Reviving a leather sofa

seaswirl · ‎03-15-2010

I have a leather sofa that I just love. It's getting rather raggety looking and I just noticed there's a cut in the leather. Is it worth it to get it "fixed," i.e., reupholstered (with new leather), or should I bite the bullet and start looking for a new one?

TIA,

Seaside Quilter

ahoymate · ‎05-30-2010

Labor is a big expense. Have Baker couch & chairs that needed new upholstery. It was cheaper to replace vs. reupholster.

I know you are asking about a leather sofa, but my experience in this world is it's less expensive to replace vs. repair. Google is your friend. Investigate online.

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

Reupholestering often costs more than new due to labor and material costs.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

Cuts or tears in leather are usually repaired by using a patch glued to the underside of the leather. It will never look the same and chances are it can rip open in the same spot at some point plus you can usually see where the patch is located b/c it will have a slight bump where the patch was applied on the underside. If you're handy you can do it yourself...YouTube.

Nightowlz · ‎03-11-2010

That depends on if you have someone in your area that can do the job or not.

We have a lady in town the does upholstery work.

We also have a guy in town that has a shop where he does all kinds of work on fancy cars.

He put a new headliner in DH's truck plus repaired something that was ripping. He did a great job.

If we needed our leather sofa reupholstered I would ask him if he would do it.

Go out & look at the furniture they are making today. All I could find here is cheap made junk. I look under it to see how it's been constructed. The salesman said I have never seen anyone do that before? How else do you know what you are buying if you don't look?

We rescue cats · ‎01-25-2023

If you have access to a great leather worker, try searching for a local leather goods repair shop. Often they work on coats, boots and also furniture. The ones I have used have retired but he repaired my long leather coat, briefcase and a very high end purse over the years. I would call them without hesitation if they were still in business. I don't know what I will do now if I need them.

Lynn-Critter Lover!
(especially cats!)

rockygems123 · ‎06-04-2012

@seaswirl wrote:
I have a leather sofa that I just love. It's getting rather raggety looking and I just noticed there's a cut in the leather. Is it worth it to get it "fixed," i.e., reupholstered (with new leather), or should I bite the bullet and start looking for a new one?
TIA,
Seaside Quilter

@seaswirl

When you are looking for a replacement try the Bernhardt brand.

Beautiful leathers and they are long lasting, comfortable and quallity.

Nonametoday · ‎03-09-2010

My idea, since you say it is looking raggerty looking is that you buy new. I would not advise you to spend a lot on a sofa that is all but worn out. I don't think I would be giving you good advice. You will likely regret investing in something that was not worth the price.

Upholstery is very expensive. The reason it is cheaper to buy a new one is because they are done in China in greater quantities, mass-produced; therefore, the cheaper price.

People who upholster here are doing it like a couture garment and couture garments are expensive.

I had a brown leather sofa, very high end but I hated the cushions and they were just ugly. I had them upholstered in a very nice velvet-like fabric of the same color and it improved the look of the sofa (for me) but that was not the whole sofa, Nonetheless, it cost as much as a new middle-end sofa would cost just for the cushions, fabric and labor.