![\"A](\"http:\/\/test.vintiqueupholstery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Sofa-before-and-after-1.png\")
<\/a>Before and after of a sofa I reupholstered with Linwood omega velvet fabric.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
Comfort<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
With the exception of your bed, which you absolutely want to be the centrepiece of comfort and luxury in your home, your sofa has to be the next best place for curling up and getting cosy.<\/p>\n
Statistics suggest we spend around 17 years sitting on a sofa<\/strong> in our lifetime!\u00a0So, comfort is essential.<\/p>\n Comfort comes in different forms for different people, but there is one thing I won\u2019t compromise on and that\u2019s using the right cushion filling for each style of sofa.<\/p>\n The hollow fibre gives you the squishy comfort and the foam core offers support. This way, the seats and back always last longer too.<\/p>\n “An expert <\/strong>upholsterer can significantly change the comfort of a sofa”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n These days, manufactured sofas tend to be quite mean with their fillings, which is why it\u2019s a good idea to bring your cushions to an upholsterer to get them re-filled rather than having to engage in the endless cycle of constantly plumping your cushions after every use.<\/p>\n Equally, don\u2019t write off a sofa that may look or feel uncomfortable on first appearance. Small tweaks by an expert upholsterer<\/a> can significantly change the comfort of a sofa.<\/p>\n An upholsterer can also switch and change the legs of some sofas to make one that feels too low a little higher or vice versa.<\/p>\n And don\u2019t underestimate the power of plumping up your cushions once a week to keep them ultra-comfortable.<\/p>\n Likewise, turning and rotating will help increase the lifespan of your sofa accessories. In fact, I\u2019ve had seat cushions last up to 10 years with regular rotation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n When choosing a sofa, the style you pick is going to be a reflection of your unique tastes.<\/p>\n You may be into sleek, mid-Century design, or it may just be all about the snuggle factor and you want the squishiest-looking style that will be a place you love to lounge.<\/p>\n Either way, it\u2019s important you love it and it suits the personality you\u2019ve created for your home.<\/p>\n I think it\u2019s fine to mix and match eras and styles, so long as there is one co-ordinating theme \u2013 a colour or a style thread that links everything together.<\/p>\n I live in a Victorian cottage and have a mid-century sofa and armchairs, as well as a classic antique Chesterfield sofa.<\/p>\n It works as I\u2019ve used different fabrics and colours to make it cohesive, while ensuring that nothing clashes, and with such a vast choice of fabrics, I had a great time tying them together using printed and plain fabrics, paying attention to the finer details, which is something you won\u2019t get from a store-bought sofa.<\/p>\n The Chesterfield is a real\u00a0timeless\u00a0classic<\/strong> and\u00a0a\u00a0popular choice for a sofa, I think every home should have one somewhere, but it\u2019s not everyone\u2019s cup of tea.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Before and after of a Chesterfield sofa I reupholstered with Mallion & Knowles Honeysuckle fabric.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n It has a fixed sprung seat and back, so it\u2019s going to be firm and they make the perfect second sofa, adding a real elegance to the room.<\/p>\n If you reupholster them in a print, a Chesterfield becomes the perfect statement piece of the room where you can really show your personality.<\/p>\n Real lounge-y sofas tend to have a more substantial seat, back and possibly side cushions and getting the right filling and the right amount of filling for the cushions is key with this style of sofas.<\/p>\n Foam core with hollow fibre wrap is an excellent option, as it gives you firmness and plumpness or even better is 100% foam cushions, but be careful that the density of the foam isn\u2019t too firm.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is where upholsterers really come into their own, as when it comes to mass produced furniture you will be very limited in terms of fabrics, but an upholsterer can provide you with almost limitless options<\/strong>.<\/p>\n After all, who wants the same colour and fabric as everyone else, I certainly don\u2019t!<\/p>\n One of many or one of a kind? For the same price as buying new from a mid-range store, you can have a bespoke and hand-selected sofa.<\/p>\n A lot of people love the idea of\u00a0cotton \u2013 it\u2019s a great natural fabric, but a few words of caution\u2026<\/p>\n Any areas of lightness in the print will show wear, it will easily absorb dyes and spills, show water marks, lighter weaves can stretch and deteriorate, and direct sunlight can fade cotton fabrics. If you love cotton, a cotton mix is often a better choice.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s really no point in playing it safe”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n My best advice when it comes to fabric is to choose something that combines practicality with pure joy. Love a pattern? Go for it. Adore a particular colour? Don\u2019t be afraid to put it on your sofa.<\/p>\n I have never, ever, come across anyone who has made a bold colour or print choice and then regretted it.<\/p>\n I have however had people say to me that they wish they had gone for it. If you ask me, there\u2019s really no point in playing it safe.<\/p>\n What I would advise though is to select your fabric in situ. Sit with it in different lights \u2013 daytime, evening, in bright sunshine and on a dull day too. I offer my customers larger sample sizes so they really get a good feel for the fabric.<\/p>\n If you do that, you can assess how the fabric will react in its space and rest easy that you\u2019ve made a great choice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Getting the proportions right between a sofa\u2019s size and the space you have available is\u00a0absolutely\u00a0crucial, but so many people get it wrong.<\/p>\n Even if the thought of a huge, long seat to sprawl out on is appealing, it\u2019s going to look ridiculous if it swamps the room.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t just measure your room and the intended destination, map it out with newspaper or magazines on the floor and see how well it fits.<\/p>\n Walk around it, can you easily open and close doors or navigate a coffee table without knocking your knees?<\/p>\n You want to avoid being seduced by the size, style and the manufacturers marketing campaign and instead consider practicality<\/strong> or you could regret it.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget about all your other furniture too and how it all sits together. If the rest of your d\u00e9cor is small and dainty, an over-sized sofa could look out of place.<\/p>\n If you buy a sofa that\u2019s too big for the space it will look cramped and cumbersome.<\/p>\n If you do have a smaller room but want to go to the max with your sofa, low arms and sofa legs will help create the illusion of greater space.<\/p>\n Many people these days opt for an L-shaped sofa, but be warned\u2026 in some cases, you\u2019re\u00a0better off buying two smaller sofas instead as this can give you the versatility to switch things around and reconfigure the room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Before and after of an L-shaped sofa I reupholstered using Sara Miller Birds velvet fabric.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Children, pets, accident-prone other halves? Even if it\u2019s getting relatively low usage, your sofa needs to be as bulletproof as possible. <\/strong><\/p>\n When choosing a sofa, at the very least I recommend a stain-resistant fabric. Don\u2019t be fooled by \u2018Scotch-guarding\u2019, which evaporates, it\u2019s never as good as built-in stain-resistant technology.<\/p>\n These days fabrics are designed to stand the test of time and a good upholsterer will know the right fabric composition that will suit your household.<\/p>\n Whereas a salesperson in a store is just that, a salesperson, so they can only sell you what they have on offer regardless of your requirements.<\/p>\n “The possibilities of upholstery are endless”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n If you have pets, especially cats, stay away from anything woven, as it will become a scratching post in no time.<\/p>\n Polyester velvets are the best option, you can literally brush away pet hair and spills. The pile acts as a barrier giving you time to work on a spillage, but the same cannot be said for cotton velvet, it will show every mark very quickly.<\/p>\n And if you have kids? Is that pale cream colour really such a good idea? Darker shades or patterns are much more forgiving. Not only does a pattern give you durability but it really makes your sofa stand out from the crowd.<\/p>\n Also avoid the temptation to for faux leather as a fool-proof option, it will peel in no time, as it hates moisture and will be a very cold option in a room.<\/p>\n If you are tempted by \u2018real\u2019 leather, make sure you are buying real leather. Often manufacturers are selling \u2018real\u2019 leather and only a small amount of the sofa is as advertised, the rest is bonded faux leather, which will last no more than two years before it begins to crack and peel.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Smaller manufacturers or custom-built sofas are worth looking into. You don\u2019t have to settle for what\u2019s out there on the high street.<\/p>\n Construction is almost always superior in a good quality, older piece. And if you like the look of it, the possibilities of upholstery to make it meet your exact requirements are endless.<\/p>\n Is buying a new sofa (or anything else) your best bet? Maybe take a look at what\u2019s\u00a0already<\/em>\u00a0out there before you get seduced by the prospect of the January sales.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n So, the next time you\u2019re purchasing a sofa, consider the idea of buying a pre-loved sofa from sites such as eBay or Facebook Marketplace and then working with an upholsterer.<\/p>\n Rather than having to stress about fabrics, style, comfort or whatever else, an upholsterer can talk you through all of this step by step and help you create a sofa that you love.<\/p>\n Instead of buying a sub-standard, mass manufactured sofa, an upholsterer can create something that will last 15 years and be entirely bespoke and unique.<\/p>\n Do you have a sofa that needs a little love to fulfil its potential?\u00a0Or do you have the perfect one, but it needs a little revamp?\u00a0Drop me a line for an initial, no-obligation quote by filling in the\u00a0<\/strong>online contact form<\/strong><\/a>. <\/strong>Alternatively, you can email me directly at\u00a0<\/strong>hello@test.vintiqueupholstery.com<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or call me on\u00a0<\/strong>07764 182 783<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I\u2019ve seen A LOT of sofas. Hundreds in fact. Most […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":35233,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35229","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-furniture-tips"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nStyle<\/h2>\n
![\"Before](\"http:\/\/test.vintiqueupholstery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Chesterfield-sofa-before-and-after.png\")
<\/a>Fabric<\/h2>\n
Size<\/h2>\n
![\"L-shaped](\"http:\/\/test.vintiqueupholstery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/L-shaped-sofa-before-and-after.png\")
<\/a>Practicality<\/h2>\n
Look beyond the high street<\/h2>\n
Next steps<\/h2>\n