Reupholstering a wingback chair means removing the old fabric and padding, repairing or replacing the frame and springs if needed, and fitting new upholstery over the wings, back, seat and arms. It’s a skilled trade involving frame inspection, recovery of internal structure, and precise fabric fitting. Most wingback chairs are worth recovering because the original frame is usually sound; the visible wear is fabric and padding age.
Why a Wingback Chair is Worth Reupholstering
A wingback chair with a solid wooden frame and intact springs is a good candidate for reupholstery because the expensive structural work is already done. Wingback chairs, especially mid-century and vintage pieces, were built to last: hardwood frames, eight-way hand-tied springs or coil systems, and layers of horsehair or cotton felt padding under the cover fabric. When only the fabric and outer padding have worn or faded, recovering the chair restores it to daily use without the cost of rebuilding from scratch.
The wings themselves—the high side panels that frame the sitter’s head—are often the first casualty of age. Sunlight fades them unevenly, and armrest contact wears the fabric thin. Reupholstering lets you choose new fabric that suits your room, extend the chair’s life by another twenty or thirty years, and keep a piece you already know fits your space and comfort. The frame, springs and internal structure do the real work; fresh fabric is the visible refresh.
What Happens When You Send a Wingback Chair for Reupholstery
A professional upholsterer’s first step is a thorough inspection of the frame, joints, springs and internal structure. This matters because a wingback chair’s wings are cantilevered (they project from the back without much support), and years of movement can loosen glue joints or crack the timber where the wing attaches. The upholsterer removes the old fabric cover completely, then examines what lies beneath: the webbing (a cross-hatched fabric base), the springs, and the padding layers. Any weak joints are re-glued; broken springs are replaced; torn webbing is re-tensioned or patched. Only then does recovery begin.
Recovery itself happens in stages. New webbing is laid and tacked across the seat frame in a grid, then new springs are sewn to the webbing and to each other to create a stable base. New padding—usually a combination of modern foam and traditional natural fibres like cotton felt—is layered over the springs and wooden structure. Finally, the new fabric is cut to fit the wings, back, arms and seat, then hand-stitched and tacked to the frame. This is why reupholstery takes time: each layer must be properly tensioned so the chair sits evenly and feels firm without being hard.
How Long Does a Wingback Chair Take to Reupholster?
A wingback chair typically takes four to six weeks from collection to delivery, depending on fabric availability and the extent of structural repair needed. The actual handwork—stripping, inspection, padding and covering—spans two to three weeks. If the frame has loose joints or broken springs that need attention, add time for gluing and curing. If you choose a custom or special-order fabric, that adds delay at the start; standard weight cotton, linen and velvet are usually in stock or arrive quickly.
The studio collects from your home or workplace, completes the work at the workshop, and delivers the finished chair. This keeps you out of the decision-making loop during the actual work and means you get one phone call when it’s done and ready to return. If you need a quick turnaround for a commercial space—a pub or restaurant booth that can’t sit idle—discuss timing upfront; the upholsterer can sometimes prioritise if the scope is straightforward.
What You Need to Know About Choosing Fabric
The fabric you choose must suit both your taste and the chair’s use. A wingback in a quiet sitting room can handle delicate linen or vintage-style tapestry; the same chair in a kitchen or busy family home needs durable cotton velvet or a performance fabric that resists staining and wear. Upholstery fabric is measured by weight (usually stated in ounces per square yard); heavier fabrics last longer under daily use. Most domestic fabrics for wingbacks range from medium to heavyweight—twelve to twenty ounces.
Bring colour swatches home and live with them for a few days; natural light and artificial light change how colours read. If the chair has piping (a cord-and-fabric trim along the seams), you can match it to the main fabric or pick a contrasting colour for definition. The upholsterer will advise on pattern placement, especially on the wings where a large print might look odd if it lands in the wrong spot. Avoid thin or loosely woven fabrics unless you’re prepared to replace the cover again in five years.
What Does Reupholstery Cost and How Is It Priced?
Reupholstery cost depends on three variables: the fabric price (you supply it or the studio sources it), the structural repair needed (simple recovery is cheaper than replacing springs or gluing joints), and the chair’s size and complexity. A wingback is medium-complexity because of the wings and multiple fabric pieces; a simple chair might be less, a heavily sprung Victorian piece more. Most studios provide a fixed quote within forty-eight hours of inspection, so there are no surprises when the work is done.
The best approach is to contact the upholsterer with photos and details of your chair, then arrange a collection or visit so they can assess it in person. A quote includes labour, padding, webbing and basic supplies; it specifies what fabric cost is (per metre or per cover), so you know the total before work starts. Ask what happens if the frame needs more repair than the initial inspection suggested—good upholsterers will contact you to confirm before proceeding beyond the quoted scope.
When to Call a Professional Instead of Attempting It Yourself
Reupholstery looks like sewing, but it requires knowledge of frame structure, spring tension, padding density and pattern matching that takes years to build. A wingback chair’s wings must be evenly padded and pulled taut without creating lumps or slack fabric. The springs must be sewn to the webbing in a precise grid so the seat doesn’t sag unevenly. If you pull the fabric too tight, you can distort the wings or split the seams; if you pull too loose, wrinkles and sagging appear within months. A professional upholsterer has handled dozens of wingbacks and knows how each step affects the final result.
Unless you have formal upholstery training or are prepared to learn on a chair you don’t mind damaging, send it to a professional. The time cost of teaching yourself, buying specialist tools (pneumatic tack guns, webbing stretchers, curved needles), and potentially reworking mistakes often exceeds the labour cost of hiring someone who already knows how. For a chair with sentimental value or good bones, professional recovery is the safe choice. Contact a local upholsterer in Barking, Dagenham, Ilford or East London to discuss your wingback and get a fixed quote.