Upholstery is such a great way of bringing character into your home, and there’s so many fabrics out there to suit your taste and colour scheme. Whilst paying for an upholstered piece of furniture can be an investment, it’s such an effective way of upgrading your space.

I’ve included some ideas in here that don’t technically count as upholstery (which is the art of covering furniture), but I’ve used upholstery as a catch-all term for bringing custom fabrics into your home. Without further ado…

Window seat and bench cushions

Having upholstered bench cushions made isn’t overly expensive, and is a great way to add some comfort to an otherwise hard surface, as well as texture, colour and pattern.

Re-upholstering accent chairs or sofas

Rather than throw away old furniture, you can breathe new life into it by having a professional upholsterer bring it back to life - whether it’s a piece of furniture you already own or something you’ve found at auction with hidden potential. The beauty of this is that you can create a truly special, one-of a kind piece.

Throw cushions

Not technically upholstery, but it’s a great entry-level way to bring custom fabrics into your home and at a low cost. If you have a sewing machine then this is something you could even have a crack at yourself.

Lampshades

Another potential DIY project - there’s plenty of DIY lampshade kits available online (Christmas present anyone?), so you could take a tired old lamp and turn it into a truly unique statement.

Ottomans and footstools

I personally like to sit with my legs up in the evening, even better if it’s on a comfy upholstered surface like an ottoman. Less expensive than having an armchair upholstered, but a great way of bringing some unique pattern and a statement into the room.

Banquette seating

I’m a big fan of banquette seating, it’s a really stylish way of adding colour, texture and pattern into your dining area. Just make sure you either have removable or reversible covers, or use easy clean fabric. For banquette ideas see my blog post: Banquette seating ideas and inspiration.

Headboards

Finally - if you really want to make a statement in the bedroom, making a focal point out of the headboard is a great way to achieve this. Luxurious fabrics like velvet give a sophisticated and hotel-like vibe, or go quirky with a pattern and unique shape.

If you’d like my help with your next project, check out my services to see how we can work together. If you’ve enjoyed this blog, don’t forget to subscribe at the bottom of this page to receive my new post in your inbox every Sunday.

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