A well-made Gispen piece can remain strong and functional long after its original upholstery begins to show wear. Faded fabric, damaged leather or a compressed seat does not necessarily mean that the furniture needs replacing. Professional reupholstery can restore its appearance and comfort while preserving the recognisable shape of the original design.
At Furniture Upholstery, we carefully examine the frame, upholstery, padding and supporting parts before recommending the most suitable treatment. This allows us to renew your furniture in a way that respects its construction and suits the way it will be used.
A brief introduction to the Gispen brand
Gispen is a recognised Dutch furniture brand with a long history in functional and modern interior design. The company is particularly associated with furniture that combines clear lines, practical construction and durable materials.
Its collection has included office chairs, lounge chairs, sofas, meeting chairs and other furniture for homes, workplaces, schools and public interiors. Many Gispen designs use visible metal frames combined with upholstered seats, backs or armrests.
You can read more about the company and its furniture collection on the official Gispen website.
We can reupholster your Gispen furniture
Do you own a Gispen chair, armchair, sofa or another upholstered item from the brand? We can assess whether the piece is suitable for professional reupholstery. Both older designs and more recent models may be restored, depending on their construction and overall condition.
Clear photographs of the front, back, sides and underside help us identify how the upholstery is attached. A photograph of the product label or model number can also be useful when assessing the required work.
- Gispen lounge chairs and armchairs
- Gispen dining chairs
- Gispen office and desk chairs
- Gispen meeting and conference chairs
- Gispen sofas and waiting-area seating
- Gispen footstools and ottomans
- Separate upholstered seats and backrests
- Matching sets of Gispen chairs
Selecting fabric for a Gispen design
The new fabric should complement the proportions and clean lines of the furniture. A finely woven textile or wool fabric can maintain a classic appearance, while bouclé, chenille or a stronger colour can give the piece a more contemporary character.
We consider more than appearance when recommending upholstery. Durability, texture, flexibility, maintenance and daily use are all important. A meeting chair used every day requires different material qualities than an occasional armchair in a living room.
Replacing worn upholstery with furniture leather
Some Gispen furniture was originally upholstered in leather or a leather-like material. When this surface becomes cracked, dry or badly worn, the furniture may be reupholstered in new furniture leather.
Traditional colours such as black, cognac and dark brown often work well with chrome or painted metal frames. A different colour can also create a distinctive new version while keeping the recognisable Gispen shape.
Renewing foam and seating support
A worn seat cannot always be repaired by changing the outer fabric alone. Older foam may have become soft, uneven or permanently compressed. This reduces support and can affect the shape of the upholstery.
Where required, we replace the filling with suitable high-resilience foam. Its thickness and firmness are selected according to the available space, the construction of the furniture and your preferred level of seating comfort.
Careful finishing around visible frames
The metal structure remains visible on many Gispen designs. For that reason, the edges of the upholstery, the position of the seams and the connection between the upholstered sections and the frame require careful attention.
We aim for even tension, accurate seam placement and a neat finish around fixing points. When the selected fabric has a visible pattern or pile direction, we also ensure that it is positioned consistently across the different sections.
Preserve the original look or create something new
Reupholstery gives you the freedom to decide how closely the renewed furniture should resemble its previous appearance. A neutral woven fabric, understated wool textile or classic leather can preserve the timeless character of an older design.
You can also use the restoration as an opportunity to introduce a stronger colour or more tactile material. This allows the piece to suit a changed interior without altering its original frame or proportions.
A practical alternative to furniture replacement
Many Gispen pieces have strong frames that can remain useful for many years. Replacing only the worn upholstery and internal materials reduces unnecessary disposal and retains the most valuable parts of the furniture.
Professional reupholstery is therefore a practical and more sustainable way to continue using a quality design piece. It also allows you to choose materials that better suit your current home, office or commercial interior.
Reupholstery for individual pieces and matching sets
We can work on a single Gispen armchair as well as a larger group of matching chairs. This service is suitable for private homes, offices, meeting rooms, reception areas, practices and other professional spaces.
When several items are upholstered together, we pay close attention to consistent fabric direction, padding, seam placement and overall finish. This creates a balanced appearance across the complete set.
Explore our professional upholstery services
For more information about restoring sofas, chairs, armchairs and other seating, visit Furniture Upholstery.
Our team can assess worn fabric or leather, inspect the existing filling and explain which restoration options are suitable for your furniture.
Request an initial assessment of your Gispen furniture
Send us several clear photographs of your Gispen furniture together with its approximate measurements. Please also mention whether you prefer fabric or leather and whether the current seat feels too soft, uneven or uncomfortable.
After reviewing the information, we can provide an initial explanation of the recommended work, suitable upholstery materials and the possible renewal of the internal foam.
