Guide · upholstery in Melbourne
Re-foaming replaces the tired, collapsed foam inside your sofa cushions with fresh, correct-density foam, so seats sit high and supportive again without the cost of a new lounge. It suits sofas whose covers are still in good shape but whose cushions have gone flat, hard-edged or saggy. At Dylberry Design, a family upholstery and furniture-restoration workshop in Eltham North servicing Melbourne, we re-foam individual cushions or whole suites in-house, and every job is quoted on its own scope and materials.
Last updated: July 2026
Get a free quoteCall 0425 832 619Foam does not last forever. It slowly loses the air pockets that give it spring, and once that happens the comfort goes with it. The usual signs are easy to spot once you know them:
New: our upholstery foam guide explains foam density in kg/m3, firmness, and which foam your cushions actually need.
If any of these sound familiar, the foam has done its time. The good news is that this is one of the most straightforward and worthwhile repairs in upholstery.
Density is the single most important thing when choosing replacement foam, and it is widely misunderstood. Density measures how much material is packed into the foam, not simply how firm it feels. A high-density foam holds its shape and supports weight for years, while a cheap low-density foam can feel fine in the showroom and collapse within a season.
Firmness and density are separate qualities. You can have a soft, high-density foam that feels plush yet lasts, or a firm, low-density foam that feels hard but wears out quickly. Getting both right for how you actually use the sofa is where experience counts. With roughly 100 years of combined craft across our in-house team, we match the foam grade to the cushion, the frame and the way you sit, rather than reaching for one generic block.
Seat and back cushions do very different jobs, so they should not use the same foam. Seats carry your full body weight every time you sit, so they need a firmer, higher-density foam that resists compression and holds its edge. Backs are about comfort and shape rather than load, so they suit a softer foam, often combined with a wrap for a relaxed, inviting feel. Using seat foam in a back can make a sofa feel stiff and upright, while using back foam in a seat is the fastest route straight back to sagging.
Upholstery foam is not just about comfort. In Australia there are expectations around the flammability of furniture foam, and reputable workshops use foam that meets the appropriate fire-safety grade. We use high-resilience HR35 foam at a density suited to each cushion, backed by a 10-year manufacturer warranty, so your refreshed sofa is comfortable and long-lasting. This is not an area to cut corners, and it is one of the reasons a professional re-foam is worth more than an off-the-shelf offcut.
Foam gives support, but a wrap gives that soft, luxurious first touch. Wrapping a foam core in polyester fibre, or feather and down for a more premium finish, rounds off hard edges and creates the plump, welcoming look you see on quality lounges. A feather wrap brings a natural, sink-in comfort that needs an occasional plump, while a fibre wrap holds its shape with less fuss. We can build cushions with the wrap that matches the feel you want, whether that is crisp and supportive or soft and casual.
If your covers are still sound, with no major tears, fading or worn seams, you often do not need full reupholstery at all. We can carefully remove the existing covers, replace the foam and inserts, and refit the same covers for a fraction of the cost. If the covers are also tired, or you want a new fabric or colour, that is when full reupholstery makes sense. We will tell you honestly which path suits your piece.
In most cases, yes, and comfortably so. A quality sofa frame is built to last decades, and it is usually the foam that fails first. Re-foaming a well-made lounge is far cheaper than replacing it, keeps a piece you already like, and avoids sending a repairable sofa to landfill. It is one of the best-value jobs in the trade. Our reputation reflects that, with a 5.0 rating from 44 Google reviews, and every job is individually and fairly priced on its scope and the materials it needs.
If your cushions feel fine but the whole seat sags or feels loose, the problem may sit underneath, in the support system rather than the foam. Rewebbing renews the woven straps that hold everything up, and respringing repairs or replaces the springs beneath the seat. Fresh foam on a failed support base will still feel saggy, so the two often go together. As a full-service workshop, we can assess the cushions and the support in one look and put right whatever is actually causing the problem.
Good to know
It depends on the number of cushions and whether covers need adjusting, but many jobs are turned around within a week or so. We give you a realistic timeframe with your quote.
Yes. We regularly re-foam a single sagging seat, though we will often check the others so the sofa still feels even across all seats.
It will feel like the original did when new, which is usually the goal. If you preferred it slightly softer or firmer, tell us and we will adjust the density and wrap to suit.
Yes. We use high-resilience HR35 foam at an appropriate density for every cushion, backed by a 10-year manufacturer warranty, so your sofa feels right and lasts.
The easiest way is to send us a photo of your sofa and cushions. We offer free quotes from a photo, and each job is priced fairly on its own scope and materials.
Almost always. If the frame is sound, refreshing the foam costs a fraction of replacing the whole lounge and keeps furniture you already like.
The support underneath, the webbing or springs, has likely worn out. This needs rewebbing or respringing as well as fresh foam, which we can handle in the same job.
We are based in Eltham North and service Melbourne. Send through your details with your photo and we will confirm the arrangements for your location.
Refoaming is one of the better value jobs we do, because you are replacing what has actually worn out without paying to recover a cover that is still fine. Price is driven by the number of cushions, their size and depth, and the foam specified. We use Dunlop HR35 high resilience foam, which comes in 200 firm and 165 medium and carries a ten year warranty, and we will talk you through which suits the way you actually sit. Quotes are free and in writing.
In most cases yes, and that is usually the point of refoaming. We take the covers off, make new interiors to the same finished size, and put your covers back on. Where it does not work is when a cover has stretched and gone baggy over years on collapsed foam, because it will not pull up tight over a firm new interior and it will look wrong. We will tell you honestly which of those you have got when we see the photos, and if the covers are past it we can quote recovering as well.
No, and that is the good news on this job. Usually the cushions alone are enough, so you can drop them in or we can collect them on a local run, and where you are nearby we generally just do that at no charge. It also means your sofa stays in use while we work. If the seat platform underneath has gone as well as the cushions, then we would need the piece itself, and we will tell you if the photos suggest that.
Send a photo or the dimensions of your booths, banquettes or venue seating and we'll come back with a rough price and turnaround.
Send a photo of your piece and we'll come back with a straight quote, no obligation, no pressure.
Send a photo for a quote Call 0425 832 619