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Reupholstering a piece of furniture is an extensive and time-intensive process. If you attempt to do so on a piece of furniture that is poor quality, you'll experience two things: increased difficulty with the process, and an increased likelihood that the furniture won't last long (making your time/money investment pointless). Start out on the right foot by selecting furniture that is high quality with an ugly 'skin'. Look for furniture that is made of solid wood, not veneer or plywood. Solid wood will maintain its value and last a very long time, while veneers and plywood furniture aren't quality enough to last very long. Check the furniture for any squeaks, noises, or imbalances. Move the furniture around a bit - if it wobbles or makes noises when you do, it's not in fantastic shape and probably isn't worth reupholstering. Look at the overall construction to determine if there is any major damage or problem areas. Nails/screws that are sticking out or missing, broken boards/pieces, or sagging areas may be a sign that the furniture will require more work to fix up than you want to put into it. Although you can technically reupholster furniture with any kind of fabric, most fabrics won't be thick and sturdy enough to last for many years. Look for special upholstering fabric, which is thicker and made to stand against wear-and-tear better than other types of fabric. Keep in mind that the type of furniture you use will depend on the placement of the piece; you can get away with using regular fabric on a piece of furniture that won't be frequently used, but you'll definitely need upholstering fabric for pieces that are used often (like a couch). Because reupholstering is such a time-consuming process, try to select a fabric that is relatively neutral and will stand the test of time in terms of style. That way, it will fit with your interior design preferences for more time than a bold or trendy fabric choice would. If you get a patterned fabric, try to choose one that won't require you to match specific sections of the pattern (like wallpaper) when you cut it into sections. You can still use a cut-specific pattern like this, but it will take much more time trying to lay the pattern out so that each piece is going the same direction as all the other pieces. There aren't any special tools required in reupholstering furniture, but you will need some for the job. Get these in advance to make work easier. You will need: A flat-head screwdriver (or a butter knife - this will be for prying) Pliers A hammer A staple gun with staples (the length of the necessary staples will depend on how thick the fabric you're using is) Sewing machine with associated supplies. You may not need the following supplies depending on your specific project, but they may come in handy for certain reupholstering projects. Scan through the list and see if any might be applicable for the piece of furniture you're working on: Cleaning supplies (specifically for old couches) Fabric piping for seams/edges Cotton batting for added padding Buttons (with upholstery needle and thread) Cushion zippers Replacement feet/legs
Choose a quality piece of furniture. Get plenty of quality upholstering fabric. Get all your tools ready. Prepare extra/optional supplies.