--- title: "Reupholster or Buy a New Couch? How to Decide | Trysofic" url: https://trysoficprojects.co.za/blog/reupholster-or-buy-a-new-couch/ --- ![Carved settee re-covered in silver-grey](/_astro/ba-08-after.BEjLHHR1_Z16lgE1.jpg) [Home](/)/[Advice](/blog/) Worth it? # Reupholster or buy a new couch? How to decide ## In short Reupholster or buy a new couch? When re-covering beats buying new, when it doesn't, and 4 checks you can do in your lounge tonight. By the Trysofic team · 28 September 2026 [Get a free quote](#quote)[★★★★★**4.9** from 300+ Google reviews](https://maps.google.com/?cid=15645396653824375776) ![After: Stained carved settee, re-covered in silver-grey](/_astro/ba-08-after.BEjLHHR1_k5Ian.webp) ![Before: Stained carved settee, re-covered in silver-grey](/_astro/ba-08-before.DCfl9QYO_3dTxk.webp) BeforeAfter Stained carved settee, re-covered in silver-greyBefore / after On this page 1. [Check these 4 things tonight](#check-these-4-things-tonight) 2. [When reupholstering wins](#when-reupholstering-wins) 3. [When buying new makes more sense](#when-buying-new-makes-more-sense) 4. [Compare the right numbers](#compare-the-right-numbers) Two of our reviewers used the same words about their couches before they called us. Thato Nkwe was “ready to throw them away”. Tomsina Fata’s was one “we were about to throw away”. Both kept them. Use the 4 checks below to work out whether yours is one to keep. ## Check these 4 things tonight ### 1\. Lift one corner Pick up the couch by one front corner, about 10cm off the floor. If it feels solid and heavy, the frame is probably hardwood or good ply. If it flexes, creaks or feels light, tell us when you send the photo. ### 2\. Push on the arms Grab each arm and push it sideways. A little movement is a loose joint, which is a simple fix. An arm that moves like a door hinge means a broken rail. That’s fixable too, and it’s part of your quote. ### 3\. Sit in the middle seat If you sink to the frame, the foam is finished. That’s the part we replace. ### 4\. Look at the shape Do you actually like the lines of the couch? Re-covering changes the colour, the fabric and the comfort. It won’t turn a chunky pillow-back into a slim mid-century couch, and you’re better off buying new if the shape itself is what you’re tired of. ## When reupholstering wins - **The frame is solid.** Older couches can have better frames than new budget ones, and the frame is the part you can’t see in a shop. - **You’ve got a piece you love.** Nicole’s dining chairs were over a decade old. A carved antique settee or your parents’ chesterfield can’t be bought again. - **It’s a size or shape that’s hard to find.** A corner unit that fits your lounge exactly is worth keeping. - **You want a colour nobody stocks.** You choose the fabric from samples, so you’re not limited to this season’s grey. > My couches not only look new but better then the original version which has low quality fabric. > > john dzumba, Google review ## When buying new makes more sense If the frame is chipboard that’s snapped, if the couch is a cheap one you never liked, or if the shape is wrong for your room, a new couch is probably better value. Send us a photo anyway. We’ll tell you honestly if it isn’t worth redoing. ## Compare the right numbers When you compare, compare like with like. Put our quote next to a new couch of the same size and the same kind of fabric or leather, not the cheapest one on sale. Then read [what goes into a reupholstery price](/blog/couch-reupholstery-cost-johannesburg/). ## Questions we get asked ### Will a reupholstered couch last as long as a new one? That depends on the fabric and the foam you choose. Ask us at the sample visit and we'll give you our estimate for the material you pick, the way Senamile Sithole describes in a Google review. ### Can I buy a second-hand couch and have it redone? Yes. Reneilwe Diseko wrote about planning to buy second-hand furniture and have us rebuild it. Check the frame first, using the tests below. Get a price WhatsApp a photo of the piece and Kwanele will quote you. [WhatsApp 074 019 9297](https://api.whatsapp.com/send/?phone=27740199297&text&type=phone_number&app_absent=0) Read next - [7 signs your couch needs new foam, and what to check first](/blog/signs-your-couch-needs-new-foam/) - [What does it cost to reupholster a couch in Johannesburg?](/blog/couch-reupholstery-cost-johannesburg/) - [Couch reupholstery in Johannesburg and Soweto](/services/couch-reupholstery/) - [Antique settee and carved furniture restoration](/services/antique-settee-restoration/) - [8 questions to ask an upholsterer before you hand over your couch](/blog/questions-to-ask-an-upholsterer/) ![A couch we reupholstered](/_astro/contact-bg.CUHl57HH_Q8twa.webp) Contact us ## Tell us about your couch Send us the details and a photo, and Kwanele will get back to you with a price. Not sure what it needs? That's fine. We'll look at it and tell you. Workshop [Vundla Street, Jabavu, Soweto, 1818](https://maps.google.com/?cid=15645396653824375776) Call or WhatsApp [074 019 9297](tel:+27740199297) Email [info@trysoficprojects.co.za](mailto:info@trysoficprojects.co.za)