My basement perplexes me. It is our entertainment room, playroom and guestroom. So my problem? How to make it comfortable and fun without throwing all of my old furniture out on the curb.
Project #1, Reupholster the couch. The couch was given to me by some friends and was looking pretty sorry. I wanted a new couch, but was nervous about getting it out and also knew that it was destined for the landfill if I pitched it. I looked for a while on Craigslist and found some good stuff but still worried about all of the lifting. Out of curiosity, I also looked at upholstery how-tos on You Tube. At about the same time I visited G-Street and noticed a great stash of cast-off Juicy terry knit prints for $2.97 a yard. I bought 15 yards and shortly after that my husband went out of town for the week. 20 work hours and three blisters later, this couch is the result.
The hardest parts in order: 1) Tearing out all of the staples 2) Using a light duty stapler over and over and over 3) Piping for the cushions - I ended up abandoning this and remade the first cushion without piping 4) Coming downstairs and facing the mess after night number two of stripping down the couch.
So my conclusion: Couches are more like cars than a pair of jeans. They are durable, not disposable. Most are built to be reupholstered indefinitely and it is sad that so many end up in the landfill. If you have the time and inclination to do it, anybody can upholster a couch and have a high quality and individualized result. However, the time and sweat equity involved are not cheap.
Project #1, Reupholster the couch. The couch was given to me by some friends and was looking pretty sorry. I wanted a new couch, but was nervous about getting it out and also knew that it was destined for the landfill if I pitched it. I looked for a while on Craigslist and found some good stuff but still worried about all of the lifting. Out of curiosity, I also looked at upholstery how-tos on You Tube. At about the same time I visited G-Street and noticed a great stash of cast-off Juicy terry knit prints for $2.97 a yard. I bought 15 yards and shortly after that my husband went out of town for the week. 20 work hours and three blisters later, this couch is the result.
The hardest parts in order: 1) Tearing out all of the staples 2) Using a light duty stapler over and over and over 3) Piping for the cushions - I ended up abandoning this and remade the first cushion without piping 4) Coming downstairs and facing the mess after night number two of stripping down the couch.
So my conclusion: Couches are more like cars than a pair of jeans. They are durable, not disposable. Most are built to be reupholstered indefinitely and it is sad that so many end up in the landfill. If you have the time and inclination to do it, anybody can upholster a couch and have a high quality and individualized result. However, the time and sweat equity involved are not cheap.
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