Leather material gives such an elegant look to your sofa and overall, it adds a touch of class to your interior decor aesthetics. However, we are all too familiar with the shortcomings of leather material. Especially if it’s not real leather used. This can range from the material peeling off, fading, or even wear and tear.
5 Best-Selling Upholstery Fabrics
That said, you may feel the need to cover your sofa with fabric at one given time or reupholster it. There are also several upholstery materials that you can choose to do this with. It is also a cost-effective option compared to deciding that you want to buy a new sofa. We shall have a look at how you can cover your sofa with fabric.
Materials Needed to Reupholster a Leather Sofa
If you’re looking to cover or replace your leather sofa with fabric, then we can call that reupholstering. Some of the important tools and materials you’ll need for the whole reupholstery process include the following:
- Upholstery fabric
- Staple gun and staples
- Pliers
- Staple remover
- Fabric glue
- Measuring tape
- Pair of scissors
Once you have all the tools and materials at your disposal, you can now embark on the reupholstery process.
1. Study Your Sofa
Before embarking on the reupholstery process, it’s ideal to study your sofa first. This will help you understand the type of furniture you’re working with. Is the sofa tufted? Does it have any staples?
2. Remove the Dust Cover
For you to proceed with the upholstery, you need to remove the old leather fabric. You should start first by removing the dust cover at the bottom. This bottom cover is usually kept last so that it can prevent any dust so it should be removed first. Once this is done you can start removing the staples holding the leather fabric using either a staple remover or pliers. If you don’t have either of these you can use a flathead screwdriver.
3. Remove the Leather Upholstery
When removing the leather, it is important to take note of the layering so that you can know which material to remove first. You can easily remove the leather material after gently pulling out the staple pins. It’s important to note where each piece goes so that you can accurately cut your new fabric and replicate the placement when installing your new fabric. You can do this by taking pictures or taking down the measurements.
4. Cut out the Fabric Accordingly
Using the measurements you got from the leather fabric, you can cut out the new fabric that you’ll be using. Make sure you cut the correct shape and size for the best results.
5. Attach the New Fabric
Using the photos that you’d previously taken, you should be able to know which part goes where. It is also important to note that the piece you removed last should be the one that you replace first with your new fabric. To ensure that the fabric doesn’t look wrinkly, you should firmly staple it to the frame.
6. Attach the Dust Cover
As mentioned earlier, whatever you removed first should be the last thing that you attach. Considering it was the first piece to be removed, it should be attached after the rest of the fabric has been fitted.
7. Give your Sofa a Finishing Touch
Once you’re done attaching everything, you can give your sofa the final touch. If your sofa had some cushions that you want to replace, you can do that by following the same steps. This way, you’ll give your space a brand new look at an affordable cost.
How To Choose The Right Fabric To Cover Your Leather Sofa
Whether you’ve decided to reupholster your leather sofa or simply use a slipcover, there are several crucial things that you’ll have to consider when choosing a suitable fabric material. Choosing carefully will help you select something that is durable and of great quality. Here’s how you can choose the right fabric for your project:
1. The Daily Use of Your Sofa
When choosing the right sofa fabric, you should consider who will be using the sofa. Do you have any pets or children? If you have any pets, you might want to consider covering your leather sofa with a microfibre material since it can withstand wear and tear.
2. The Durability of the Fiber Material
When looking at the durability of the fiber you want, some of the things you should consider include the daily activities of your house and use of the sofa, who will be using it( whether you have pets or not). The thickness of the fabric also determines its durability.
3. Your Style
You certainly don’t want to compromise your interior decor by choosing the wrong material. You’ll have to look at the design and print and how well it goes with your decor. It’s advisable that you choose something that reflects your style and mood of the room.
4. The Color of the Fabric
There are many things that you should have in mind when choosing the right fabric color. Things such as having pets, children, and even the interior decor theme of the space really matters. With this in mind, you should be able to choose a suitable fabric color for your sofa.
5. The Fabric Quality
The quality of the fabric really matters a lot. If it’s of poor quality, the fabric will not last long. If the quality is good, then you won’t have to replace the fabric within a short duration.
6. Allergic Reactions
Different fabrics are made of varying materials. This means that each material will trigger some reaction especially for someone who’s allergic. It is advisable to choose a microfiber fabric because they are lint-free hence no dust is attracted.
Common Types of Upholstery Fabrics
1. Cotton
Cotton is the most popular fabric in the entire time. It is the most widely used fiber and the cheapest material in the market. With its comfort stability, cotton provides a soft feeling into your furnitures. Also it has a great durability and resistance to fading and susceptible to stains. Cotton fiber is surely one of the best choice for everyday use furnitures.
2. Silk
Using silk when doing upholstery is an expensive option. That is why it must only be used in a formal living room without heavily using it. Silk requires a professional cleaning when something is spilled on it or soils in the furniture.
3. Wool
Wool is known to be durable and sturdy when put to the test. It is very resistant to stains and pilling that makes them one of the great choices for high traffic area. The downside is, when the wool gets wet, it can occur an odor that is hard to get rid of.
4. Leather
Certainly, one of the most durable fabrics you can use for upholstery is leather. The durability and resistance to liquid make them a great option for high-traffic areas. Leather is also the most recommended for those who are pet owners because you can easily vacuum the hair out of your furniture.
5. Linen
Linen is most commonly seen in adult rooms due to the fact that it can wrinkle and stain easily. If you want a decorative and stylish fabric, linen is a great option for you because the most print fabric is on linen. Linen can shrink when you wash it so you need to professionally clean it to avoid damaging or changing the fabric size.
Why You Should Reupholster Your Sofa
There are several advantages that come with reupholstering your furniture. Some of them are listed below.
- Reupholstery is more cost-effective compared to buying new furniture. It gets even better if you undertake the reupholstery as a DIY project.
- You get to design everything to your liking. From the pattern design of the material to the color of the fabric, you will choose everything and ensure that it matches your style and preferences.
- You get better quality furniture. If the material used previously was of low quality, you can always replace it with a comfortable and cozier material of good quality.
- Improving the value of the already existing furniture. Reupholstering leaves your furniture looking as good as new, thus making it an ideal solution for your worn out leather sofa and other furniture.
Conclusion
From the above, there is so much that you can do when it comes to covering your leather sofa with fabric. You have several options that you can choose from for the different fabric designs and materials. If you’re not looking to make the cover from scratch, you can always buy a slipcover instead. This might not be unique since it’s something that is ready-made but it will certainly serve the purpose. You’ll also find different designs for the fabric material so you won’t have to worry about compromising your interior decor theme. If you consider the things mentioned above, it will be easier to purchase a suitable fabric material for covering your leather sofa.
