A bit of breathable fabric and a few staples can give an outdated chair a fresh new look. The trick is to understand how the pattern on your chosen fabric will appear when it’s reupholstered.
Start by disassembling the chair and removing all the old upholstery pieces to use as patterns. Determine how much fabric you need and how much welt cord to buy.
Dismantle the Chair
Before you can begin the process of dismantling your chair, it is important to have a clear plan of what you want to achieve. Having an organised goal will allow you to keep track of the different pieces that come off and help you avoid over-disassembling components that may be difficult to reconnect later on. For example, rivets and other welded connections may require specialised tools to remove and might be more likely to break if over-disassembled. Also, advanced mechanisms like a reclining or massage feature often connect to the chair using wires which should be managed carefully to prevent damage.
Once you have a plan in place, it is important to prepare your workspace by clearing it of any obstacles and ensuring that the chair is stable. It is also a good idea to take detailed, step-by-step pictures of the different parts as you remove them to ensure that you don’t forget how they are connected during the reassembly process.
If your chair is only suffering from cosmetic damage, such as worn or ripped fabric, it may only need to be reupholstered, costing between $50 and $400 depending on the extent of work required. Other issues, such as broken legs or springs, require repairing and will increase the cost of the job.
Remove the Old Fabric
Reupholstering chairs is a great way to give new life to old furniture or to repurpose a thrift store antique. It is also a cost-effective alternative to purchasing a new chair, as well as an opportunity for homeowners to express their creativity and, in the case of family heirlooms, to preserve something special.
Removing the old fabric in an orderly manner will save you time in the long run, and it will help you understand how the chair was originally upholstered. The original pieces will also serve as patterns to guide your own work. If you are using a patterned fabric, mark the corners of the chair seat with straight pins to assist with locating them on the new cover.
You can choose a wide variety of natural fabrics for your chair upholstery, including cotton, linen, silk and wool. Most of these materials are easy to clean, and they are also durable. Depending on the needs of the owner, these materials can be used alone or in combination with other materials to create unique and personal designs. Reupholstering a chair is an excellent do-it-yourself project for beginners, as it requires minimal skills and inexpensive supplies.
Remove the Batting
Work in a clean, safe space that is free of small children and pets to avoid potential injuries from flying staples or metal shards. Lay your fabric on a smooth flat surface, and make sure the printed side is down (we'll check it in a minute). Place your seat and batting on top of the fabric.
Using your staple/tack remover and needle-nose pliers, remove the existing fabric and any tacks or staples. Save the old fabric to use as a pattern; note the location of any welting or tack strips for reference if you need to replace them.
Tie the springs and webbing in groups of four or nine, as needed, to compress them and prevent them from moving separately and making gaps in the chair seat. If desired, sand or prime and paint the frame or legs at this time, and let dry.
Next, cut a piece of black breathable batting for the bottom of your chair and staple it in place, concealing any springs and webbing and acting as a dust cover. For a more professional look, consider sewing a welt cord to the edges of the fabric. You can purchase decorative welt cording in fabric or upholstery shops or make your own.
Apply the New Fabric
If you are new to reupholstery, a dining chair is an easy place to start because the cushion is small. When you strip the fabric, photograph it so you have a full-length and detailed guide to follow when you shop for supplies. Using the old pieces as patterns will also help you determine how much fabric you need. When in doubt, err on the side of more than less so you don’t run out halfway through your project.
Jill used black breathable fabric for her seat covers and found it easy to work with, but a variety of fabrics is available, including leather. You can even choose a fun patterned fabric for the back of the chair.
You can reupholster directly over the existing batting and foam as long as the new fabric fits snugly and is thick enough to prevent the pattern from showing through. If you are reusing the old seat cover, weigh it down with a heavy object like bricks so it stays in place while you work. Pin the edges of your new seat cover if needed to hold it in place. When you are done, reinstall the seat and screw it into the chair frame or simply rest it on the lip of the chair.
Fold the Raw Edges
As you remove each panel, keep track of the piece's location and where it was stapled in. This will help you know where to put the new fabric and it will also let you know if there is any extra batting or foam that needs to be removed before you cover the frame.
Begin stapling on your new fabric in the centre of the top and work your way down, stopping before you get to the corners. Then repeat on the bottom of the chair. You can add a piece of cambric (that fancy black dust cover that's usually found hanging off the bottom of old chairs) to finish the job. This is optional but it makes the job look a little more finished and also keeps strings from the raw edge of your new fabric, bits of dacron, etc.
If you decide to use a patterned fabric, you may want to lay it out on your seat frame first and pin the pattern pieces onto it. This is particularly useful if you're reupholstering a chair that previously had a different fabric on it. This will help you match up the patterns and ensure the new fabric goes on correctly.
Fasten the Fabric
If you're a beginner, it is probably best to have a professional reupholsterer place the new covering on your chair. This way, you can be sure that the fabric will fit and you won't waste time or money trying to get it on yourself. Ensure you buy the appropriate quantity of fabric; if in doubt, opt for excess rather than insufficient.
Before reupholstering your chair seat, you should remove the old cover and make a pattern out of it for your new cover. You should trace the entire chair back and the sides of the seat cover, making note of any welting or sewn-together pieces on the chair. You should also label the chair back and seat pieces with their location on the chair using a marking pen.
Lay the chair seat cover right-side down on top of your new fabric and mark it with straight pins, if necessary, to centre the pattern and mark out the corners. You should also mark the corner creases on the underside of the seat. If you can, mark the screw holes on the underside of the chair frame so that when it is reinstalled, the screws will be in the same places as before.
Apply Trims or Gimp
Reupholstering a chair is an inexpensive way to give new life to furniture that has become faded, stained, or worn. It is also a great way to express your creativity or preserve a piece of antique furniture that you treasure. Whether you are replacing fabric on a dining chair or reupholstering a fully upholstered accent chair, the process can be done in a few hours.
Gimp is a braided trim that can be used to hide and seal raw edges of fabric on a variety of projects, from reupholstering chairs to making curtains. It is traditionally applied with tacks, but hot glue can be used as well. Put a line of glue on the back of one end of the gimp and fold it under, then apply it to the edge of your fabric, being careful to cover all of the thread.
Using the old chair as a pattern, cut out your pieces of fabric and make any necessary repairs to the wood seat frame. Be sure to purchase a strong fabric that is intended for upholstery, and make sure you have enough to complete your project. One yard of fabric can typically reupholster two standard dining chairs.