It’s the first warm weekend of the year, and while you watch your neighbors jump outside to mow the lawn or plant some flowers, your focus is on the inside of your home and how you can make some furniture reupholstery updates this spring. This wouldn’t be the first time we avoided yard work, but our skills are best used for a design project (indoors, of course).
We can see it now, light streaming in the dew-covered windows, and you’re sipping your coffee, glancing from one potential furniture reupholstery project to another. You might wonder which upholstered item needs an update or which project would be the fastest to complete.
Completing an at-home project that provides a significant upgrade brings a certain satisfaction. After all, what’s the point if nobody notices?
Furniture Reupholstery Reimagined
While many may take time to focus on spring cleaning, organizing a closet, or donating unused items, we have bigger fish to fry—reupholstering furniture.
Selecting which piece you’d like to update is no easy task. It’s essential to be selective when making these sorts of changes. You want to love whatever you choose for your reupholstery for a long time!
Nothing’s worse than making a rash decision or following a trend just because you couldn’t decide. Take your time and visualize different ways to reupholster your home this spring.
Potential Projects for a Refresh
Do you want to DIY your spring design? Here are simple spring upholstery projects that anyone can complete.
Rework the Chair
Yep, you know the one! It’s so well-loved that the material has faded, and the cushions are floppy and sad. Or maybe the chair at your home sits in a corner and doesn’t get any love. A minor upgrade could change that!
We’re all big fans of having a special seat in the house to watch television, read a book, or scroll through social media on your phone. It’s your safe place and where you choose to unwind at the end of the day, so make it somewhere you’d be excited to visit!
Select a material that feels cozy but also something you’d be excited to see after a day of work. This could look like soft leather, neutral linen, or a rich velvet pattern. Whatever sounds right for you, throw it on your favorite chair to enjoy during your next downtime.
Upholstery tip: If you’re updating a chair you spend a lot of time in, revisit the foam and/or stuffing inside. This is the perfect opportunity to adjust the seat’s firmness and customize it to your preferences.
Refresh Your Favorite Antique.
Everyone loves a hand-me-down piece of furniture that has been well-loved for generations, but there are times when you should upgrade the fabric. Materials fade over time, collect dust, and start smelling bad. Plus, we’d all be happier if we could blend the old with the new, right?
Select a material that lends to the original piece while honoring your design style. Maybe pick a pattern that is reminiscent of the time of the original piece of furniture but with an unexpected pop of color. You could also do the opposite and choose a similar color scheme to the original upholstery print on a new, modern textile design.
Be sure to select a good quality material that can hold up long enough so the next family member that inherits the piece won’t have to rush for furniture reupholstery. Don’t let this stop you from having fun with the textile selection, though!
Our favorite upholstery projects are those that emphasize the juxtaposition between the original piece of furniture and the new upholstery.
Upholstery tip: If this is an heirloom piece you plan to pass down, leave a little note inside the staples for your next family member to find when they reupholster. Include your name, the date, current events, and a sweet story along with the furniture piece.
Upholstery Artwork.
We’ve always viewed window coverings as another way to add artwork to your walls. Unlike traditional artwork, upholstery offers more variety with texture and movement and, of course, the opportunity to make a significant impact without breaking the bank.
Curtains soften windows’ harsh angles while also providing privacy and an additional layer of comfort. A window without any decoration is beautiful, but it can become a bit sterile when repeated in every area of the home.
If you’ve been looking for ways to warm up or refresh a window in your home, consider our window-covering textile options.
Our DIY community is always asking how to make the most significant design impact in a space, and for us, it’s with curtains. The more windows in an area you adorn, the more significant the impact this upgrade will make.
Be sure to select a material you’re comfortable seeing repeated within your home. But don’t be afraid to push yourself outside your comfort zone.
Remember, you can always order samples from Kovi before committing to purchasing yardage for your project.
Upholstery tip: We want our upholstery updates to look fresh and new while blending into our existing home decor.
Beware; if you switch things up too much and select a material significantly different from your current design, you’ll be tempted to burn the rest down and start over. We understand if you will update everything in your space over time, but don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Outdoor Upgrade
So maybe you’re not afraid to tackle an outdoor project after all. With the anticipation of spring and summer days spent outside, this could be the perfect time to switch out the upholstered items on your outdoor furniture.
Whether you’re recovering seating cushions or a few throw pillows, filter through outdoor fabrics before selecting a material you love. Nothing’s worse than falling in love with a textile that will fade or fall apart after one season outside.
Selecting a graded material to withstand the outdoors will help with moisture, stains, sun bleaching, and durability. Nothing’s better than hosing off a ketchup-stained lounge chair cushion or leaf-covered throw pillows.
If you live somewhere conducive to outdoor activities year-round, be sure to select a material you could enjoy throughout all four seasons.
When you live in a cooler climate and can only enjoy outdoor seating for half the year, you might select a spring/summer-style material. Again, this is something to consider when making your outdoor finish selection.
Upholstery tip: To extend the life of your outdoor furniture reupholstery, we recommend putting them away for any season or intense weather.
This typically applies to those who live in colder climates with a lot of snow or ice. At the end of the warm season, we suggest you wash off the cushions, allow them to dry outside, and store them until the following year. This is in no way a requirement, but it will extend the lifespan of your upholstery.
Q & A
Question: What are a few simple upholstery projects to do this spring?
Answer: When considering reupholstery, the smaller the surface area, the easier the project should be. Remember any intricate details of the upholstered piece, such as tufting or folding.
Question: How do I select yardage for window coverings?
Answer: We believe more is more when it comes to window coverings. To create a full and finished look, double the width of the window in material width. This way, when you close the curtains, ample fabric will go past each side of the window, creating a fuller look.
The height of your window and ceiling can vary quite a bit. We suggest hanging your curtain rod between 3 and 18” above your window. The higher your ceiling, the higher your curtain rod can go. It’s important not to have too much space between the window and the curtain rod, or it will look like you measured poorly.
Having too much fabric pooled on the floor is better than sitting a foot above the ground. You can always hem the material, but if not enough has been specified, you will have difficulty adding back fabric.
Question: How do I know when to DIY an upholstery project versus paying someone else?
Answer: We all have varying skill levels when it comes to upholstery. A rookie DIY-er should start with reupholstering seat cushions and a simple-shaped headboard, and if you’re skilled with a sewing machine, you can handle window coverings or pillows. Remember that these projects require skills and tools many do not have around the house.
It’s an important life skill to know when to outsource work to someone else. We can attempt to complete a project, but sometimes, it ends up being time and money wasted. Have fun with your DIY, and when it stops feeling fun or productive, humbly hand it over to a professional; we do this all the time!
Furniture Reupholstery Reimagined
We constantly see design lovers take on new and exciting furniture reupholstery projects and are happy you’ve also shown interest. Each project is personal, whether updating an antique or recovering your ten-year-old sofa. Sharing our seasonal upholstery ideas has been incredibly fun. We can’t wait to see which projects resonate with you for spring.