We’re currently working on two full home, new furnishings projects. It’s a lot of fun to start from scratch and pull together complete rooms. However, we know this approach isn’t realistic for everyone!
Do you have many quality furniture pieces or vintage items that you love? Then keep reading because I’m about to share several ways to revive your furniture and refresh your space without tossing everything and starting from scratch!
Re-imagine Furnishings through Reupholstery
I love to re-imagine furniture! For example, if you have a high-quality piece of upholstered furniture, but the fabric has seen better days, a simple reupholstery job may be just the ticket for you.
But what if the shape is a bit off? Did you know that a talented upholsterer can often tweak upholstered pieces to better suit your style? Think of it as tailoring for your furniture.
Those sofas with a high arch can be straightened, a chair with rolled arms can often be squared, and that tufted style that doesn’t suit you can be recovered with the tufting eliminated! What else?
- A sofa or chair that isn’t comfy? New cushions.
- Dining room chairs that are stained and fingerprinted? An easy update.
- The perfect headboard in a less-than-perfect color? No problem!
- You could even take a perfect-sized coffee table and upholster it for a tailored and updated ottoman.
Extend the Life of Furniture with Custom Slipcovers
Slipcovers are an old staple for rehabbing your furniture. You can have custom covers that fit so well that they don’t look like a slipcover.
You can also use slipcovers to solve a temporary problem. Right now, I’m training my naughty kitties to stop using a chair as a scratching post by putting a stretch cover on their favorite scratching (ahem) chair. It’s doing the trick – they hate how the stretch velvet feels.
Slipcovers are also a great way to test a new color in your space! If you’re considering a sofa or chair in a color outside your comfort zone, a slipcover is a cost-effective way to take the color for a test drive!
Utilize the Best Features of a Piece and Upcycle Them
Wood pieces (case goods, FYI) can also be subject to fabulous makeovers. If you’re an adventurous DIY-er, you can update a piece of furniture (desk/bureau/console/table) with a good refinishing. It’s not hard, but it is time-consuming.
You can often re-imagine a piece by altering the structure. A local craftsman can do a tremendous job of reworking an existing piece.
- A small dining table with a gorgeous top can become a coffee table.
- A pair of large pots can hold a glass top for a fun look on a desk.
When looking at a used item as an option for your home, it’s good to note that these projects or re-imaginings do not need to be limited to a DIY category! There are lovely tradespeople who will be happy to help you re-build, re-design and re-imagine your cherished pieces or found objects. Start by looking around your home for items to reinvent, or look at items you love with a new purpose in mind.
Looking for more tips to refresh your space? Read Pamela’s List of Sneaky Little Decorator Secrets.
If you’re ready to partner in creating stunning and memorable custom furnishings or reupholstery, we can help. Let’s chat today!
xoxo,
Pamela
