The Sneaky Upholstery Trick Designers Swear By for Instantly Better Rooms

"Whether you have a piece of furniture from a big-box store that could use a bit of a refresh or simply don't want to spend months tracking down the perfect vintage sofa to reupholster, I have a sneaky, expert-approved hack for you. It turns out many interior designers purchase items like sofas, ottomans, and accent chairs from affordable, direct-to-consumer retailers and then recover them using high-end fabrics to give these mass-market items a custom look."

"So if you've fallen in love with your across the street neighbor's sofa and plan to order the same one - but don't want your piece to look exactly the same as theirs - consider this your permission to get creative. You don't even have to have an interior designer or upholstery workroom on speed dial to pull off this trick. Often, you can bring a piece or two to a local upholsterer, and the process can be much faster and affordable than going the full custom route."

"Recently, designer Sarah Henley, the founder of Henley Design, purchased and then recovered a trio of counter stools from CB2 for a modern loft project, which is pictured just above. "We went this route because we wanted a quick-ship frame that had solid construction that would be comfortable and had solid joinery versus rickety vintage options," she says. "We did not have the timeline or budget to wait for custom." To spruce up the stools, Henley covered them in a textured performance fabric from Zak + Fox. "The irregular stripe made the piece feel elevated, funky, and fit with the aesthetic of the space," she says of the upholstery selection."

Recovering mass-market furniture with higher-end fabrics creates unique, elevated pieces without the cost or delay of full custom builds. Designers often buy sturdy, quick-ship frames from direct-to-consumer brands and reupholster them to achieve a bespoke look. Local upholsterers can handle single pieces or small sets, making the process accessible to homeowners without in-house design teams. Selecting textured or patterned performance fabrics can transform basic frames into statement pieces that fit a space’s aesthetic while remaining durable. This approach balances timeline, budget, and quality by combining reliable construction with personalized upholstery choices.

Read at Apartment Therapy