Custom upholstery is a time-honored craft that originated from ancient textile arts and furniture-making traditions. Today, it offers limitless design possibilities and is highly valued for its ability to improve furniture quality and preserve family heirlooms.
Keep reading to explore the 5 benefits of getting custom upholstery and why it’s an excellent choice for enhancing your living space.
What is custom upholstery?
Custom upholstery is a specialized craft in which a professional upholsterer updates a piece of furniture’s fabric, internal components, and frame. For a satisfactory result, an in-person consultation is usually needed in which the client discusses their preferences. Likewise, the upholsterer must have experience and be able to understand the client’s needs.
After the consultation, the furniture is stripped down to its frame, which is then repaired and reinforced as needed. The internal support system, such as the springs, is then replaced or repaired. Next, new padding and foam are applied. Finally, the chosen fabric is carefully fitted and secured to the frame, creating a customized, durable, and comfortable piece of furniture.
The custom upholstery process requires the use of various materials, including but not limited to fabric, padding, foam, and springs.
5 Benefits of getting custom upholstery
1. Custom upholstery gives you access to expert craftsmanship and input
Custom upholstery offers more than just a personalized piece of furniture; it provides you, the client, with guidance from seasoned professionals. After all, it’s your upholsterer’s job to help you navigate the myriad choices involved in creating the perfect piece.
Throughout the process, your upholsterer will offer suggestions you might not have considered, anything from choosing unique fabric combinations to testing the most comfortable types of fills. Their trained eye will also help ensure your updated furniture complements your existing decor.
Ultimately, working with an expert means having someone who can translate your vision into reality.
2. Custom upholstery offers unmatched personalization
In addition to providing you with expert guidance, custom upholstery empowers you to create furniture that’s truly one-of-a-kind. This is because you’re not limited by standard sizes and cheap or limited materials.
The type of personalization you get through custom upholstery far surpasses what’s available with retail options. There are, of course, exceptions, as some manufacturers allow you to come to the factory and order custom-built furniture directly.
The issue with going directly to manufacturers is that many of them only sell to authorized dealers, not to individual consumers. For the most part, manufacturers operate on a business model similar to the automotive industry, where products are sold through third parties rather than directly to customers.
With this in mind, custom upholstery remains the best option for truly personalized furniture. This is true whether you want a sofa that fits into a tricky corner or a simple color change to better suit your space. These are just two examples of how custom upholstery allows you to tailor every aspect of your furniture to your needs and preferences.
3. Custom upholstery allows for perfect coordination of your furniture
Beyond other benefits, custom upholstery is your metaphorical secret weapon for achieving a truly cohesive and stunning look. Unlike store-bought furniture that, all too often, doesn’t match your space, custom upholstery can be tailored to match it perfectly.
Custom upholstery gives you control so that you maintain a consistent style across different pieces of furniture, even if they’re in different rooms.
For instance, you could choose a fabric pattern that complements your favorite rug or match the wood finish of a new ottoman to your antique coffee table. You could also use variations of the same fabric on your chairs, sofa, and pillows to create a unified theme throughout your home.
4. Custom upholstery delivers exceptional quality for long-term use
If you want furniture built to last, custom upholstery is an excellent choice. This is because professional upholsterers offer a level of craftsmanship that exceeds what you find in mass-produced alternatives.
Additionally, custom upholstery allows you to select premium materials. From the internal frame to the outer fabric, each component can be chosen for its durability and overall quality. High-density hardwood frames and top-grain leather are just a couple of examples of the superior materials that are available.
Beyond quality, custom upholstery also allows you to choose materials that best suit your environment. For homes with pets, fabrics with high abrasion resistance are available. In sunny rooms, UV-resistant materials can prevent fading.
5. Custom upholstery enhances comfort with tailored design and materials
Everyone has different needs when it comes to furniture, and if you live in a shared household, you, perhaps your spouse, a family member, or a roommate—everyone is going to have unique physical characteristics that determine what works best. There’s a broad range. Some people prefer softer seating, while others need something much more supportive.
What makes custom upholstery so exceptional is that it gives you control over every element that impacts your comfort. Of course, the foundation of comfort is the frame and cushioning. Beyond these core elements, you can adjust the dimensions of your furniture to match your body.
This includes modifying seat depth for better thigh support, changing backrest angles for ideal lumbar positioning, or customizing headrest height for neck comfort. These adjustments can significantly improve your comfort, especially during long periods of use.
The choice of material also plays a role in comfort. For warm climates, breathable natural fibers like cotton or linen can keep you cool. In cooler environments, plush velvet or wool often work better due to their superior insulating properties. Performance fabrics offer both comfort and practicality thanks to a soft feel and resistance to stains and wear.
Given the benefits, is it cheaper to upholster?
It’s not necessarily cheaper to upholster. The cost of custom upholstery is comparable to, and sometimes even more expensive than, buying new furniture. The reason people choose custom upholstery is to preserve and update furniture that holds special value. This could be a high-quality piece with an excellent frame or a family heirloom.
Custom upholstery allows you to breathe new life into your pieces while maintaining what makes them special. When you choose custom upholstery, you’re paying for craftsmanship and customization, as well as the satisfaction of updating and preserving your favorite pieces.
Get custom upholstery with Redesign Upholstery
The benefits of getting custom upholstery include expert craftsmanship, unmatched personalization, perfect coordination with your existing decor, exceptional long-term quality, and enhanced comfort.
Ready to experience the difference custom upholstery can make in your home? Contact Redesign Upholstery today for furniture that enhances your space.
