Reupholstering furniture can be fun, but if you donโt purchase enough fabric for the job, the results could be disastrousโespecially if the stock runs out while youโre mid-project. To ensure that doesnโt happen, itโs important that you know how to accurately calculate upholstery yardage to get just the right amount of yardage you need (with some to spare). Here weโre going to talk a little bit about how to do just.
Itโs Never a Bad Idea to Consult a Professional
Before taking on any upholstery project, itโs a good idea to consult an upholstery professional. If youโve mastered the art of upholstering, you can probably skip this step, but if youโre new to this, a professional opinion will help you get a better understanding of all youโll need for your project to be a successful one.
Tell them details such as where the piece of furniture will be placed and who will be using itโand then listen to their feedback with an open mind. Theyโve been at this a while, so theyโll know what types of fabrics will serve you well for the long haul.
Getting Your Measurements Right
Calculating upholstery yardage can get tricky since it varies based on the piece. A sofa, for example, is going to take a lot more yardage than a chair or an ottoman. One major step that can help is to take your measurements before removing the old fabric. If you donโt and only measure the dimensions of the frame, youโll come up short. Another important thing to know is that the average width of the upholstery fabric starts at 54 inches. Remember this comes in handy when calculating your upholstery yardage.
To measure cushions
Measure the width and the length of your cushions seam-to-seam. Donโt forget to calculate the measurements for the cushion side panels. One yard of fabric is equivalent to 36 inches. Generally, it takes about 2 yards for each cushion, with a 1-inch allowance for the seams. If your project is a couch has three cushions, for example, youโd need approximately 6 yards for the cushions alone.
To measure the frame
Run the tape measure along the back of the couch or chair from seam-to-seam to determine its width and length. Factor in an additional 1 inch for each seam. Divide your total length measurement by 36 inches to convert it to yards. Again, if your project is a couch thatโs 110 inches long and 40 inches high, youโre looking at around 3 yards (round up to 4 yards for good measure).
You would continue to repeat this process again for the front of the couch or chair back. Do this for the sides and arms (inside and out) as well as the seating area once the cushions are removed.
As long as the width measurements donโt exceed 54 inches, all you need to do is add the length measurements together and then divide by 36. And donโt forget to calculate the length and width of the material for the remainder of the couch as well as beneath the cushions. These numbers will need to be added in order to get the correct total.
Below is a handy little chart that can help make your calculations go a bit more smoothly. Keep in mind that these numbers are estimates. As mentioned earlier, it is always a good idea to consult a professional before making a final upholstery purchase.
Ready to get your upholstery project started? Come see us at one of our showrooms near Katy, TX. Weโll be happy to guide you to some incredible fabrics that will help you achieve beautiful results!