How to Reupholster a Seat Cushion

Material needed:

Screwdriver
1 to 2 yards fabric
Staple remover or needle nose pliers
Measuring tape or ruler
Chalk
Scissors
Stable gun and staples
Hammer

Reupholstering a seat cushion isn’t as hard as you may think, in fact after you have done one, you will want to do more. You can reupholster a seat cushion in less than fifteen minutes. It’s a great way to refresh any room, and save that chair you dearly love.

You need to remove the seat cushion, you do this by flipping the chair over and unscrewing the screws. Make sure you put the screws in a safe place so you don’t lose them.

If the cushion you are working on is already padded, worn or ripped you can simply cover the old with the new. Spread the fabric out face down, and place the seat upside down on top. Measure four to five inches beyond the seat on all sides, if you are short on material, measure three. Mark it with chalk, and cut it.

To attach the fabric to the seat fold the fabric up, and over the seat’s front edge. Be sure to stay clear as much as possible of the holes where the screws went. Starting in the center use the staple gun to staple the material to the back side of the cushion. Work from the center towards the corners. Each side I use about six staples, no need to get carried away. Leave the corners for last. Be sure to pull the fabric as you go, making sure it’s nice and secure, and smooth.

When you reach the corners fold the fabric up, and around the corners making a small overlapping pleat. Smooth pleats with a staple or canvas tacks.

Replace the seat on the chair, and replace the screws. Screwing them in will take a lot of strength because you may be pushing your screws through the fabric you just placed on the chair. Or you may have it too bulky to make a complete seal.

Tips: I find it best to use plain fabric, or one with a pattern that doesn’t contain lines. If you use lines you have to keep checking you are placing it perfectly straight. Too much work.

Before you staple the last side of your seat cushion, put some final touches on the seat buy placing any extra padding you wish. Test it by placing it on the chair to see how it feels. You don’t have to worry about it being lumpy, as you pull the fabric tight on the final side and place the padding flat not lumped you will be fine.

If the staples don’t go in all the way, hammer them in. Some seats take a lot of strength to get the staples completely flat.


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