Upholstery - Key Points at a Glance:
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Turn old into new: Do you have an old chair that needs reupholstering? Here you’ll find step-by-step instructions for reupholstering your chair yourself at home.
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Materials: Chair, fabric, foam, batting, staple gun and upholstery staples, screwdriver, scissors, and measuring tape.
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Upholster a chair yourself: In the course at Bastelcafé Feenhandwerk, you’ll upholster your own chair.
Want to give an old chair a makeover? Maybe you found a gem at a flea market or want to restore your grandma’s favorite chair to its former glory. Now is the perfect time to tackle the “chair reupholstery” project. With a few materials, a little patience, and the right instructions, you can easily reupholster your chair yourself.
A chair you’ve upholstered yourself isn’t just a truly one-of-a-kind piece—it’s also a lot of fun to create. Best of all, with these step-by-step instructions, even first-time upholsterers can successfully reupholster a chair.
What do I need for upholstering?
To reupholster an old chair, you’ll need:
- A chair with a removable seat (e.g., a wooden chair with upholstery)
- Upholstery fabric of your choice
- Foam (2–5 cm thick) for custom-fit padding
- Batting or fleece
- A staple gun with upholstery staples
- Scissors or a utility knife
- Measuring tape
- A screwdriver to remove the seat
- Cushion filling (optional)
You can find these materials at a home improvement store or a specialty store for upholstery supplies. Even if you want to reupholster several old chairs at once.
Step-by-Step Guide to Upholstering a Chair Yourself:
In this DIY chair upholstery guide, you’ll learn how to easily reupholster old chairs at home. This technique also works for other upholstered surfaces.
Upholstering a Chair 1. - Preparing the Chair
Unscrew the seat and carefully remove the old upholstery along with the staples. This step is especially worthwhile for vintage chairs to ensure the base is properly prepared. A narrow flathead screwdriver will help you lift the staples. Then use pliers to pull them out completely. Make sure to work cleanly so that the new upholstery holds well later on—this is important if you want to restore, upholster, and reupholster your chairs.
Upholstering a Chair 2. - Cutting the Foam
Place the seat cushion on top of the foam and trace its outline with a marker. Cut out the foam along the line, preferably using a sharp utility knife or sturdy scissors. Make sure the edges are as smooth as possible. If you want an especially comfortable seat, you can also cut out a layer of fleece or batting. This creates a cozy, custom-fit cushion.
Upholstering a Chair 3. - Building Up the Upholstery Layers
Place the cut foam sheet in the center of the underside of the seat. Place the batting or fleece on top of this; this ensures smooth transitions and makes the cover look even later on. For even more comfort, you can add some cushion filling. Sit down briefly on the structure to check if the thickness feels comfortable to you. This is how your self-upholstered chair slowly takes shape.
Upholstering a Chair 4. - Cutting the Fabric
Now you’ll need the new upholstery fabric. Lay it face down on your work table. Position the upholstered seat in the center of the fabric. Cut the fabric generously, allowing about 5 to 8 centimeters of seam allowance all around. This will give you enough material to stretch and tack the fabric neatly later. If you’re reupholstering multiple chairs, mark the fabrics before you reupholster all the chairs.
Upholstering a Chair 5. - Stretching and Securing the Fabric
Start at one edge and pull the fabric taut and even. Insert the first staples in the middle of this edge. Then work your way toward the opposite side and repeat the process. Make sure to always stretch the fabric evenly. Next, tackle the remaining two sides. Make sure no wrinkles form. This way, your self-upholstered chair will look like it was made by a professional.
Tip: Keeping the fabric taut is the key to successfully reupholstering a chair.
Upholstering a Chair 6. - Finishing the Corners Neatly
The corners are the tricky part, but with a little practice, it’s no problem. Fold the fabric like you would when wrapping a gift: fold one side in at an angle, then lay the other side over it to create a clean, pointed edge. Keep the fabric taut as you do this and staple it in place. By the way, this technique also works great if you want to reupholster an armchair or are planning a larger armchair cushion in general.
Upholstering a chair 7. - Reattach the seat
Now all you have to do is screw the seat back onto the chair. Make sure the screws are tight but don’t go too deep into the wood, or you’ll damage your new upholstery.
Done—it’s that easy to reupholster your old chair.
