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The armchair. Let’s hear it for this unsung and often ill-used hero of most of our homes. After a long day at work what is better than to flop into our favourite armchair with a mug of tea and breathe a deep sigh before beginning on dinner prep. It is there at the beginning of the day too as we waken up and maybe take a window of calm before we head out into the day. It might be one passed down through the generations; memories of your own childhood might float back as you sink into its depths. Armchairs are a constant through changing seasons of life; maybe you cuddled your own babies from within its welcoming coziness or read numerous stories to eager little children snuggled on your lap within its reassuring confines. It will have held you in its familiar comfort throughout the stormy seasons of life and also been there as you’ve contemplated new joys and imagined fresh opportunities.
What is your favourite armchair? It could be a family heirloom, overstuffed and gently sagging in all the right places. Maybe it’s one you purchased yourself, ergonomically perfect for your back. Perhaps it’s a rocking chair, adding an extra dimension of soothing movement to help regulate your over busy mind. Whatever it is, it will no doubt have a particular place in your home and life. While we all appreciate our dinner tables, bookcases or desks, armchairs alone have a peculiar propensity towards individual ownership. We have ‘our chair’, one we naturally gravitate towards. As we get older and the daily task of life becomes more difficult, the armchair becomes increasingly important. We may remember grandparents sitting in their own special chair, with a nearby table stacked with books, a newspaper, a mug of tea, plate of biscuits and all the other accoutrements needed to settle in comfortably for a while.
So, what happens when our favourite armchair, or indeed any other favourite piece of furniture has been so well-loved and well-used that it is no longer fit for service? Do we need to replace it, as our throw away society would encourage us to do, or is there another option? Here at Craft Insurance, we would definitely opt for the “other” option and give a huge welcome to the many skilled upholsterers across the country.
There are many advantages of reupholstering your furniture, rather than buying new pieces. Firstly, it means you can keep hold of that faithful friend and all the memories attached. Rather than discarding it after a lengthy time of faithful service, you can offer it a new lease of life. Choosing new fabric gives you the opportunity to freshen up the whole room, maybe as you transition from one season of life to another.
The mass-produced furniture easily accessible today simply does not have the longevity and craftsmanship of older, hand made pieces. They are often made using environmentally unsustainable methods and materials. In contrast, joints made by a skilled furniture maker will last much longer than their factory-made counterparts and the actual process of reupholstering has a low environmental impact, has been practiced for centuries and supports local businesses and skilled artisans. By changing the fabric, you not only have a new look to your room, but also keep a solid, well-made piece of furniture which will continue to provide good service for years to come.
It is, obviously, the most eco friendly choice. When the alternative is throwing a worn chair into landfill, choosing to reupholster seems a bit of a no brainer. You can also take this a step further and re purpose the old fabric, making it into cushion covers, lampshades or even a child’s pinafore, Sound of Music style!
Reupholstering a piece of furniture is a highly skilled task, requiring time and skills honed over years. While upholsterers aim to offer competitive prices, it might seem at first glance to be quite an expense. It is, however, more cost effective than at first glance. By upcycling your older furniture, you will increase its value, as well as keeping the well made, solid wooden frames, build for longevity. Compare this with the cost of a newly made piece to replace your well-loved item and you will be ready to choose the fabric straight away!
If you’re reading this and are an upholster yourself, you might be looking for upholsterer insurance. A basic package for upholsterer insurance will include product and public liability insurance, with the option to add on individual business items or employers’ liability insurance.
Public liability insurance covers you for any claim made that you or your employees/volunteers are responsible for harm done either on your property or elsewhere eg when out and about demonstrating or selling. Product liability covers you for any claim made that your product has caused harm or injury. In both cases the insurance covers you for compensation and legal costs, even if it is not your fault. They also provide cover for you if you are demonstrating or teaching your craft, thus allowing you to hold workshops, from one day courses through to multi week programmes.
And in addition, with our package for upholsterer insurance you will also be covered by professional indemnity insurance, thus giving you confidence to teach and demonstrate your skill, free from the anxiety of inadvertently giving any inaccurate information.
As you compare insurance packages and prices, you’ll see that our cover is comprehensive and does what it says it will do. In addition, as a family-run business we answer all calls and emails ourselves; call queues. So, pick up the phone or send us a message from our website and either Sam or Naomi will be here to ensure you get a bespoke upholsterer insurance ideal for your company.