This project was a big flop but for the sake of keeping this blog real and honest I thought I would share it with you anyway.
We picked up this cheap but comfy sofa at a local thrift store with plans to reupholster it. Originally the reason for doing so was because of the ugly fabric but we didn't use the sofa very long before the fabric started falling apart giving us even more of a reason to recover.
Here is a better view of the fabric for ya.
Finally I decided to tackle this big project. I had reupholstered these dining chairs (I hate working with vinyl by the way) as well as these dining chair cushions (probably the only uphostery that I actually enjoy doing) and they turned out alright so I figured why not give it a try.
Plus there were blogs out there talking about how easy it was to reupholster sofas.
They. Lied.
Maybe they are just more skilled then I am or maybe their sofas are built differently. I don't really know what caused their delusions, but mine was not easy. It took days and the results were not good. No matter how hard I tried I could not get the staple gun far enough to attach to the frame where the arms and back meet.
I ended up using a combination of slip cover sewing, staple gun, and possibly even some hot glue and poster board but I've kind of blocked this incident out of my memory and can't quite remember.
I finished it though! And I hated the way it turned out. In the end we bought slipcovers and pretended this all never happened.
This photo from my phone is the only one I have of the finished product. I did this project while my husband was out of town and when I was done I sent him this photo with a text that said, "Never again!!!!"
And I plan on keeping that promise.
I'm so happy you are honest and post the good and the bad. It makes other real people out there know they aren't alone. I for one have always wanted to reupholster something, but somewhere in the back of my head, I know it will NOT be that easy.
ReplyDeleteAwww man, I am sorry it didn't turn out for you but it still looks great. My mom and I recovered two pieces that I took to college. I wouldn't call upholstering "easy"- cause it's not. But it is challenging and it's only worth it if you actually kinda enjoy it {but who would}. I was glad that my Mom and I recovered the pieces, but I won't ever do it again, unless I am really, really, really, broke! LOL It looks like you did a great job even if you hated it!
ReplyDeleteYikes on that fabric! I too have been contemplating reupholstering a few things and am thinking NOT! I can do quite a lot and do them inexpensively but this upholstering stuff might be best left to the pros. If I really love a piece I'll shell out the money to have it done professionally rather than make myself mad trying to do it myself. lol.
ReplyDeleteIt looks great now though!
Blessings,
Shanna
Maybe I am utterly lacking taste, maybe your picture is deceiving or maybe I'm just going blind, but I like the finished thing. Or did I misread the post and the "after" picture is the one with slipcovers?
ReplyDeleteI'd totally put this in my living room, if it didn't happen to be way bigger than the room itself :D
Thank you all for your kind words. I swear, the grainy camera phone picture makes it look much better than it really is. Although I'm sure part of the reason I hate the way it turned out is because I was in such a bad mood by the time I finished it. Seriously though, it's pretty bad!
ReplyDeleteUpholstering is super hard, no matter what anyone says! I upholstered a cane chair and I definitely had a few moments of insanity with it. Slipcovers are SO much easier! =)
ReplyDelete