Once you have made the excellent decision of hiring a professional junk removal company in Vancouver, the only hard part is deciding what to keep and what to toss. While we are all for purging what you no longer need, there are some items that may be worth repairing to keep them from ending up in the dump. A prime example of this is the couch that’s been in your living room for a decade (or longer). If it’s stained and stinky, it may not be usable for donation spots. So, instead, why not reupholster your couch so you don’t have to junk haul it?
Even though the best junk removal companies in Vancouver will automatically recycle or donate items that are good enough to be saved from the dump, you may still want to opt for reupholstering over couch removal.
By reusing and repairing your couch, you are helping the environment, while also saving yourself the headache of couch shopping (if furniture shopping stresses you out!). Another good reason to do this, from Angie’s List, is that older-made furniture is often very durable, comfortable, and possibly even sentimental. If you have a favourite comfy couch that has become a bit worn, reupholstering it can be a great way to save it from the junkyard, and keep your memories too!
10 simple steps to reupholster your couch
For more inspiration on styles you can do, take a look on good ol’ Pinterest to get your DIY ideas flowing!
1. Take pictures of the couch before you remove the existing fabric
This will give you a reference point throughout the entire process. This tip comes from WikiHow, and it’s one that you may not think of on your own.
2. Measure your upholstery fabric carefully
This is important to make sure you reduce your waste and don’t overspend. Reupholstering can easily become more expensive than a brand-new couch if you’re not careful! At the same time, a little extra fabric can be helpful to have on hand in case of any mistakes.
3. Purchase durable fabric designed for furniture
This is a great tip from Do It Yourself Divas. If you pick out the cheapest fabric, you might find yourself at square one: making the same decision between couch removal and couch repairing, within a short period of time. Make sure the fabric you choose is made for upholstering, appealing to your taste, yet still within your budget.
4. Cut the current couch fabric at the seams and remove it
Do this with precision; you will need the pieces later! If your foam and batting ‘reveal’ moment shows you some gross stains and strange colours or odours, stop for a second. Should you invest in new foam cushions and batting? If so, will that run you over on budget? And is this piece of furniture worth saving? (Think of quality and memories, noted above).
Oh, and yes, you can get foam shops to custom cut foam pieces to match your measurements. You just need to find a store that will do this for you.
5. Add extra foam, stuffing or batting where necessary
If you are already putting a bunch of effort into changing the fabric of your couch, it is also a good idea to make sure it’s as comfortable as possible.
6. Use your carefully-removed couch fabric as a pattern for cutting
Keep your old fabric, along with measurements of the couch after you’ve added extra foam to adjust where necessary. This removes the guessing out of your measurements and gives you a clear idea of where you’re going with this project.
Trace and cut out one section at a time. It’s also a good idea to leave an extra inch around each section for seams.
7. Sew the seams of your new cushions and couch cover
This mostly applies to the cushion covers, and possibly a slipcover (if you are feeling challenged, and don’t want to do the staple-only method below). You may also need to sew other edges, such as the skirt hem, if you choose that style.
Be sure to check the photos and fabric patterns from your old couch, to see where the seams were before. Of course, any style modifications would have to take into account the sizing, fabric, and your sewing skills!
8. Use a staple gun to attach the rest of the fabric on your couch frame
Ensure you’re only stapling to the wood frame! And of course, stapling only applies to the inconspicuous areas, where you won’t see staples later (or get poked by them!). For example the underside of the couch, or the seat corners that cushions will be covering anyway.
You can rent a staple gun from your local hardware store. Though if you want to reupholster furniture more often, you may as well purchase one.
9. Pick a method to follow while you staple
You may want to plan out the folds and designs you pick for the areas of the couch that naturally gather fabric together (such as around the arms, or circular parts leading into an edge).
You can either start at one end and work to the other end, or go from the inside out. But either way, make sure every piece of fabric you attach is nice and snug before you staple it down.
10. Clean up and call yourself a DIY couch-saver!
Once you have finished attaching all the fabric, all you have left to do is clean up the remaining materials. Luckily, even though the professional junk removal company you have chosen isn’t taking your couch, you can easily add all of your fabric scraps to their load. Easiest clean-up ever! Don’t forget to show off your new DIY masterpiece to inspire other aspiring upcyclers.
Reupholstery can be fun to learn. And, if you happen to have fabric lying around anyway, it can be a cheap way to upcycle your furniture. When you’re done you’re couch, you may start eyeing your other furniture that can use an uplift (like chair seats!). Soon your furniture fabric will be colour coordinated like a pro-looking interior design. And you won’t have to junk haul any of it away to make it look new again.
