What You Need to Know Before You Reupholster

Consider this before buying costly fabric for reupholstering:

• The weight of the fabric depends on where and how the piece will be used. Furniture for the bedroom doesn't need to be heavy-duty, but living room furniture does. Non-upholstery-weight fabric works for a purely decorative piece.
• Take a look at the back of your fabric swatch for the Weisenbeck rating. The rating is determined by an abrasion resistance test; a machine rubs the fabric and keeps track of the number of rubs before the fabric is worn through. A heavy-duty rating translates to 30,000 double rubs. The Weisenbeck rating is most commonly used for commercial fabrics.
• Take home a fabric sample and tuck in existing furniture to see if you like it. Ask to borrow a bolt or a large hanging sample to cover as much of the piece as possible. Live with it for a few days before making your decision.
• Choose a fabric that will truly update the piece, not just copy the look it had before. Choose a different color, go from a solid to a pattern, or change pattern scales.