Upholstery · 6 min read · 28 July 2026
The frame decides. If it is sound, a new cover and foam can give you a sofa that is better than a new one at the same price.
Most sofas are replaced because the fabric or the seat has gone, not because the frame has. The frame is the part worth judging, and it is the part you cannot see.
A solid hardwood frame that is still square and does not creak or rock is a good candidate for reupholstery. A frame that is cracked, warped or held together with staples usually is not, though many frame faults can be re-jointed and reinforced.
Foam is the second question. Sagging seats are usually tired foam, and replacing it with a higher-density grade brings back both comfort and shape. Ask for the foam density by grade rather than a general description.
Fabric is where reupholstery has the most to offer. You choose the material for your room and use: performance velvet, leather, faux leather or a tightly woven fabric that copes with sun and children. Matching an existing colour scheme, or changing it completely, costs no more than the fabric itself.
Reupholstery makes most sense for good frames, for majlis seating that is large and fixed to the room, and for pieces with sentimental value. Replacement makes more sense for a weak frame or a style you have simply outgrown.
A free inspection is the way to settle it: someone looks at the frame, the springs and the foam, and tells you which is worth doing.
