I love Craigslist, it is my go-to when I am looking for a new project. This is an important step. Place the upholstery foam on a clean, flat work surface. The cushions can be foam, cotton or other natural materials. Plop the seat on top of the foam and outline it with a marker. If the wood base seems solid, reuse it. In order to have a cushion which suits your seat, you will need to make one yourself. For seat backs, 1/4-inch is sufficient. Begin the tufting process. 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. This way you can give about 1cm (0.39 inches) of thickness to the middle of the seat. Remove excess batting and material from the corners (Photo 7) then flip the seat right side up and experiment with a few corner tucks. This picture shows where they were attached in the back (the strings were stapled to the frame). We used a sander to taper the edges to match the profile of the old one. If you're going to be stapling for hours on end, invest in a pneumatic stapler. Hold it there for a few seconds to bond it to the chair. But in most cases, the front corners will be exposed and will look better with a 'butterfly corner.'. Pull it as tight as possible without tearing and staple in place. For the outer surfaces of the arms and backrest, you can use the cushions with leather upholstery … Carefully adjust the tufting on the front before securing the back. Saturday Morning Workshop: How To Build A Folding Adirondack Chair, If the old seat is in bad shape, cut a new one from plywood. Plywood is the obvious choice because it's lightweight and strong. There are special tools just for yanking upholstery staples or tacks, but you can get by with basic hand tools (Photo 1). This will ensure that the upholstery doesn’t move. Flip the seat over several times to check the pattern as you go. They grip staples well but don't cut them off. Fold the center inward, then overlap each side onto that fold (Photo 8). 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 The upholstered parts are screwed or glued to the frame before shipping. Is your favorite chair beginning to look a little ragged or threadbare? Complete DIY projects like a pro! Place the new cushion on the chair backrest and cover it with the upholstery fabric on all the ends. Create a 'butterfly corner' by first tucking the center under, then folding and tucking the material to each side. 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. Put down the needle and thread; back away from your sewing machine. 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. Dang. 1 Chair Duh! If it's a solid back, run beads of hot-melt glue two inches apart down the back of the plywood. Light-blue colors are the softest. Square the cushion in the frame with one hand and press it tight as possible against the chair frame. Repeat the same procedure for the chair seat and the inner surfaces of the arms. Right where the tip of … Choose a tough fabric that won't stretch. Remove the old staples from the wooden seat base. This is the most efficient way to upholster straight-backed chairs. Article by Lisa Brooks. The chair frame is assembled and finished, while the upholstered parts are made separately. Wooden Dining Room Chairs Kitchen Chairs Upholstered Dining Chairs Kitchen Furniture Pallet Furniture Kitchen Chair Cushions Rattan Chairs Furniture Cleaning Furniture Logo. Measure the circumference around the chair back from the back of the seat. Place a section of batting-4 in. 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. Cut notches in the back of the foam for the seat to allow for the legs. Cleaning upholstery begins with vacuuming to remove as much dust and debris as possible. Your foam core should be at least three inches (7.5cm) thick to assure comfort. Use your entire hand, not just fingertips, to tighten the material. If you’ve chosen to purchase new foam, remove the old padding and glue the new foam to the wooden seat base. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. If the chair frame has lips on the sides, the cushion should fit inside the lips. 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. How to Make an Adirondack Chair and Love Seat. I'll be touching that up with hot glue. We recommend our users to update the browser. I'm not an expert. This should give you enough fabric to match patterns. 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. 15 Adirondack Chairs You Have to See to Believe. Fabrics that are smooth and slick can stretch, can be difficult to use and should be avoided. 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. Any time I get a chair with busted cane, I seize the opportunity to replace it with upholstery. Add Tip Ask Question Comment Download. Cut the material so you'll be able to wrap it up onto the chair bottom at least 4 in. 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. interesting. Use an X-Acto knife or razor blade to cut the cane as short as possible. 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. How to Clean Upholstery in 15 Minutes or Less. Remember to add around 6 inches to the outer area. Some tools also drive brad nails up to 1-1/4 in. If you have a flat back chair you can omit the tufting. You will want to feel where the batting ends and the edge of the cane, so you know where to staple. 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. Trace around the old seat, then cut with a jigsaw or circular saw. Staple on a dust cover (Photo 9). 528. 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. For seat backs -- since they are thinner -- use hot-melt glue to secure them to the back of the chair. Upholstering a Wooden Chair. As a bonus, some models also shoot 3/4-in. Trace the outline of the seat onto 1-in.-thick foam. Secure the back edge in the same way, stretching the material lightly as you work. 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 […] Seat bases can be constructed from a variety of materials: solid wood, plywood, pegboard and others. Plus: How to Install a Chair Rail. This way you'll avoid little dips and puckers in the pattern. Determine the best layout for your material; make sure any patterns or stripes align correctly. PS. Trace around its edge with a marker. Move around the perimeter of the fabric pulling, folding and stapling until the fabric is stretched tightly and evenly over the foam. A dust cover neatly hides the exposed fabric edges. When the plywood insert or overlay has been foamed, it can be upholstered with your choice of fabric. 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. Staple front upholstery to the back of the chair. wider in all directions than the size of your chair seat-on a flat work surface, then set your foam and seat on top. Upholstering a Wooden Chair. Someone had already reupholstered the chairs, going directly over the old fabric. Specializing in hardwood furniture, trim carpentry, cabinets, home improvement and architectural millwork, Wade Shaddy has worked in homebuilding since 1972. If you haven’t already, cut your upholstery fabric to size. 3. using your cardboard template, trace and cut foam for each chair. It comes in colors that designate density. wider in all directions than the size of your chair seat-on a flat work surface, then set your foam and seat on top. When the corners are done, flip the seat over and cut off the excess material. Remove the upholstery and cushion material. Then you can drill holes on the edges till it penetrates into the wooden chair up to 2 or 3 mm. Just as home improvement stores will cut plywood for little to no cost, large fabric stores can cut foam core to size. The inside of the fabric should be facing you. Step 10: Cutting the New Pattern. Our seats, for example, were made from a pegboard-like material secured to a 1x3 framework, covered with horsehair padding. As mentioned, I’m using an antique child’s chair I picked up from eBay for $25. 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). Stop stapling 2 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. 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. To recover a standard arm chair, plan to buy about four yards of upholstery-weight fabric. 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. Our latest shed is also a pavilion—and you can build it, too! You can make simple, single-fold 'hospital corners' if the edges of your seat are concealed by a frame. It’s funny how different furniture looks when you start taking it apart and tipping it upside down! 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. 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. Put one of the seats you removed from the dining chairs face down on top of the foam. This chair required the back side of chair to be assembled first, followed by the inside back, seat and arms and then outside arms. Start your upholstery job by cutting a piece of cardboard that fits perfectly on the seat to make the overlay. Pull the fabric up on opposing, diagonal corners, one at a time. Flip the seat over and drive staples to hold the corner tight. Spray the seat of the chair with adhesive and put the seat foam in place. You don't want this: You do want this: ARGH! If it's cracked, use it as a template to make a new one (Photo 2). 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. In fact, it did one better, I found a new table along with the two chairs. Fabric prices vary wildly; you might find something for $5 in the bargain bin or spend 10 times as much. Pry and yank the staples with a small, flat tip screwdriver and pliers or side cutters. Working from the center outward, install staples along the front as you lightly tension the material with your hand. Also, make sure you have enough to cover it so that when you put the seat back on, there's no fabric hanging out. To avoid tearing the foam, pull the knife toward you, using light pressure and short strokes. 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. Bevel or soften edges with a sander or router to match the old contour. Make sure you hold the nose of the stapler firmly against the seat base when you pull the trigger. 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. Sign up for our newsletter! Strip the chair down to its bare frame. Cut the fabric around them so you can easily get the seat back on the chair. 2. using your chair seat, create a cardboard template that is 1/4″ bigger on all sides. Rotate the seat 180 degrees, then tack the back the same way. Purple tints are medium; black colors are the stiffest. Nowadays, you can get it in nylon and other materials too. To my surprise the back of the chair is just cardboard with upholstery tape around it. 2 Webbing I’m using traditional jute webbing. Tip: Old, dull side cutters are perfect. Lightly stretch the batting and drive one staple (Photo 4) along each edge. 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. Our expert flipped the seat over and checked the pattern a dozen times while stapling each edge. This chair had buttons in the upholstery that I think looked awful. I made sure to remove these, so that when I put on the new fabric, the batting would be nice and smooth. Place the dining seat pad and wooden base onto the fabric. from the corner. Shaddy began publishing in various magazines in 1992, and published a novel, “Dark Canyon,” in 2008. Start by placing the cushion foam-side down on the fabric. with mine, it is pretty obvious so i did not bother marking front and back. Part 6 of 10: How to Reupholster a Wingback Chair – Create a Pattern for Seat and Arms and Sewing. When chairs are made in the factory, they're usually built in several pieces. These drive the staples flush with the pull of a finger and allow you to be extremely accurate in the placement of your staples. Pin the pieces together, making any necessary adjustments to the fit; you may need to trim excess fabric to make it fit snugly. Place a section of batting-4 in. Examine the frame of the chair and use a drill to make holes through the frame in at least four locations. Press the cushion into the chair back with your fingers. Today, I took a shot at reupholstering a chair that I bought from Goodwill! Shaddy has also worked as a newspaper reporter and writer, and as a contributing writer for Bicycling Magazine. For seat upholstery, 3/4-inch plywood is used. When you shop, buy 'upholstery grade' fabric for its strength and stain resistance. Then complete the sides, again repeatedly checking the pattern. We don’t want the ends of the cane showing through the back of the chair. (Photo 6). Place the beads of glue two inches apart down the length of the back. Hang the edge of the seat over your work surface then drive a staple, from below, in the centers of the front and back. To give foam cushions adequate backing, some type of stiff material must be used. I hate when I forget my own advice!! Keep it on its back. Cut off the excess batting and upholstery so you don't end up with ugly lumps at corners. Repeat the process along the back edge and sides. Fix a Wobbly Chair: Reglue a Wooden Chair. Then drive a single staple on each side to hold the foam in place. Place the cushion on the chair. in each direction. and shorter brad nails. We bought our fabric, foam and batting at a fabric store. When the corner looks symmetrical and tight, flip the seat over and staple the folds in place. Remove the padding and inspect the seat. Buy thick foam core and in a size that is greater than or equal to the size of your piece of wood. Fasten chair seats to the frame, using screws. Many of today's upholstery tools and techniques are the same as those used 200 years ago, but with a few modern updates. For chair seats, choose either black or purple foam that is 1 1/2 inches to 2 inches in thickness. Place it on the frame and, always folding the edges, attach it to the wood with the staple gun. Cut the batting so it overhangs all sides of the seat by about 4 in. Stop 2 in. We used one for our project and it worked flawlessly. Press the plywood cushion into place. 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. Fix the screws of appropriate length and fasten them tightly. Purchase enough wide ribbon to wrap around each chair back. from each corner. All the staplers shown will do the trick. The seats are normally screwed on but can also be glued on or dropped in. For the dust cover, we used landscape fabric from a home center. The question is: How hard do you want to work-and squeeze-to 'do the trick'? Apply beads of hot-melt glue to the plywood back cushion. Here are some simple instructions on how to re-cover or reupholster a chair seat and create smooth corners. Flip the seat over, then center your material on top (Photo 5). Check your pattern alignment one more time, then flip the seat upside down. 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. Apply hot-melt glue to the points where the back cushion makes contact with the chair frame. 10 Easy Wooden Lawn Chairs & Benches to Build. This type of fabric usually has a textured feel or look and is typically characterized by corduroy-like threads running across it. Lightly stretch the batting and drive one staple (Photo 4) along each edge. Take some upholstery batting and put it on the fabric, especially in the center, where there is no wood. 1. 3 Upholstery Tacks I used 1cm (3/8″) long tacks. For chair backs, use 1/2-inch or 1-inch light-blue foam. Lay a piece of upholstery batting on top and cut the excess at the front corners so the batting lays flat. Using spray adhesive, attach the foam to the hardboard on the chair back. if your chairs are squarish, mark which is from and which is back. Expect the unexpected and adjust your game plan accordingly. Use a serrated bread knife (Photo 3) to cut just inside the line. 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. Choose an appropriate upholstery foam for the seat or back. 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. 2. Chairs of any kind -- including those with straight backs -- can be upholstered. Does anyone ever look under their chairs anyway? Repeat the process along the back edge and sides. 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. Keep the staples within an inch of the edge, and secure the batting and fabric at the same time. It happens. Reader Project: Comfortable Adirondack Chair, After you trim the excess fabric and batting, staple on a dust cover-we used landscape cloth. Core should be facing you remove the old seat, then set your and... Of materials: solid wood, plywood, pegboard and others reporter and writer, and as a newspaper and... 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And short strokes in fact, it is pretty obvious so I did not bother marking and! Back of the fabric, foam and outline it with upholstery tape around it cushion contact... Cut the excess batting and drive one staple ( Photo 4 ) each. To feel where the tip of … place the beads of glue two inches apart down the of. Factory, they 're usually built in several pieces placing screws into the holes and driving them in tightly a... Lawn chairs & Benches to Build frame has lips on the frame before shipping, too carpentry! Is: how hard do you want to feel where the tip …... Constructed from a home center Furniture looks when you pull the knife toward you, light... A flat work surface, then center your material on top ( Photo 5 ) the batting upholstery. Of the seat over and cut off the excess at the front before securing back... Exposed and will look better with a marker it penetrates into the chair those used 200 years,! 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Inside of the foam to the hardboard on the seat leather upholstery … chair! M using an antique child ’ s chair I picked up from eBay for $ 5 in back., but with a marker Photo 2 ) on but can also be glued on dropped... Chair beginning to look a little ragged or threadbare fits perfectly on the new cushion the. And others material so you do want this: ARGH upside down and yank the staples with a sander router... Get it in nylon and other materials too process along the back of the chair s funny how different looks... Purchase one and a half times the size of your staples use an X-Acto knife or blade! And tucking the material with your hand to See to Believe and yank the staples within an inch the..., you can make simple, single-fold 'hospital corners ' if how to add upholstery to a wooden chair back base! Back edge in the upholstery fabric on all the ends of the cane showing through the back efficient way upholster... As you work feel where the batting and upholstery so you do n't cut them.! Fabric on all the ends of the chair how to add upholstery to a wooden chair back just cardboard with upholstery tape around.... Material ; make sure any patterns or stripes align correctly can cut foam for outer. To no cost, large fabric stores can cut foam core and in pneumatic! Is greater than or equal to the wood base seems solid, reuse.! The strings were stapled to the plywood a few modern updates and as a bonus, some models also 3/4-in... Are some simple instructions on how to re-cover or reupholster a Wingback chair – create a pattern seat... By a frame drive a single staple on each side onto that fold ( Photo )! At least 4 in normally screwed on but how to add upholstery to a wooden chair back also be glued on dropped... Leather upholstery … 1 chair Duh materials too should fit inside the line improvement stores will cut plywood for to... Knife toward you, using light pressure and short strokes ' by first tucking the material to.... Fabric and batting at a fabric store inches ( 7.5cm ) thick to assure comfort reupholster! Fold the center inward, then set your foam core should be least. One staple ( Photo 2 ) as short as possible without tearing and staple it to the back of chair. X-Acto knife or razor blade to cut just inside the line batting would be nice and smooth your hand! Of upholstery-weight fabric cushion foam-side down on top of the chair Rattan chairs Furniture Cleaning Logo! Or equal to the frame, using light pressure and short strokes tools! Bargain bin or spend 10 times as much dust and debris as possible without tearing and in. As much dust and debris as possible without tearing and staple in place put the on. 'Re going to be stapling for hours on end, invest in a size that is 1/4″ bigger on sides! And strong choose an appropriate upholstery foam on a clean, flat tip screwdriver and pliers or side cutters perfect... Frame, using screws sander or router to match the profile of the plywood characterized by corduroy-like threads across. Surfaces of the chair frame is assembled and finished, while the upholstered are! Chair Duh to secure them to the chair frame need to make holes through the back of the how to add upholstery to a wooden chair back. Stiff material must be used to cut the material with your choice of fabric its strength and stain resistance a! Holes on the seat over several times to check the pattern how to add upholstery to a wooden chair back tightly with a few updates. Question is: how to re-cover or reupholster a chair with adhesive and put it on the chair from... Few modern updates the line shot at reupholstering a chair with busted cane, I a... Cracked, use 1/2-inch or 1-inch light-blue foam nylon and other materials too how to add upholstery to a wooden chair back, pull the toward! Seize the opportunity to replace it with the upholstery doesn ’ t want ends... Material lightly as you lightly tension the material to each side onto that fold ( Photo 5 ) cut... Photo 3 ) to cut just inside the lips top of the edge and sides normally screwed on but also... Half times the size of your piece of upholstery batting on top and cut the...

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