DIY Fix: How to Reupholster a Chair Seat
Revamp an old chair in minutes with a few simple steps
My design style is traditional, blending contemporary and vintage pieces plus a few quirky accessories thrown in. This eclectic combination of design elements can create a stylish home with a fun, sophisticated vibe. While I’m always on the hunt for accessories, furniture and textiles to bump up my home’s style quotient, more often I look for gems at secondhand shops rather than big-name chains.
Secondhand shopping allows me to find beautifully crafted items at a fraction of the cost. Take this Mid-century modern chair, for example. It, along with three of its friends, was a recent secondhand shop score; I purchased four chairs for $20. Yes, $20 total. Their clean lines and sleek frame plus their solid wood construction made them a perfect addition to our home. One special chair, originally intended for our breakfast nook, now adorns our bedroom. Here’s how I reupholstered its seat.
Secondhand shopping allows me to find beautifully crafted items at a fraction of the cost. Take this Mid-century modern chair, for example. It, along with three of its friends, was a recent secondhand shop score; I purchased four chairs for $20. Yes, $20 total. Their clean lines and sleek frame plus their solid wood construction made them a perfect addition to our home. One special chair, originally intended for our breakfast nook, now adorns our bedroom. Here’s how I reupholstered its seat.
Not only was this chair’s frame in great condition, but the seat was nearly perfect: not a nick, scratch or tear to speak of. As close to perfection as it was, I felt a quick update with a bold black and white graphic print would take this chair from simple to stunning.
To reupholster a chair cushion, you’ll need:
- Upholstery or home decor fabric
- Small pry bar
- Pliers
- Screwdriver
- Pins
- Staple gun
Remove the seat from the chair's frame by flipping the chair upside down and removing the screws from the base.
Take off the original cover by using the pry bar to remove the staples. Pliers come in handy for pulling out those hard-to-remove staples, too.
With the original cover removed, check that the seat’s foam padding is in good condition. If replacement is needed, remove the original foam. Then choose an appropriate loft of foam for the seat, cut it to size using the seat as a template and glue the foam into place with adhesive.
Place the seat, with foam padding attached, onto the wrong side of your upholstery fabric. Trim the fabric, with enough excess around the edge to fold the fabric over to the other side.
TIP: Remember to check out remnant fabrics at your nearest sewing or fabric shop. I picked up this fabric for a steal.
Place the seat, with foam padding attached, onto the wrong side of your upholstery fabric. Trim the fabric, with enough excess around the edge to fold the fabric over to the other side.
TIP: Remember to check out remnant fabrics at your nearest sewing or fabric shop. I picked up this fabric for a steal.
Fold the fabric over the edge of the seat and pull the fabric taut. Staple it to the perimeter of the seat's base with the staple gun.
For clean corners, pull the fabric tight towards the opposite side of the seat and fold the remaining fabric diagonally over the top. Pin then staple into place and continue along the perimeter.
With the fabric firmly attached around the seat, trim off the extra fabric toward the inside of the seat’s centre, leaving about 1.5cm. If you’d like to finish the underside neatly, you can staple a panel of cambric (a cotton or linen fabric of fine close weave) to the bottom of the chair pad. Finally, reattach the seat to the chair’s frame.
With the fabric firmly attached around the seat, trim off the extra fabric toward the inside of the seat’s centre, leaving about 1.5cm. If you’d like to finish the underside neatly, you can staple a panel of cambric (a cotton or linen fabric of fine close weave) to the bottom of the chair pad. Finally, reattach the seat to the chair’s frame.
This chair with its vintage frame and modern seat adds to the eclectic yet sophisticated vibe of the room.