevity. I’m talking decades of wear and that is exactly what it has had. Let’s dig into that a little.

Comfort & Longevity

Comfort is generally what we are looking for in our homes. The furniture of a time-gone-by actually offers quite a bit of comfort but many can’t see past the out-dated facade. This old furniture though, it secret power is that it has great bones – as in real wood! This gives the upholstery a secure place to adhere to, giving the life of the upholstery a boost.

Fabric

We covered a little on longevity, now let’s dig into fabric and function for a moment. Choosing the right fabric is crucial. It is what you see every day, so you need to take certain things into account.

• Will it be in a room with a lot of light?
• Is high activity a factor?
• Do you have pets?
• Are you a sitter or a plopper? (I’m not making that up, it’s a real question I ask.)

These questions will determine the type of fabric options I will give you. My goal is that a chair from my workshop last you the next 20 years.

Function

It is my job to know what fabric does, how it is made, and how it will affect the life of your furniture. I am always talking about the weave of a fabric. If you want something that will not fade quickly and will hold up to the dog then you will need to take the strength and durability of the fabric into account. This is where comfort meets function.

TIP: a woven fabric, with a colorful design to it, will hold up years longer than a printed design on lesser fabric.

There are so many options out there now that have stain-guards, water-proofing, style, weave, etc. Function is a thing, folks, take it into account and let’s make your furniture (i.e.: investment) work for you for as long as you need it to. Think about it, the furniture you choose needs to stand up to how you use it.

Budgeting

I know the big box furniture stores have the trendy furniture and a price tag that won’t make you dizzy BUT…that furniture will only last you 5 years! That’s it! Once it starts to break down you’ll come looking for me and I won’t have great news for you.

Upholstery is an investment. Often you will see similar pricing between upholstery and furniture stores. I encourage you to play the long game here and get something that will laaaasssttt. Really look at what you are wanting to buy and how it will hold up to your life needs. Cheap wood will always be cheap…it doesn’t get stronger as your kids jump on it.

With that in mind, I will always encourage a quick tour of the thrift store. Or you could even have a look at a piece I have already given new life to. In my opinion…as the expert…it is the more responsible way to do furniture. (I’m sure I’m ruffling some feathers there but I believe it to be true.)

I better stop before I make this a mini-tutorial! (Although, not a bad idea!) I hope you found this helpful and look forward to my next set of tips.

xo,

P.S. Many of these notes come directly from questions I answer in consultations. If you ever want help applying this to your own home, that option is always open.