Upholstery experts are very important in bringing the chic back into your shabby furniture and sofa upholstery. Experienced upholsterers can even make severely tattered chairs and sofas look as good as new. But not all those claiming to be professionals are real upholstery repair masters. To help ease your iffy concerns, here’s how you can identify the praiseworthy from the unworthy:

Make sure they know what they are doing. You may be tempted to hire the first upholsterer you find who claims they are experts. Ask for portfolios, references and check online reviews. Ask them the usual questions, like how long they have been doing custom upholstery and how they trained.
Make sure they have the time first. Let them know If you’re on a tight schedule. If they have prior engagements, they should communicate realistic timelines for you.
Make sure they know their fabrics. They should give you honest advice on the right fabrics to use for your situation and should tell you honestly if some fabrics may just not work.
Make sure they understand you. They should understand your vision and needs, and work around them when making design proposals. To help the upholstery shops better understand your situation, you can bring sketches and sample images of your custom upholstery looks.
Make sure they assist you with delivery. A good upholsterer can provide you transport and delivery services for your furniture.

Browse our listings to get you started on your hunt for a good upholstery near you. Evaluate potential options using the five pointers discussed above and you’ll be good to go!