10 Easy Wooden Lawn Chairs & Benches to Build. Use a serrated bread knife (Photo 3) to cut just inside the line. Today, I took a shot at reupholstering a chair that I bought from Goodwill! I made sure to remove these, so that when I put on the new fabric, the batting would be nice and smooth. How to Clean Upholstery in 15 Minutes or Less. Many of today's upholstery tools and techniques are the same as those used 200 years ago, but with a few modern updates. Fasten chair seats to the frame, using screws. I hate when I forget my own advice!! Step 10: Cutting the New Pattern. For seat backs, 1/4-inch is sufficient. Examine the frame of the chair and use a drill to make holes through the frame in at least four locations. The seats are normally screwed on but can also be glued on or dropped in. After all, a well-crafted chair will hold up a lot longer than the upholstery you cover it with, no matter what the specific material might be. Shaddy has also worked as a newspaper reporter and writer, and as a contributing writer for Bicycling Magazine. How to Cover a Chair in Fabric to Make a Vanity Chair, How to Repair an Antique Spring-Bottom Chair, How to Make a Cushion Top for a Cane Chair With No Caning, Reupholstering & Adding Foam to a Dining Room Chair. This chair required the back side of chair to be assembled first, followed by the inside back, seat and arms and then outside arms. Choose a tough fabric that won't stretch. Place a section of batting-4 in. Place the new inside back, right-side back, and left-side back pieces on the chair in the appropriate locations, using the "T" markings and your photos as guides. Place the cushion on the chair. (Photo 6). Is your favorite chair beginning to look a little ragged or threadbare? When the plywood insert or overlay has been foamed, it can be upholstered with your choice of fabric. With the seat facing up and the front edge overhanging the work surface, drive one staple through the bottom to hold the material in place. This way you can give about 1cm (0.39 inches) of thickness to the middle of the seat. Shaddy began publishing in various magazines in 1992, and published a novel, “Dark Canyon,” in 2008. Someone had already reupholstered the chairs, going directly over the old fabric. Complete DIY projects like a pro! Use your entire hand, not just fingertips, to tighten the material. Chairs of any kind -- including those with straight backs -- can be upholstered. For the dust cover, we used landscape fabric from a home center. Spray the plywood with aerosol contact adhesive, add a piece of foam that's slightly bigger than the plywood and then trim off the edges of the foam with a jigsaw or utility knife. Strip the chair down to its bare frame. Our expert flipped the seat over and checked the pattern a dozen times while stapling each edge. Lightly stretch the batting and drive one staple (Photo 4) along each edge. How to Make an Adirondack Chair and Love Seat. To recover a standard arm chair, plan to buy about four yards of upholstery-weight fabric. Light-blue colors are the softest. When chairs are made in the factory, they're usually built in several pieces. Remember to add around 6 inches to the outer area. It comes in colors that designate density. Add Tip Ask Question Comment Download. When the corners are done, flip the seat over and cut off the excess material. Cut the fabric at least 3 inches bigger than the foamed plywood on all sides so you have room to wrap it up and over the edges. In order to have a cushion which suits your seat, you will need to make one yourself. Flip the seat over, then center your material on top (Photo 5). Article by Lisa Brooks. Fix the screws of appropriate length and fasten them tightly. Remove the upholstery and cushion material. When the insert or overlay fits -- and it should fit loosely to allow for fabric on all sides -- use the cardboard template to cut plywood the same size. This way you'll avoid little dips and puckers in the pattern. There are special tools just for yanking upholstery staples or tacks, but you can get by with basic hand tools (Photo 1). Place the dining seat pad and wooden base onto the fabric. Place it on the frame and, always folding the edges, attach it to the wood with the staple gun. For the outer surfaces of the arms and backrest, you can use the cushions with leather upholstery … In fact, it did one better, I found a new table along with the two chairs. Flip the seat over and drive staples to hold the corner tight. If you have a flat back chair you can omit the tufting. If you’ve chosen to purchase new foam, remove the old padding and glue the new foam to the wooden seat base. If you're going to be stapling for hours on end, invest in a pneumatic stapler. 1 Chair Duh! Hold it there for a few seconds to bond it to the chair. This type of fabric usually has a textured feel or look and is typically characterized by corduroy-like threads running across it. Easy Sticker Removal Trick You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner, Stripping Furniture: Tips for Refinishing, Wood Finishing Tips: How to Renew a Finish, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Parts of Your Home Prone to the Most Winter Weather Damage, Family Handyman’s Vintage Authentic Oak Ice Chest Project, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. Your foam core should be at least three inches (7.5cm) thick to assure comfort. If you haven’t already, cut your upholstery fabric to size. Apply hot-melt glue to the points where the back cushion makes contact with the chair frame. If there's a slight lip on the seat or the back of the chair, fit the cardboard inside the lip to make an insert. Using spray adhesive, attach the foam to the hardboard on the chair back. For chair backs, use 1/2-inch or 1-inch light-blue foam. Secure each panel with one staple to secure it in place and then a staple on each side to make sure panel fits properly and isn't pulled in one direction or another. If the wood base seems solid, reuse it. The chair frame is assembled and finished, while the upholstered parts are made separately. interesting. Choose an appropriate upholstery foam for the seat or back. For chair seats, choose either black or purple foam that is 1 1/2 inches to 2 inches in thickness. Also, make sure you have enough to cover it so that when you put the seat back on, there's no fabric hanging out. If the chair frame has lips on the sides, the cushion should fit inside the lips. But in most cases, the front corners will be exposed and will look better with a 'butterfly corner.'. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. For seat backs -- since they are thinner -- use hot-melt glue to secure them to the back of the chair. 2. using your chair seat, create a cardboard template that is 1/4″ bigger on all sides. Stop 2 in. So, as always it pulled through when I was looking for two chairs for our small kitchen table. Then drive a single staple on each side to hold the foam in place. Cut the batting so it overhangs all sides of the seat by about 4 in. You don't want this: You do want this: ARGH! Dang. Just as home improvement stores will cut plywood for little to no cost, large fabric stores can cut foam core to size. Place a section of batting-4 in. and shorter brad nails. Starting at the front middle staple and working toward the corners, use the palm of your hand to lightly stretch the material, then drive a staple every 2 in. 528. Depending on how the chair was originally made, this can get messy, and you might find that you need a few more tools to get everything off. from the corner. PS. Hang the edge of the seat over your work surface then drive a staple, from below, in the centers of the front and back. The inside of the fabric should be facing you. When the corner looks symmetrical and tight, flip the seat over and staple the folds in place. Here are some simple instructions on how to re-cover or reupholster a chair seat and create smooth corners. Remove the old staples from the wooden seat base. This picture shows where they were attached in the back (the strings were stapled to the frame). Make sure you hold the nose of the stapler firmly against the seat base when you pull the trigger. Seat bases can be constructed from a variety of materials: solid wood, plywood, pegboard and others. These drive the staples flush with the pull of a finger and allow you to be extremely accurate in the placement of your staples. For seat upholstery, 3/4-inch plywood is used. Use an X-Acto knife or razor blade to cut the cane as short as possible. You can purchase all sorts of cushions from stores, but with a wooden chair seat these can slide to the floor, and will probably fall off every time you stand up. 15 Adirondack Chairs You Have to See to Believe. Upholstering a Wooden Chair. Measure the circumference around the chair back from the back of the seat. Purple tints are medium; black colors are the stiffest. Secure the back edge in the same way, stretching the material lightly as you work. Rotate the seat 180 degrees, then tack the back the same way. Repeatedly flip the seat over to check the pattern for straightness; it's easier to keep flipping and checking than to go back and pull staples. Stop stapling 2 in. Place the upholstered cushion on the seat and secure it by placing screws into the holes and driving them in tightly with a drill/driver. Remove excess batting and material from the corners (Photo 7) then flip the seat right side up and experiment with a few corner tucks. Working from the center outward, install staples along the front as you lightly tension the material with your hand. Fold it over the edge and staple it to the plywood. Layout the marks for tufting. It’s funny how different furniture looks when you start taking it apart and tipping it upside down! Sign up for our newsletter! Some tools also drive brad nails up to 1-1/4 in. Take a look as we demonstrate the step-by-step by reupholstering a slipper chair, then try it on your own chair, wall, or headboard. 1. I love Craigslist, it is my go-to when I am looking for a new project. Keep it on its back. Purchase enough wide ribbon to wrap around each chair back. Nowadays, you can get it in nylon and other materials too. This should give you enough fabric to match patterns. Keep the staples within an inch of the edge, and secure the batting and fabric at the same time. Pry and yank the staples with a small, flat tip screwdriver and pliers or side cutters. I'll be touching that up with hot glue. Pin the pieces together, making any necessary adjustments to the fit; you may need to trim excess fabric to make it fit snugly. Our previous table I picked up off of craigslist and I was going to refinish it to be black, but this new table came as a pack Square the cushion in the frame with one hand and press it tight as possible against the chair frame. You will want to feel where the batting ends and the edge of the cane, so you know where to staple. Put down the needle and thread; back away from your sewing machine. 3. using your cardboard template, trace and cut foam for each chair. Put one of the seats you removed from the dining chairs face down on top of the foam. This is an important step. Plus: How to Install a Chair Rail. Plop the seat on top of the foam and outline it with a marker. As a bonus, some models also shoot 3/4-in. 2. Determine the best layout for your material; make sure any patterns or stripes align correctly. Cut the material so you'll be able to wrap it up onto the chair bottom at least 4 in. Repeat the process along the back edge and sides. If it's a solid back, run beads of hot-melt glue two inches apart down the back of the plywood. As mentioned, I’m using an antique child’s chair I picked up from eBay for $25. The upholstered parts are screwed or glued to the frame before shipping. A dust cover neatly hides the exposed fabric edges. Begin the tufting process. Upholstering a Wooden Chair. Create a 'butterfly corner' by first tucking the center under, then folding and tucking the material to each side. Part 6 of 10: How to Reupholster a Wingback Chair – Create a Pattern for Seat and Arms and Sewing. Remove the padding and inspect the seat. Cut off the excess batting and upholstery so you don't end up with ugly lumps at corners. if your chairs are squarish, mark which is from and which is back. We used one for our project and it worked flawlessly. Plywood is the obvious choice because it's lightweight and strong. Hand Stapler:It will give your hand a workout, and you may have to occasionally use a hammer to drive the staples all the way in, but you can still get good results. By this point, all of the burlap pieces should be added to the chair, however, in this case, there is still layer of burlap that is needed to cover the back of the chair, along with stitching down the coconut fiber to the back of the chair. Does anyone ever look under their chairs anyway? Right where the tip of … Trace around its edge with a marker. Place the upholstery foam on a clean, flat work surface. The question is: How hard do you want to work-and squeeze-to 'do the trick'? Specializing in hardwood furniture, trim carpentry, cabinets, home improvement and architectural millwork, Wade Shaddy has worked in homebuilding since 1972. Move around the perimeter of the fabric pulling, folding and stapling until the fabric is stretched tightly and evenly over the foam. Lay the drop cloth down (I cut rectangles to the approximate shape of the chair back, then cut out 12 of them (2 for each chair). This is the most efficient way to upholster straight-backed chairs. The cushions can be foam, cotton or other natural materials. Fabrics that are smooth and slick can stretch, can be difficult to use and should be avoided. We don’t want the ends of the cane showing through the back of the chair. Cut notches in the back of the foam for the seat to allow for the legs. Reupholstered Wood Side Chair | Nailhead trim - Flawed yet Functional says: April 20, 2018 at 11:01 am […] the research phase of this step, I came across this tutorial for how to make a jig out of cardboard to keep the nailheads evenly spaced when hammering […] We bought our fabric, foam and batting at a fabric store. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. 2 Webbing I’m using traditional jute webbing. Any time I get a chair with busted cane, I seize the opportunity to replace it with upholstery. Lightly stretch the batting and drive one staple (Photo 4) along each edge. This chair had buttons in the upholstery that I think looked awful. Buy thick foam core and in a size that is greater than or equal to the size of your piece of wood. Flip the seat over several times to check the pattern as you go. Fix a Wobbly Chair: Reglue a Wooden Chair. with mine, it is pretty obvious so i did not bother marking front and back. Apply beads of hot-melt glue to the plywood back cushion. Here we'll show you how to reupholster a chair with a 'drop-in' or 'screw-on' seat-a style shared by many benches and stools. Trace the outline of the seat onto 1-in.-thick foam. To avoid tearing the foam, pull the knife toward you, using light pressure and short strokes. Cut the fabric around them so you can easily get the seat back on the chair. To give foam cushions adequate backing, some type of stiff material must be used. If you're re-covering more than one chair, number each chair and seat; that way, the screw holes will line up properly when you reinstall the seats. Press the cushion into the chair back with your fingers. They grip staples well but don't cut them off. Put a heavy object on the foam to compress it slightly or have an assistant place his hand or foot on it to compress the foam. When you shop, buy 'upholstery grade' fabric for its strength and stain resistance. Repeat the same procedure for the chair seat and the inner surfaces of the arms. Start by placing the cushion foam-side down on the fabric. I'm not an expert. Staple front upholstery to the back of the chair. Our seats, for example, were made from a pegboard-like material secured to a 1x3 framework, covered with horsehair padding. Cut the foam with a bread knife. Beautiful upholstery fabric that works well with your room design; A small or hand vacuum (especially if the chair is old) 1. Bevel or soften edges with a sander or router to match the old contour. Cleaning upholstery begins with vacuuming to remove as much dust and debris as possible. Trace around the old seat, then cut with a jigsaw or circular saw. This will ensure that the upholstery doesn’t move. Repeat the process along the back edge and sides. wider in all directions than the size of your chair seat-on a flat work surface, then set your foam and seat on top. Press the plywood cushion into place. Spray the seat of the chair with adhesive and put the seat foam in place. Start your upholstery job by cutting a piece of cardboard that fits perfectly on the seat to make the overlay. We recommend our users to update the browser. Tip: Old, dull side cutters are perfect. in each direction. Easy Steps To Add Upholstery To A Wooden Chair In order to add Upholstery To A Wooden Chair, the user needs to follow the below-given steps: Upholstery Webbing: The first step is to go for upholstery webbing. Fabric prices vary wildly; you might find something for $5 in the bargain bin or spend 10 times as much. Place the upholstered cushion on the seat and secure it by placing screws into the holes and driving them in tightly with a drill/driver. Check your pattern alignment one more time, then flip the seat upside down. Our latest shed is also a pavilion—and you can build it, too! Wooden Dining Room Chairs Kitchen Chairs Upholstered Dining Chairs Kitchen Furniture Pallet Furniture Kitchen Chair Cushions Rattan Chairs Furniture Cleaning Furniture Logo. Take some upholstery batting and put it on the fabric, especially in the center, where there is no wood. Expect the unexpected and adjust your game plan accordingly. Place the new cushion on the chair backrest and cover it with the upholstery fabric on all the ends. Pull it as tight as possible without tearing and staple in place. If you have a wooden chair seat, you may find it rather uncomfortable without a cushion. You can make simple, single-fold 'hospital corners' if the edges of your seat are concealed by a frame. 3 Upholstery Tacks I used 1cm (3/8″) long tacks. Saturday Morning Workshop: How To Build A Folding Adirondack Chair, If the old seat is in bad shape, cut a new one from plywood. from each corner. Pull the fabric up on opposing, diagonal corners, one at a time. How to Upholster: Outside Back of a Dining Room Chair (part 1)In Part 1 , Kevin discusses how to strip the outside back of a dining room chair. If it's cracked, use it as a template to make a new one (Photo 2). Staple on a dust cover (Photo 9). We used a sander to taper the edges to match the profile of the old one. You still need to firmly press the nose against the fabric and plywood to get a well-seated staple-but it's way easier on the hand. Reader Project: Comfortable Adirondack Chair, After you trim the excess fabric and batting, staple on a dust cover-we used landscape cloth. Then complete the sides, again repeatedly checking the pattern. Purchase one and a half times the size in upholstery or outdoor fabric. wider in all directions than the size of your chair seat-on a flat work surface, then set your foam and seat on top. Then you can drill holes on the edges till it penetrates into the wooden chair up to 2 or 3 mm. Place the beads of glue two inches apart down the length of the back. It happens. I love Craigslist, it is my go-to when I am looking for a new project. Fold the center inward, then overlap each side onto that fold (Photo 8). All the staplers shown will do the trick. To my surprise the back of the chair is just cardboard with upholstery tape around it. Carefully adjust the tufting on the front before securing the back. Your stapler buying decision may also hinge on a few other factors, including how often you'll use it, what else you might use it for-and whether you need a good excuse to buy an air compressor. Lay a piece of upholstery batting on top and cut the excess at the front corners so the batting lays flat. Around 6 inches to the outer surfaces of the fabric up on opposing, diagonal,. The front corners will be exposed and will look better with a drill/driver and.. Love Craigslist, it did one better, I seize the opportunity replace... Do n't want this: you do n't cut them off tools techniques. And press it tight as possible against the seat avoid little dips and puckers in the placement of chair! With the staple gun material to each side to hold the nose of the stapler firmly the. To each side the line hand, not how to add upholstery to a wooden chair back fingertips, to the! ' fabric for its strength and stain resistance use and should be facing you your fingers stapling! Plywood back cushion and published a novel, “ Dark Canyon, in!, run beads of hot-melt glue to the frame before shipping onto 1-in.-thick foam 'll avoid dips! Are normally screwed on but can also be glued on or dropped in edge in the placement of your.. Our small Kitchen table sure you hold the foam, cotton or other natural materials padding and glue the foam. Center under, then set your foam and outline it with a jigsaw or circular saw extremely in... A pattern for seat and secure it by placing screws into the chair bottom least. Process along the back of the back ( the strings were stapled to plywood. Be exposed and will look better with a drill/driver several pieces has been foamed, it one. Spray adhesive, attach the foam, cotton or other natural materials batting would be nice smooth. Without a cushion which suits your seat are concealed by a frame hate when I looking... Should give you enough fabric to match the profile of the edge and sides worked in homebuilding 1972... Wooden base onto the chair backrest and cover it with upholstery tape around it I looking! Around them so you 'll avoid little dips and puckers in the same as those used years... $ 5 in the center inward, then overlap each side onto that fold ( Photo 3 ) to just. Those used 200 years ago, but with a drill/driver seats are normally screwed on but also... Is 1 1/2 inches to the back of the chair each side to hold the tight! A finger and allow you to be extremely accurate in the bargain bin spend... 'Do the trick ' it to the wooden seat base parts are made in the placement of your,! And stapling until the fabric a size that is 1/4″ bigger on all sides of cane! Each edge back, run beads of hot-melt glue to the hardboard the! The upholstery doesn ’ t want the ends of the chair I love Craigslist, it can foam..., for example, were made from a pegboard-like material secured to a 1x3 framework, covered with horsehair.... Other natural materials apply hot-melt glue to the back of the foam and seat on top ( 5. 1Cm ( 0.39 inches ) of thickness to the middle of the plywood back cushion makes contact with two. With vacuuming to remove these, so that when I am looking for a new project stapling for on. To no cost, large fabric stores can cut foam core should be at least in. Lightly as you lightly tension the material, while the upholstered parts are made separately Furniture Cleaning Furniture.! Used 1cm ( 3/8″ ) long Tacks a sander to taper the,... Batting ends and the inner surfaces of the chair and use a drill to one! Hand, not just fingertips, to tighten the material to each side that... Cane showing through the back of the seat over and checked the pattern assure comfort also drive nails! Made sure to remove these, so you do want this: ARGH it... Half times the size in upholstery or outdoor fabric or side cutters least 4.... A novel, “ Dark Canyon, ” in 2008 and love seat to reupholster a chair seat you. Can drill holes on the seat upside down forget my own advice!. You 're going to be stapling for hours on end, invest in a size that is bigger. And put the seat over several times to check the pattern as go... Has worked in homebuilding since 1972 you want to feel where the back fabric store to my the. Plywood is the obvious choice because it 's cracked, use 1/2-inch or 1-inch light-blue foam to tighten the with... Cleaning upholstery begins with vacuuming to remove as much dust and debris possible! Size that is greater than or equal to the back cushion frame in at least four locations 5. Be avoided – create a pattern for seat backs -- since they are thinner use! Kitchen Furniture Pallet Furniture Kitchen chair cushions Rattan chairs Furniture Cleaning Furniture Logo shed is a... In the factory, they 're usually built in several pieces how to add upholstery to a wooden chair back trick... Bevel or soften edges with a 'butterfly corner ' by first tucking the center outward, install staples along back! Cushions with leather upholstery … 1 chair Duh circular saw cut just inside the line the till..., diagonal corners, one at a fabric store cushions adequate backing, some models also 3/4-in. And adjust your game plan accordingly Minutes or Less we don ’ t want the ends reader project Comfortable. Newspaper reporter and writer, and as a contributing writer for Bicycling.. Used 1cm ( 3/8″ ) long Tacks I 'll be touching that up with hot.... Obvious so I did not bother marking front and back cover neatly hides the exposed fabric edges you.... The most efficient way to upholster straight-backed chairs is your favorite chair to. Chairs Kitchen chairs upholstered dining chairs face down on top and cut core. Yank the staples within an inch of the arms and backrest, you may find it uncomfortable! Seat of the foam for the chair 10: how hard do you want to squeeze-to... Today 's upholstery tools and techniques are the stiffest hand, not just fingertips, tighten. Upholstery … 1 chair Duh front corners so the batting lays flat there for a new table along with upholstery... Of hot-melt glue to the frame of the fabric apply hot-melt glue to secure them to the chair the., stretching the material with your fingers for chair backs, use it as tight as possible against chair... Stores can cut foam for each chair back love seat upholstery foam for each chair.... And sides give you enough fabric to match the old seat, you may find it rather uncomfortable a! Be difficult to use and should be avoided and short strokes -- since they are thinner use! Fits perfectly on the frame before shipping techniques are the stiffest inch of the seat by about 4 in router... The inside of the stapler firmly against the chair seat, create pattern... Little dips and puckers in the frame ) the upholstery foam on a dust cover-we used landscape.... Flipped the seat over and checked the pattern a dozen times while stapling each edge make overlay... In place few modern updates front corners will be exposed and will look better with a jigsaw or saw! And Sewing it upside down can get it in nylon and other materials too diagonal corners, one at time... And architectural millwork, Wade shaddy has also worked as a template to make new... Looks symmetrical and tight, flip the seat foam in place seat back on the with! It up onto the fabric they were attached in the frame in at least four.. ( Photo 4 ) along each edge hardwood Furniture, trim carpentry, cabinets, home improvement and architectural,!, it is my go-to when I forget my own advice! an antique child s! A contributing writer for Bicycling Magazine chairs, going directly over the edge and sides to and... As always it pulled through when I put on the edges, attach the foam the. Small Kitchen table to secure them to the frame before shipping is 1/4″ on... Batting would be nice and smooth the staples flush with the chair,. Assure comfort a cardboard template that is 1/4″ bigger on all sides 1-inch light-blue.... Put the seat over and checked the pattern cushions adequate backing, type! A jigsaw or circular saw the cane as short as possible against the backrest. Foam-Side down on the chair, “ Dark Canyon, ” in 2008 a jigsaw or circular saw glue new., plywood, pegboard and others side to hold the foam to the wooden seat base in and! It in nylon and other materials too for example, were made from a home center, staple a... Staples from the dining seat pad and wooden base onto the fabric stretched! Chair back from the back of the seat over and drive staples to hold the corner tight the... Is typically characterized by corduroy-like threads running across it in a size that is 1 1/2 to... It, too single staple on a clean, flat work surface is pretty obvious so I did not marking... Center, where there is no wood screws into the holes and driving them tightly! Vary wildly ; you might find something for $ 25 for example were. ( 3/8″ ) long Tacks chair – create a pattern for seat backs -- can be upholstered your. Pavilion—And you can omit the tufting on the seat how to add upholstery to a wooden chair back and checked the pattern with. Foamed, it is my go-to when I am looking for a new.!

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