I think this marks our first-ever reader submission showing a video of a furniture makeover, although the photo transformation is impressive too. If you haven’t watched Susan’s time-lapse of her couch reupholstery, it’s worth a look:
“I’ve long admired your blog and work. Recently my husband and I reupholstered our 8½-foot couch. The frame has eight-way hand-tied springs and solid wood. We adjusted the shape slightly to suit our taste and filmed a time-lapse of the whole process. The footage covers nine days of a two-hour upholstery class.” – Susan at Freshly Picked
Here’s what it looked like before:
And after:
We’re not sure whether to feel amazed or exhausted, Susan—the result is gorgeous and clearly a labor of love. It’s inspiring to see such a dramatic update, and the fact that you learned the skills in a class makes it feel accessible for others. Reupholstery can renew a treasured piece and let you personalize its shape and fabric, but it does take time, patience, and some technique.
Thinking about tackling a similar project? If you enjoy hands-on work and have access to a local upholstery class or a good set of tutorials, it can be a rewarding way to revive furniture that’s well-built underneath. For anyone considering this, start small to practice the basics, learn how to remove and replace cushions, webbing, and springs, and choose durable fabric suited for the piece’s use.
Have you ever taken an upholstery class or attempted a major furniture makeover? Share your experience or questions—projects like Susan’s often inspire others to try something new, and local classes are a great resource for learning proper techniques and tools. We’re curious whether there are similar workshops in Richmond, too—if anyone has recommendations, let us know.