Hixson Upholstering Shop in Chattanooga: Full Furniture Reupholstery with Long Lead Times

Hixson Upholstering Shop is a traditional full-service reupholstery operation in the Hixson area north of Chattanooga, handling everything from residential sofas and chairs to custom commercial work, with a reputation for frame repair and detail work that draws clients willing to wait several months for completion.

What Hixson Upholstering Shop actually does

This is a small, production-focused shop rather than a quick-turnaround or mail-in service. The business takes apart furniture, inspects and rebuilds frames when needed, repairs or replaces springs and webbing, re-stuffs cushions, and applies new fabric or leather. Work includes standard residential pieces (sofas, wingbacks, dining chairs, ottomans) and will tackle specialty items like boat seating, RV interiors, and antique or heirloom furniture. The shop does not reupholster automotive interiors or do simple repairs like zipper replacement without a full fabric overhaul.

Services and pricing

Pricing depends on piece size, frame condition, cushion configuration, and fabric choice. A typical dining chair runs $300 to $600. A standard sofa starts around $1,200 and can exceed $3,000 if the frame requires major repair or the piece is oversized. Labor is the larger cost variable; material (fabric, webbing, batting, foam) is separate and depends on what the customer selects.

Clients supply their own fabric or choose from the shop's limited in-house samples; the shop does not source or sell fabric as a separate service. Lead time is typically 8 to 14 weeks depending on current workload. This is not a business for urgent deadlines. A verification call to confirm current timeline before committing is wise, as production schedules shift seasonally.

The shop does not charge a separate consultation or estimate fee; assessment happens during the initial visit, though a deposit (usually 50 percent of the quoted total) is required to begin work.

How it compares to other Chattanooga options

Chattanooga has very few traditional full-service upholstery shops remaining. The closest alternative is commercial reupholstery outfits that primarily serve businesses and may take residential work; these often have longer lead times and less flexibility on fabric choice. Big-box furniture retailers offer reupholstery as an outsourced service, but pricing is typically higher and accountability sits with a middleman rather than the craftsperson doing the work.

Choose Hixson Upholstering if you own a piece worth restoring (especially older or custom furniture), are patient about turnaround, and want direct contact with the person rebuilding your sofa. Choose a retailer or commercial shop if you need the work done in under six weeks or prefer not to handle fabric selection yourself.

Who it suits and who it does not

This shop suits homeowners with heirloom or vintage pieces, people who have owned a sofa or chair long enough to want it restored rather than replaced, and anyone with a specific fabric preference or sustainability goal (keeping a loved piece in use). It also works well for Chattanooga residents furnishing rental properties or offices who want durability and customization.

It does not suit anyone on a tight timeline, renters without long-term plans, or people looking for upholstery repair only (patching, seam fixing). It also does not work for fabric-only jobs, such as slipcovers.

What the first visit involves

Call ahead to schedule a time; walk-ins are possible but the shop operates on appointment-based scheduling. Bring the piece itself if it is moveable, or take photos and measurements if delivery is needed (the shop does not offer pickup service). Expect a 15 to 30-minute assessment in which the upholsterer will check the frame for damage, evaluate springs and cushions, and give you a verbal quote. They will ask about your timeline and fabric preferences. If you decide to proceed, you pay the deposit at that visit and leave the piece or schedule a delivery arrangement.

Hours, parking, and logistics

The shop is located in Hixson, north of downtown Chattanooga on the Hixson Pike corridor. Standard hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed weekends. Parking is on-site and unrestricted. There is no public transportation option; a car is necessary. Confirm current hours before visiting, as small shops sometimes shift seasonal schedules.

Hixson Upholstering fills a niche that chain furniture retailers and big-box stores do not serve: serious, frame-first restoration by someone who knows old construction and is willing to spend weeks on one sofa. For Chattanooga residents with mid-century modern pieces, inherited furniture, or simply a sofa they refuse to discard, this is the rare local option that still exists.