How much to reupholster a chair?

[Schmaffy]

We have 2 x Parker Knoll style 'armchairs' that the people we bought the house off of left us (like 'tub chairs' - don't have the winged sides/padded arms of some Parker Knoll.) They have lived in the conservatory for the last few years looking old and tired and being ripped to shreds by the cats.

With DC1 on the way, I would really like a chair to go in the nursery that I can feed in but in their present condition, these ones are just too manky. However, money is tight and I would really cannot spend loads on something new / want to get something cheap that I hate if I can revamp these ones.

Any rough ideas how much they might cost to reupholster?

[thomasbodley]

Depends on fabric, size, time required etc.

TBH, it will cost almost as much to re-upholster as it does to buy new. This is because re-upholstery takes place in the UK with UK labour costs, whereas most sofas are manufactured in China and Eastern Europe (including most of the ones that many companies proudly claim are 'Made in Britain').

Re-upholstery only worth doing on family or antique pieces. Or if you want to be green. Or creative - you get to choose any suitable fabric, not one of the options it's cost-effective for the manufacturing company to offer you.

[activate]

about £200 each plus material

it's a long job

you have to really love the piece to reclaim it

even if you learn to do it yourself the material can be anywhere from £30 to £300 per metre and for a basic parker knoll you'll probably need 3 - 5 metres dependent on pattern

[noddyholder]

Do you mean re cover or reupholster?

[pinkhousesarebest]

I used the curtains from my previous house (cream Irish linen, not Sound of Music ), to re-cover an old junk shop find that I had fed my dd on.

It is beautiful.

[Schmaffy]

I probably mean re-cover. They don't need any more work - just new covers. Would that be cheaper? Any ideas how I find someone to do them? Most of the shops I've seen look rather expensive - I just want something plain and practical ....

[icandoit]

I wouldn't bother if money is a bit tight at the mo. I was going to do the same with an old chair of DH's but got a 'Poang' chair for free off Freecycle instead and just bought a new cover/cushion thingy for £13 or so from Ikea. Comfy, not upset if baby sick/milk etc got on it and easy on the eye too.