The 5 best upholstery in Melbourne for every restoration needs
Looking to give your dining chairs a second lease on life? Or do you just want your car seats professionally cleaned without worrying about quality and value?
I know the list of companies offering upholstery services in Melbourne is endless, making it harder for you to find the best and the most worth it. You might even find yourself stuck going to the same mediocre upholstery for years because you just can’t find a better one.
But fret not, because we’ve put together a list that might just give you an idea on the best place to go next time your seats or furniture need a little touch of magic! Customizing your home decor, automotive interiors, or restaurant chairs just got a whole lot easier. You’re welcome!
How much do professional upholstery services typically cost in Melbourne?
On average, upholstery services in Melbourne cost $17.50 per cushion piece to $1750 for outdoor lounges. However, the final price may vary depending on the material used and the price of the upholsterers’ service that’s based on their experience level.
1. Clifton Upholstery
Address: 234 Lygon Street
Phone: (03) 9380 2999
Operating hours: Monday to Friday – 9:00am – 5:00pm
What makes Clifton Upholstery one of the best in Melbourne is their high quality and diverse workmanship that is reflected in the range of services they provide.
They provide free quotations, and free pick up and delivery to most suburbs. They also offer repairs including re-gluing frames and polishing using a wide range of fabrics, leathers and vinyls depending on customers’ preferences.
One more highlight about Clifton Upholstery is the attention they give to each of their customers and their upholstery needs. After interviewing some of their former clients, most of the feedback praised their excellent customer service and accommodating approach.
What’s more, some of their clients pointed out the competitive pricing. This was pleasantly surprising, as they use the finest and most premium materials, along with eco-friendly options.
However, if you want to know how much a sofa repair costs, you won’t be able to find it on their website or Facebook page. You’ll have to ask for a price quotation to get an estimate.
Fast and reliable results
“George the owner is very wonderful, friendly, and experienced with awesome knowledge! He and his team did a splendid job – very efficient, fast, reliable and professional.. End result is very satisfying.. totally love it! Clifton Upholstery is highly recommended to anyone!”
– Lydia Sheridan, Google Review
Offers alternative and affordable solution
“George offered an alternate, longer-lasting and more affordable solution for our chair repair. He not only turned the job around within 48 hours, but my treasured grandparents’ lounge chair is as good as new. Thank you, Clifton Upholstery.”
– Nicole Bittar, Google Review
2. Ellie’s Upholstery & Furniture
Address: Shop 2-4 354 Highett Rd
Phone: (03) 9532 0730 / 0418 598 054
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9:00am – 5.30pm
- Saturday: 9:00am – 1.30pm
- Sunday: By appointment only
Established in 1979 as an independently owned and operated business in Bayside Melbourne, Ellie’s has been one of Melbourne’s go-to places for upholstery and furniture.
Ellie and his ability to turn lifeless coffee tables and Parker chairs back to life nurture customers’ satisfaction. This was something that was frequently highlighted when we interviewed their former customers.
We also found that customers who often come to his upholstery bring furniture with years of history, which makes Ellie a go-to for delicate and vintage pieces. The company also offers all kinds of furniture on their website which their clients have also raved about.
It’s also worth noting that unlike other upholsteries, Ellie’s doesn’t charge any upfront fees prior to the restoration or repair of furniture. The turnaround time, while it may vary depending on the furniture, has been consistently prompt for most customers.
However, a few customers reported that Ellie’s shop looks crammed with all the furniture for repair or restoration. While this can also be intriguing, customers should bear this in mind upon visiting the shop.
Great attention to details
“Ellie was a delightful person to deal with. He picked up my furniture piece from my home in Bayside and had the work done within two days. Ellie is capable in his management, and I noticed ‘he cared for my furniture as well’. He showed me some of his upholstered masterpieces in his showroom, and I immediately noticed he has great attention to detail//observation; and is on-trend having access to the very latest swatches (fabrics) and Material//Styles. My best wishes are extended to Ellie’s business. Quite simply “he’s the Best””
– Louise M, Google Review
True professionalism
“We had a damaged antique credenza and arranged for someone from Ellie’s Upholstery to check it out. A lovely chap inspected the whole unit and fixed it on the spot without charging us. He also showed a genuine appreciation for an antique piece and demonstrated true professionalism while handling the item. We highly recommend this company.”
– becar67, Google Review
3. Comfort Works
Address: Suite 112/327 Clarendon St
Phone: +61 3 9015 9789
Operating hours: Monday to Friday – 9:00am – 5:00pm
As their name suggests, Comfort Works aims to provide their customers with comfort in each of their branches in Australia, China, and Malaysia. Among this list, it’s the company that has the widest scope of clients, which can both be their strength and weakness.
Anyone who has ever subscribed to a multinational corporation knows that while the supply of services or products are abundant, the quality tends to be linear or communal.
However, for this company, we interviewed some of their customers for Melbourne-specific reviews, and they are all far from being generic.
Most clients praised their responsive customer support and effective return/refund policy. Even so, some homeowners have reported that, despite the options for customizations, certain orders failed to fit their respective home decor.
What makes Comfort Works a part of this list, though, is the fact that they create couch covers for current and discontinued furniture from major brands like IKEA, Pottery Barn, Muji, etc. Plus, they have international branches, which (let’s be honest) appeals to many.
Allows return of subpar products
“I had a custom cover made for an older IKEA chair model. When I received a version that was beautiful but didn’t quite work with my model, Comfort Works made things right. They comped a whole new cover and made sure it would fit perfectly. They even suggested adding a little cushioning to the head pillow. The result is a perfect cover! What could have been a disappointing purchase and experience turned into a wonderful one. Highly recommend.”
– Julia Baron, Google Review
Exceptional customer service
“I ordered a slipcover for my sofa and then liked it so much that I ordered one for my sectional. The fabrics are very good quality and come with care instructions. I ordered a machine washable fabric for my sectional because I have pets. My sectional was a custom order and the customer service agent, John, was a big help with this process. The customer service was really exceptional! I’m very happy with my new slipcover that gives my old sectional a needed upgrade.”
– Dru Davies, Google Review
4. Mastercraft Upholstering Melbourne
Address: 3/34 Palmerston Rd, East. Ringwood
Phone: 9870 3516
Operating hours: Monday to Thursday – 9:00am – 4:00pm
Like Clifton Upholstery, Mastercraft Upholstering Melbourne has been providing services for decades, having been established in 1958 as a family-owned business.
They offer commercial and domestic applications of furniture restoration, interior decorating, upholstery, and new furniture construction.
Many of their customers that we talked to commended their attention to detail. Their consultant has over 40 years of experience and has been providing clients with professional insights on top-notch material choices.
Mastercraft also boasts how they source only premium-quality materials from leading textile mills such as Warwick, Zepel, and Wortley.
However, it’s worth noting that a few customers complained that online price quotations tend to double once in-store.
Dedicated in providing quality service
“Peter and his brother did an amazing work in transforming my 30 years old lounge suite and dining chairs to brand new ones. Their craftsmanship is second to none, with great attention to detail. I am quite impressed with their pride and dedication to provide the best quality service. It has been a quite smooth and pleasant experience from the first phone call, through quotation and delivery. They delivered what they promised in a very professional and timely manner. Thank you both for your great work and service. I highly recommend Mastercraft Upholstering Melbourne.”
– Tanya S, Google Review
Professional input for the best interest of the customers
“A huge thank you to Peter and his team for transforming our sofa. The process was really smooth. Peter gave some good feedback on fabric choices and was able to customize our back cushions which was fantastic. The team has attention to detail and we were thrilled with the workmanship. We didn’t want our sofa to just end up in landfill and now our tired old sofa has a new life and will last many more years. Thanks Peter and team!”
– Gulinka, Google Review
5. Melbourne Auto Upholstery
Address: 57 North Street Richmond
Phone: 03 9889 5183
Operating hours:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday – 8:00am – 5:00pm
- Tuesday, Thursday – 8:00am – 7:00pm
This list won’t be complete without a company dedicated to interior auto detailing. Among Melbourne’s numerous entries, Melbourne Auto Upholstery in Richmond is the top in its department.
The company offers classic restorations, leather repair and upgrades, and custom interiors for all kinds of cars. For car enthusiasts, this shop is godsend, as they seem to truly know what they’re doing having been established in 1950.
They are highly praised by car owners for their reasonably priced yet A+ service on a vast range of auto upholstery necessities. In fact, they’re known for doing extra reupholstering at no additional cost.
Perhaps their alternating operating hours are the only reason to hesitate.
Extra service with no extra charge
“Tom is a consummate professional. His workshop did the leather on the steering wheel of my Mercedes last year and just this week they reupholstered the driver seat after another workshop had botched the repair. To obtain the optimal result, he actually reupholstered more of the seat than we had talked about but at no extra cost. These guys are quick, reasonably priced, use quality materials and will treat you and your car with the utmost respect and care- no matter what you drive.”
– Johnathan Lovett, Google Review
Skilled and professional team
“Tom and the team at Melbourne Auto Upholstery have done an awesome job repairing some damaged lining in my 60-year old Chrysler Valiant AP5 Regal. It was a delicate job that was done with the utmost care, attention to detail and professionalism. The guys are easy to deal with and incredibly knowledgeable and skilled. Highly recommend.”
– Tom Wilcox, Google Review