Cushions
Cushions are another way to tell a good quality piece of upholstery, but even the best cushions require careful and regular maintenance to get the best out of them. ‘To preserve the look and longevity of cushions, regular plumping and rotating is necessary to even wear,’ says Barber. ‘I would recommend completely removing the internal cushion from the upholstery fabric to thoroughly plump and re-align – this should be done at least every six months. This simple and regular maintenance will significantly improve the look and feel of your item of furniture.’
Seat cushions generally experience more wear than back cushions due to the amount of pressure being placed on them. ‘The composition of both seat and back cushions will vary in comfort and therefore loose alignment at different rates,’ says Barber. ‘For full satisfaction and peace of mind, I would aim to re-set the seat and back cushions at the same time.’
The re-upholstery of an item of furniture is purely down to the discretion of the consumer, explains Barber. ‘The fabric might see a lot of use, fade in the sun, or not suit the décor of the room. On the other hand a distressed look is popular especially in leather sofas.’