What is the easiest way to reupholster a chair? What materials do you need? What kind of fabric to use?
In this article, I will show you two different techniques to reupholster a chair, with attached and removable seats.
Can I reupholster a chair myself?
Yes! It is an easy DIY project that will change the look of your chair drastically for good.
How much does it cost to reupholster a chair seat? You can't imagine how much you can save by doing it yourself: "wood chairs -such as dining room chairs- can cost anywhere from $100 to $250 to have the seats redone," regarding The Spruce.
Before and after of a Louis XVI armchair.
What do I need to reupholster a chair seat?
These are the tools needed:
Fabric
Scissors
Staple gun
Staple remover for upholstery (it's not a must, but it will make the job easier and safer!)
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Do I have to remove old fabric when reupholstering?
There is no need to. And actually, having the old fabric to hold the padding and batten it will make the job much easier! So you just reupholster over the existing fabric.
What is the best fabric to reupholster dining chairs?
Synthetic upholstery fabric (like a polyester blend) would be best for cleaning and the more durable. But you can use any kind of fabric that you like. Once, I used curtains to reupholster a pair of decorative chairs, just because I liked the fabric design.
How much fabric do I need to cover a dining room chair?
It depends on the size of your chair. Take the chair's seat as the reference, and think about adding 3 to 4 extra inches, to attach it to the chair.
So, what is the easiest way to reupholster a chair?
The chair with a removable seat
The shortest way would be the case where you have a removable seat. In these chairs, the seat is screwed into the chair's frame.
The steps are the following:
Unscrew and remove the seat (and back, if that is the case).
Clean the frame. Stain it or paint it, as needed.
Lay the fabric on a flat surface and place the seat over.
Cut the fabric around, adding 3 to 4 inches (consider the seat height before cutting!)
Without removing the old fabric, staple the new fabric on the bottom border.
Cut the excess fabric.
Screw the seat back into the frame
How do you reupholster a chair without a removable seat?
For this type of project the steps are similar, but instead of staple the fabric on the bottom of the seat, the fabric is stapled on the chair's frame.
In this case, you also need braid trim -to cover the exposed staples- and fabric glue.
The steps are the following:
Remove any existing braid trim.
Clean the frame. Stain it or paint it, as needed.
Lay the fabric on top of the seat.
Cut the fabric around, adding 3 to 4 inches (consider the seat height before cutting!)
Without removing the old fabric, staple the new fabric into the frame, where the old fabric ends.
Cut the excess fabric.
With fabric glue add the braid trim, covering the staples.
Before and after of a Louis XV armchair.
In case that you are thinking "that chair looks like mine!" and would you like to know how to identify which style is it, you can check the article about Louis XV vs Louis XVI chairs, side by side.
So, what do you think? Is it worth it to reupholster a chair? Are you ready for a hands-on DIY project?
Hoping that this guide has encouraged you to try it!
