Chairs are essential home furniture used for various purposes. Like every other home item, they are prone to stains and tears, turning them into an eyesore. Under such circumstances, your chair requires refurbishing to return to its former self, and this practice is commonly known as reupholstering. Reupholstering your chair typically involves removing old and worn-out fabrics and replacing them with new ones. This is especially important if the furniture or wood is still in good shape and quality. While it is most common to reserve this procedure for expert upholsterers, you can also execute the process yourself by simply observing some vital tips on how to reupholster your chairs.
Tools for Reupholstering Your Chair
As in other professions, the practice of reupholstering involves the use of specially designed tools such as the following:
- Screwdriver
- Staple Lifter
- Electric Staple Gun with Staples
- Knife for Cutting Foam
- Batting
- Measuring Tape
Tips on How to Reupholster Your Chair
After deciding to reupholster your chair, use a spot in your house where you can work without interruption. Below are valuable tips on how to reupholster your chair:
Remove the Old Fabric
The first step toward reupholstering your chair is to strip the chair of the original fabric covering it. Disassemble the chair and remove the material on the underside of the chair, then proceed to loosen the parts fixed to the frame. After removing the pieces, use a pen to label the location where you removed them. It is vital to avoid tearing the old fabric while disassembling the chair because they will be used asa guide when fixing the new materials.
Trim and Staple the Batting
The batting is a material used to polish the edges of the chair while drawing foam down at the edges. Lay the new form on a seat cover to cut out the correct size; afterward, lay it down on the batting and cut every side of your batting so that they can overhang the chair by 3 inches. After that, proceed to staple the batting by pulling it across each side and then pinning it tightly to the edges. When done correctly, the edges produce a curved appearance.
Create New Pattern
Place the original upholstery pieces of the chair side by side with the new fabric material while paying attention to the pattern’s grain, motifs, and directions. Pin the pattern into place and cut, leaving around 2-3 inches of fabric. This will ensure that you have material to hold onto while stapling. Transfer the labels for welting, direction, and seams on the fresh fabric pieces using a marker.
Cut Out New Fabrics
After creating your pattern, the next step is to measure the correct number of fabrics for reupholstering. Ensure that the new fabric or padding is thicker to avoid constant replacements. Ensure that the new material is sufficient to cover all parts of the chair and should overhang every side of the chair by at least 3 inches to provide ample room while stapling.
Attach the Fabric
This final step involves stapling the new fabrics to the chair. Use the tack strip to hold the material in place and pin the new fabric to the different sides of the chair the same way they came off. Trim off any extra fabric or fold them to the underside and staple.
Reupholstering your chair is a vital maintenance process for replacing old and worn-out chair fabrics with new ones. The tips provided above are valuable insights on how to carry out the exercise.