Office Furniture Refurbishment for Businesses
Most office furniture does not need replacing. Worn gas lifts, cracked arm pads, torn upholstery, tired foam, scuffed powder coat and dull chrome bases — these are all fixable. At Coggin Sustainable Office Solutions, we refurbish, repair and reupholster commercial office furniture for businesses across the UK, extending its working life at a fraction of the cost of buying new.
We work with facilities managers, office managers and fit-out contractors on projects typically involving 10 or more items. Whether you need a bank of chairs reupholstered or an entire floor refurbished, we handle it from assessment through to reinstallation.
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Get a Refurbishing Quote
Tell us about the furniture you'd like refurbished and we'll come back with a quote. Free sample refurbishment available on most projects.
Minimum 10 items. Business enquiries only.
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Seating refurbishment typically includes:
Reupholstery — stripping and replacing worn, stained or torn fabric with commercial-grade upholstery in a choice of colours
Gas lift replacement — fitting new gas cylinders to chairs where the height adjustment has failed
Arm pad replacement — replacing cracked, peeling or flattened arm pads with new components
Foam and seat cushion replacement — removing compressed or degraded foam and replacing with high-density seat cushions
Mechanism repair — repairing or replacing broken tilt, synchro and reclining mechanisms
Castor replacement — fitting new castors where originals are damaged, missing or unsuitable for the floor type
Lumbar support repair — fixing or replacing lumbar pads and adjustment components
Powder coating — stripping and powder coating chair bases and metal desk frames for a durable, factory-quality finish in a range of colours
Chrome polishing and restoration — restoring chrome chair bases to their original mirror finish, removing scuffs, oxidation and dullness
Frame respraying — respraying scuffed or chipped chair and table frames to restore appearance
Desk and table refurbishment typically includes:
- Surface refinishing — repairing scratched, chipped or water-damaged desk tops
- Edge banding replacement — replacing worn or peeling edge trim
- Desk resizing — cutting down or reconfiguring bench systems to suit new layouts
- Leg and frame repair — fixing, respraying or powder coating damaged desk frames and legs
- Chrome polishing — restoring chrome desk and table legs to a clean, professional finish
- Cable management — adding or repairing cable trays, grommets and risers
We assess every item individually and will tell you upfront if refurbishment is not cost-effective. If replacement makes more sense, we will say so.
Furniture We Commonly Refurbish
We work with most commercial office furniture brands and types, including:
- Task chairs — operator chairs, ergonomic chairs, executive chairs (Herman Miller, Steelcase, Orangebox, Humanscale, Senator and others)
- Meeting and conference chairs — cantilever, stacking and swivel meeting chairs
- Soft seating and breakout furniture — sofas, tub chairs, booth seating and reception furniture
- Desks and bench systems — single desks, back-to-back bench desks, corner desks and sit-stand frames
- Storage units — pedestals, tambour cupboards, lockers and filing cabinets
If you are unsure whether your furniture can be refurbished, send us photos and quantities for a quick assessment. There is no cost or commitment for an initial review.
Why Refurbish Instead of Replace
Refurbishment is often the most practical and cost-effective option for businesses replacing tired furniture. Here is why:
- Cost — refurbishing a task chair typically costs 40–60% less than buying new, and the saving increases at scale
- Speed — refurbishment avoids long lead times on new furniture orders
- Familiarity — staff keep the furniture they are used to, reducing disruption and complaints
- Sustainability — every refurbished item avoids landfill and the embodied carbon of manufacturing new
- Quality — most commercial furniture is built to last decades. A chair that needs a new gas lift or fresh upholstery still has years of useful life in it
Replacing furniture that can be repaired is one of the most common and avoidable wastes in office management.
Office Furniture Refurbishment
Turn worn office furniture into fully restored, working pieces — saving money, cutting waste, and extending the life of what you already have.
Our refurbishment workshop handles everything from gas lift replacements and arm pad fitting to full reupholstery, powder coating and chrome restoration. You get furniture that looks and performs like new, without the cost or carbon footprint of buying new.
For a 20-person office, refurbishment could:
- Save 720 kg of carbon emissions
- Save £16,000 compared to buying new
- Prevent 300 tonnes of furniture
from going to landfill each year
How the Refurbishment Process Works
1. Tell us what you need Send us photos, quantities and a brief description of what needs doing. Common requests include reupholstery, gas lift replacement, arm pad replacement, foam replacement or a combination of services.
2. We assess and quote We review your furniture and confirm what can be refurbished, what work is needed and what it will cost. If an item is not worth refurbishing, we will tell you.
3. Free sample (where applicable) On most projects, we refurbish one item free of charge so you can see the quality and finish before committing to the full order. This gives you something concrete to show decision-makers internally.
4. Collection and refurbishment We collect the furniture from your premises and carry out all agreed work in our workshop. This includes stripping, repairing, replacing components, powder coating, chrome restoration and reupholstering as required.
5. Delivery and reinstallation Refurbished furniture is returned to your site, cleaned and ready to use. For larger projects, we coordinate delivery to minimise disruption to your team.
Refurbishment as Part of a Wider Project
Refurbishment is often combined with other services, such as:
- Supplying additional refurbished furniture
- Reconfiguring or resizing desks
- Removing and recycling surplus items
Handling these together helps keep projects efficient and avoids duplication.
Common Refurbishment Projects
"Our chairs are sinking — the gas lifts have gone" This is the single most common issue we see. Gas lift failure does not mean the chair is finished. We replace gas cylinders across all major chair brands, restoring full height adjustment. For a floor of 50+ chairs, this alone can save thousands compared to replacement.
"The arm pads are cracked and peeling" Polyurethane arm pads degrade over time, cracking and flaking onto clothing and desks. We replace them with new pads matched to your chair model. Quick, cost-effective and instantly noticeable.
"The seats are flat and uncomfortable" Foam compresses over years of daily use, reducing support and comfort. We strip and replace seat foam with high-density cushioning, often combined with new upholstery for a complete refresh.
"The fabric is stained and torn but the chairs are fine otherwise" Reupholstery is the most popular refurbishment service we offer. We strip old fabric, replace foam where needed, and reupholster in fresh commercial-grade material. Chairs come back looking and feeling new.
"We are moving office and want to refresh everything" Office moves are the ideal time to refurbish. We collect furniture from your old site, carry out all agreed work, and deliver to your new location — cleaned, refurbished and ready for day one.
"The chrome bases are scuffed and look tired" Chrome chair bases lose their shine over time, picking up scuffs, oxidation and dull patches. We restore chrome to its original mirror finish, which transforms the overall look of the chair without needing to touch anything else.
"The metal frames are chipped and scratched" Chair bases and desk frames take a beating, especially in high-traffic offices. We strip and powder coat metal components in a range of colours, giving a durable factory-quality finish that outlasts standard paint.
Cost and Practical Considerations
Refurbishment costs vary depending on the type of furniture, its condition and the work required. As a rough guide:
- Gas lift replacement — from £25 +VAT per chair
- Arm pad replacement — from £20 +VAT per pair
- Foam seat replacement — from £35 +VAT per chair
- Full reupholstery (task chair) — from £80 +VAT per chair
- Mechanism repair — from £30 +VAT per chair
- Powder coating (chair bases / desk frames) — quoted per item based on size and finish
- Chrome polishing (chair bases) — quoted per item based on condition
- Desk resizing — quoted per desk based on scope
Prices are indicative and will vary based on chair model, fabric choice and quantity. We provide a fixed quote before any work starts.
Minimum project size: Our refurbishment service is designed for businesses with 10 or more items. This allows us to offer competitive pricing and efficient turnaround. We are not able to accept individual or single-item domestic requests.
Free sample refurbishment: For most projects, we can refurbish one item free of charge as a sample so you can assess the quality, finish and materials before approving the full order. This is particularly useful when presenting options to internal stakeholders or procurement teams.
We are transparent about when refurbishment makes financial sense and when it does not. If replacement is the better option, we will tell you — and we can supply refurbished replacement furniture at a lower cost than new.
Sustainability and Reuse
Every item we refurbish is one less going to landfill or incineration.
Office furniture is one of the most commonly discarded items in commercial fit-outs, yet the majority of it has years of useful life remaining. A task chair that needs a new gas lift and fresh upholstery does not belong in a skip.
By refurbishing rather than replacing, you:
- Reduce waste to landfill
- Avoid the embodied carbon of manufacturing and shipping new furniture
- Support measurable circular economy outcomes
- Meet increasingly common ESG and procurement sustainability requirements
We provide full sustainability reporting on every refurbishment project, including units diverted from landfill, CO2e savings and material reuse data. This can be used directly in your ESG, CSR or environmental reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can all office furniture be refurbished?
No. Most commercial desks, chairs and storage can be refurbished, but some items are too damaged or not cost-effective to repair. We assess this upfront and will be honest if refurbishment is not the right option. Common issues like worn gas lifts, cracked arm pads, torn fabric and flat foam are almost always repairable.
What does reupholstery involve?
We fully strip the existing fabric from the chair, replace the foam if needed, and reupholster using new commercial-grade fabric. You can choose from a range of colours and materials to match your office. Reupholstery is the most common refurbishment service we carry out.
Can you replace just the gas lift or arm pads?
Yes. You do not need a full refurbishment if only one component has failed. We regularly carry out individual gas lift replacements, arm pad replacements and castor swaps as standalone jobs.
Do you need to see the furniture in person?
n most cases, no. Photos, quantities and a brief description of the issues are usually enough for an initial assessment and quote. Site visits are only needed for larger or more complex projects.
Is refurbishment cheaper than buying new?
Yes, significantly. Full task chair refurbishment typically costs 40–60% less than a new equivalent. Individual component repairs like gas lift or arm pad replacements are a fraction of the cost of a new chair.
How long does refurbishment take?
Lead times depend on furniture type, quantity and the level of work needed. Most jobs are completed within 2–4 weeks. We confirm timescales before any work begins so you can plan around it.
Can you match specific fabric colours?
Yes. We work with a wide range of commercial upholstery fabrics and can match or complement your existing office colour scheme. We can send fabric samples before work starts.
Do you refurbish furniture from any manufacturer?
We refurbish furniture from most commercial manufacturers including Herman Miller, Steelcase, Orangebox, Humanscale, Senator, Sedus, Boss Design, HAG, Interstuhl and others. If you are unsure, send us photos and we will confirm.
Can refurbishment be combined with other services?
Yes. Refurbishment is often carried out alongside furniture supply, clearance or recycling as part of a wider office project. We can manage the full process.
What happens to furniture that cannot be refurbished?
If items are beyond repair, we can arrange collection, recycling and responsible disposal. We operate a zero-landfill policy where possible and provide full waste diversion reporting.
Is there a minimum order size?
Yes. Our refurbishment service is set up for business projects of 10 or more items. This allows us to offer competitive pricing and efficient logistics. We are not able to accept single-item or domestic requests.
Can I see a sample before committing?
Yes. On most projects we can refurbish one item free of charge as a sample. This lets you assess quality, finish and fabric before approving the full order — and gives you something tangible to show stakeholders or procurement.
What is the difference between powder coating and respraying?
Powder coating is a more durable finish than standard spray paint. The metal is stripped, cleaned and coated with a dry powder that is then heat-cured to create a hard, scratch-resistant surface. It is our recommended option for chair bases and desk frames that take heavy daily use. Standard respraying is available for items where powder coating is not practical.
Can you restore chrome chair bases?
es. We polish and restore chrome bases to remove scuffs, oxidation and dullness. For bases that are too damaged for polishing, we can powder coat them in a colour of your choice as an alternative.
Office Furniture Refurbishment Across the UK
We collect and refurbish office furniture for businesses across England, Scotland and Wales. Whether you are based in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh or anywhere in between, we manage the full process including collection, refurbishment and return delivery.
For larger projects, we can arrange phased collection and delivery to minimise disruption to your office.
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Client Testimonial
We recently entrusted our office chair and desk refurbishment project to Coggin Sustainable Office Solutions. The level of quality and professionalism they exhibited surpassed our expectations. The dedication and precision of their work truly speak volumes about their expertise. We're not only satisfied but are eagerly looking forward to potential future collaborations. A heartfelt thank you to the entire team for their service.
Sharon Luther
Sustainability Manager
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