Reupholstering my Grandmother's Antique Sofa
// June 14th, 2008 // Home Projects, Personal Crap
We’re DONE!
So here’s the deal: We began this little adventure yesterday morning and made good headway on disassembling the couch–removing what seemed like 200 old stapes and upholstery nails. We removed all the old fabric to use as templates for the new fabric, replaced batting on the seat. Recovered the seat and cut out the the seat back. Yesterday we had to make a run to two fabric stores, so that ate up a lot of time.
We started our second day of recovering this morning by covering the seat back and the arms. It was tedious, as we had to be carefully to line by the pattern on the seat with the seat back. I’m extremely proud of the result and I know my Grandmother is looking down smiling tonight.
I discovered lots of little surprises–horse hair batting (it’s a 100 year old couch) and old flour bags used to hold the batting in place. It was quite ingenious in my opinion. My Grandmother reupholstered the couch with the pink fabric over 30 years ago. It’s a special piece of furniture, not only to me, but to my entire family.
I am also hoping to get the accent wall painted by Tuesday evening. I am sure I’ll post a final picture once the wall is done.
What do you all think of the new look?
50 Responses to “Reupholstering my Grandmother's Antique Sofa”
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- Keefer said: If you remember, we cut the cord awhile back, but ...
- Bret said: Honestly, I know it sounds scary, we have been cab...
- Jimmy Brown said: Thanks heaps ! worked like a charm :)...
- Mark said: thanks! 1st time my unit went dead. you're info wo...
- suzanne said: Beautiful job. I love antiques and you did amazin...
- kara said: Would you be able to email me also your how- to in...
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Couch looks great. You and Mom did a wonderful job with it. The updated look is wonderful!
Hi! We’re going to attempt a similar project and was wondering if you had any tips…The couch we’re going to reupholster is quite similar in shape as yours. Was it difficult? We’re wondering about how difficult it is to get the exact shape at the fabric currently is. from what I know about the couch(we’re getting it Saturday) the current fabric is in pretty bad shape, so will it be difficult to cut without a good template? Any tips, suggestions, etc you could offer would be really appreciated. Please e-mail me! Tathiela@gmail.com
Tathiela,
I am working on a PDF document that outlines the process I took. It was a bit of a challenge for me as I had never reupholstered a couch or any piece of furniture. However, I will tell you that if you take your time and really be mindful of how the original fabric was put on, you’ll do fine. In the end, this was a REALLY rewarding project and I’d do it again, especially on a wonderful old antique piece. I’ll email you the “How-To” document this weekend. It will include pictures. Good luck and thanks for visiting our Blog.
Beautiful Job! I am considering the same type of job but fear the back of the sofa! I can not find exact instructions for upholstering when it has a wood frame! Please give me any tips or advice. I am lost, is there metal or some type of backing in the front to keep shape along the wood or???????Thank you, any advice is greatly appreciated!
tilted-halo, thanks for the praise but it was a fairly simple process, so long as you stay methodical and treat each section with care and precision. To your point, the back was one of the “easier” sections for my particular couch (it was also the first section removed and the last section reupholstered). This project was a wood-frame (no metal) couch with no padding on the back panel. The fabric is simply pulled over the back and fastened with upholstery staples. By pulling tightly, being careful not to rip the fabric, you can create lines and there’s no need for padding or support pieces. You must be careful not to gather and bunch the fabric if there is a curve or angled section.
Remember when measuring your fabric you need to leave roughly 1.5-2 inches of extra fabric around all edges. You can cut the extra off. Also, to clean up the edges of the back, I tucked the edges under to give a nice clean line. This was covered by decorative trim.
Good luck and if you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
The sofa looks great! I can’t believe that you guys reupholstered that yourselves..it looks so professional. Do you still have the tutorial available? I’m also wondering how to go about with the template. Thanks!
Hi, I just bought a sofa exactly like this, would you please email me your pdf with the detailed instructions. So far i have removed the fabric and i am down to the coil springs which I will have to re tie, did you have to do any of that. Thanks so much Pattie, pab356@hotmail.com
Hello -
My husband and I are about to tackle a very similar project – we have an antique couch with an almost perfect frame but the fabric and supports underneath are completely destroyed. I admire the work you did so much (and have shown my husband the fabric you chose – it is gorgeous!!) and was hoping you could send me the pdf you mentioned with instructions. We aren’t sure what to restuff it with and are also wondering where to purchase appropriate fabric. Any help/advice you can provide would be much appreciated!
-Rebecca
Hi, I’m amazed at the outcome of this project. I have a couch exactly like yours and am wondering if you could e-mail me the how-to document so i can attempt a revamp!
thanks.
oh,email is softsuntot@gmail.com
great job on the couch! i just kidnapped an antique couch from the side of the road that i would like to reupholster. i was wondering if you still have your tutorial pdf. if so, will you please email it? thanks so much!
Wow! The new look for that couch is stunning! As a starving college student, I’m thinking that DIY reupholstering is in my future (and budget) for my new apartment! Any chance you would be willing to send the pdf my way? I’d be much appreciative! 5nickel5728@comcast.net
Great page – thanks for sharing. I have a similar antique couch that i’d like to reupholster — could you send the pdf if you end up doing this? Thanks again! Mark
Hi, Was thinking of getting a similiar couch that needs work – would it be possibly to get the pdf file? You guys did a great job!
Jennifer
She has yet to compose the PDF. When it is composed, we will link it to the article. Thanks for all the interest!
Your antique sofa looks great. I’m doing a similar project. Where did you get your supplies? I am trying to make my sofa have a softer feel. Any suggestions?
Amanda, you did such a wonderful job! I know I’m a bit late on the comment but I gasped in delight when I saw the “after” picture. I will be reupholstering a very similar couch when I get it next week and I am so excited. I read your reply to an earlier blog…have you finished the PDF “How to” file you were working on? I would love to get my hands on it and, from the looks of it, so would lots of people. My e-mail is angel.earthangel@gmail.com. Again, great job!
I love your couch! Am hoping to tackle a similar project but don’t even know where to start! Would you mind sending me your instructions? jennwhiteside {at} yahoo(.)com
Hi. My name is Jeph. I’m going to attempt reupholstering and antique couch, and was wondering if you would be able to email me the pdf file of the how to you made when you were reupholstering your couch. I know my email is really silly, but it’s older. I would really appreciate it if you would be able to send me the file. Thank you very much!
haha, forgot my email, it’s been a long day haha
mental_rejection@hotmail.com
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
haha, i forgot to give you my email, it was a long day yesterday haha
it’s
mental_rejection(at)hotmail(.)com
Hi there, well guess I’m not the only one. Your couch turned out amazing! I have a similar couch I’m hoping to redo and would love it if you could email me your PDF as well. Thanks so much for your time! denaberg(at)sbcglobal(.)net
I love your couch. I also have one I am about to reupholster. It is a smaller one though, with three different sections on the back. I would also appreciate your pdf if you would please. Thanks in advance. My e-mail is chays@veryhazy.com
Hi. Is the pdf file still available? You did a great job and I’m about to attempt the same project! Yikes!
Hello, Sorry to be a nuisance. Is the pdf tutorial posted somewhere? I’d love to see it, like so many other people. Thanks!
hi there, kudos to you for an amazing job! i just purchased a victorian couch and would be greatly appreciative if you could share your pdf with me to ease to pain of trying this project
thanks in advance.
tami
tami635@gmail.com
hi, do you still have your tutorial? I would love to get a copy! Your couch is beautiful.
my email is emcburney (at) gmail (dot) com
Would love the tutorial…THANKS!
Hi, I love the sofa and the fabric you chose. If you are still sending out your pdf or any extra info I would love a copy as I have my grandmothers victorian anitique to reupholster myself.
Cheers
Hello
Your antique sofa is gorgeous! If still available, would you please send me your pdf?
Thank you. My email is brandibelot@yahoo.com
wow this is amazing… can you forward me the tutorial as well? thanks
jdeng87 at gmail dot com
I am about to start reupholstering my two antique sofas. Please, send me your PDF instructions. Your project looks amazing!
Theonlytamar@mrhen.com
Thank you so much!
OH MY GOSH! This is AMAZING! My husband and I just picked up some antique furniture that a neightbor was about to throw out. Could you send me the tutorial as well? I really hope out project turns out as good as yours.
Giang
Hi there, I’m just wondering if you could please tell me the name of the fabric that you used? Thanks a lot!
I am taking on the task of reuphollstering an antique couch and wing chair tomorrow. If I can get step by step directions and instructions, I will be so greatful. Thanks
oh my — you are an ANSWER to my prayers! You have a tutorial for this? I have a couch that is almost identical and I’m dieing to fix it up. Pretty please send me the turotial if you still have it. I’d so appreciate it!
mrskwood (at) gmail (dot) com
thank you!
Hi, I just read your article because I purchased an antique sofa and it desperately needs to be reupholstered! If you still have the directions for how you transformed your sofa, I would be forever grateful to have a copy! Thanks!
Hi! your sofa turned out amazing! I just picked up an old antique sofa on the side of the road and am ready to tackle reupholstering it. I would really appreciate your tutorial if you still have it. Thank you so much!
It looks fabulous. Could I get the tutorial as well
Hi! Wow what a great job. I am so happy to find your information. I have had an antique couch and 2 chairs for over a year now and before I was unable to find anything on the web. I am so glad to find you. I would be grateful to get your tutorial directions. If I am able to make this happen maybe I can do another for a ministry I volunteer at. Thanks so much. Donna
The sofa certainly turned out beautifully. Indeed, your grandmother would have to be so proud.
The only thing you should have added was photos or videos of your process. Those are always fun to see.
Hello. I just came across your site. I am getting ready to disassemble a sofa much like the one you reupholstered. Is the PDF still available? If so I would love to get it. You did a great job and the sofa looks wonderful! Thank you,
Presleys Grandma rebergfalk@gmail.com
Hi, As one of your other recent posts was asking, it sounded like you may have a lot of information I am interested in as well. I am looking to do the same thing to a couch I have but have no idea how to go about disassembling it and such. If you have any more information you could share I would be grateful. Also, just out of curiosity is the cushion on your couch rather firm? I know that the one I am working on is, and I am not sure if they are all that way or not. My email is brynn.berg@gmail.com if you have any more info. Thanks so much. I think it looks great!!!
Hello! This couch looks amazing. I was wondering if you would be so kind to send me some of the information you have regarding reupholstering. I recently came across an antique couch ON THE SIDE of the road. Best free find in ages
It needs some TLC and new fabric is a must. Any info you have would be much appreciated! Thank you! elizabeth.h.oleary@gmail.com
It seems that it has been a couple of years since you reupholstered your beautiful counch but I am now just finding this on the internet as I have a couch just like yours that I was thinking of selling. Now I am thinking of reupholstering it (although the insides need to be replaced as well). How difficult is it to fix the insides? Did you ever put together the information on your project? I would love to see your instructions to help me figure out if I want to tackle the job or just sell the couch as is.
Thank you!
Hey, I just inherited a beautiful antique couch but need step-by-step instructions on how to reupholster, can you send it to sushigingkoprincess@yahoo.com Thanks:)
Hi
congrats on your amazing sofa. I am thinking of reupholstering mine now. I would appreciate to receive your instructions as it will be my first experience!.
Thanks so much in advance!
HELP!!! I just received an old antique couch similar to yours, and I definitely want to reupholster it. I would greatly appreciate it if I can get some detailed instructions on how to reupholster it. I get confused on how to detach it from the wood. Silly, I know. PLEASE HELP!!!
Thanks!
Jodi
Would you be able to email me also your how- to instructions…I’m very interested but like you have never done something like this before and would love to see how you did it! Thanks so much!
Beautiful job. I love antiques and you did amazing. Can you email me your process as well if it’s not too much trouble. Thanks! Suzy