How To Upholster Furniture

To recover a simple chair you will need:

a staple gun and staples or upholstery tacks
eye protection
a pair of needle-nose pliers
a rubber or plastic mallet
a pair of good, sharp scissors
a small pry bar or flat head screwdriver
a Phillips screwdriver
cloth
cotton or polyester batting (used for padding)

Notice that a sewing machine isn't listed?
That's because you can upholster a chair with a padded seat or back without needing a sewing machine.
In fact, you will only need a sewing machine if you want to recover furniture that has separate, removable cushions. But it does not need not be a commercial machine and you won't have to do any complicated stitching. If you can sew a straight line you can stitch cushions.

Selection of your fabric is important. This can be expensive or economical. If you go to a specialty shop then be prepared for sticker shock. Upholstery material in upholstery shops can cost $50.00 a yard and up. You may prefer going to a fabric or craft store instead, or even looking online or on e-bay.

The heavier the fabric, the longer it will last. However, heavy fabric is harder to work with. Leather can be difficult and expensive so unless the project is very simple it is best to save it for a time when you have more experience. Also, keep in mind that once you learn how to upholster your furniture you may want to do it again in a few years to give your home a new look. If that is the case you can go with a lighter weight fabric since you aren't as concerned with longevity.

Fabric the same weight as denim is a good choice for furniture that gets some use. (You could certainly use denim as is very much in style right now, and it comes in many colors and patterns.)
If the furniture you want to recover is less frequently used, such as dining room chairs, then lighter weight fabric is just fine.
Drapery material can be a good choice as well. Just be sure to avoid selecting a loosely woven fabric that will pick easily.

Estimating your yardage.
This can be the most difficult part.
It is easiest if you remove the existing fabric and then measure it. Allowing an additional couple of inches along the sides is a good idea. Commercial upholstery is cut as small as will possibly fit with no margin for error. This is to save the manufacturer money. A couple of inches times thousands of yards really adds up. You don't have to worry about that so you should give yourself a slight margin along each side in case things don't line up exactly. You can always trim away any extra, but you can't add any fabric on.
Some very general estimates.
Upholstery fabric is usually 54" wide. However it may run as wide as 62". Drapery and regular fabric is usually less.

Assuming 54" wide fabric:
A Dining chair with padded seat and back cushions will usually take 1 ½ yards.
A backless bar stool will take less than a yard.
Small ottoman = 2 ½ yards
Office chair = 3 yards
Wingback chair = 5 yards
Two-cushion loveseat = 10 yards
Three-cushion sofa 9' long = 13 yards
Pit grouping = 34 yards
Extra padding = more fabric.

Pick a small, simple project to start. A dining room chair with a square or rectangular padded seat is ideal.

Flip the chair over and examine the bottom. You will usually see a board with fabric over it. Look at the corners of the chair frame and you will see angled pieces with a screw in the middle. These hold the board to the chair. Unscrew the screws using the appropriate screwdriver. The seat should be easy to remove with a push from the bottom.
At this point things should start looking easier to you. Instead of having to deal with an entire chair you only have to cover a board. You should now remove the fabric from the board. It may be stapled or possibly tacked in place. Use the pry-bar, flat screwdriver and/or pliers to remove any staples or tacks. Be sure to use your eye protection. Try to get the fabric off without tearing it too much. This will make it easier to use as a pattern later.
Once the fabric is off, measure the old fabric and determine how much fabric you will need. Decide if you want any additional padding on the seat.
Use the old fabric for your pattern and cut the new fabric out. You may find it easier to cut if you pin the new fabric to the old before you cut. You can also mark the outline with chalk before you cut. Remember to add an additional two inches to each side and even more if you are adding padding.

People often wonder if they can simply cover the existing fabric with new fabric. If the seat board fits down into the chair frame and the fit is too tight to allow the bulk of another layer of fabric then the answer is "No". But, if the seat board sits on top of the chair frame, if your new fabric is very thin, or if there is a significant gap between the frame and board, you might be able to do it. Just make sure there are no oily stains on the original fabric or they could seep through into your new fabric.

Once your new fabric is cut, fold over an inch or so of one edge to the inside so that you have a double thickness of fabric, like a hem. (This is where that extra couple of inches you allowed for comes in.) This will give your fabric extra strength when stapled. If you are using strong or thick fabric you may not need to do this but, in any case, it is better to have a little too much than not enough.

Staple one entire side to the bottom of the board, taking care to keep it straight. Use one staple per inch. Then pull the fabric up and over the padding on top. Pull it over the opposite edge tightly. Turn the edge under like you did on the first side, and staple into place. Take your time and make sure that it is stretched equally along the entire length. It you have added padding make sure that it is smooth and even. Taking care at this stage will ensure the fabric of your cushion is smooth and even on top. Lumpy padding or uneven stretching will make bumps and waves on your cushion.

Next do the other sides. Fold the corners like a bed sheet and staple into place. Slip the board back into place in your chair frame. If the fit is tight use your rubber mallet to tap it firmly into place. Use a towel to avoid damaging the finish on your chair frame. Screw the board back onto the frame and enjoy your newly upholstered chair.

I will be adding other lenses to cover additional DIY projects.

Check out the big arrow link below for advanced instruction on how to upholster ANY piece of furniture. Even advanced projects. Yes, you really can do it yourself!