I recently found this pretty great chair on UsedVictoria. Turns out, it was just up the block from where I live and was only $15- clearly, this was meant to be! I knew exactly the place I wanted to put it but it needed a slight revamp first. The existing upholstery wasn't bad at all and was in perfect condition, but....the beige fabric didn't really jive with the rest of the living room
What you'll need:
- Fabric
- Measuring tape
- Staple gun + Staples
- Upholstery nails
- Rubber mallet
Step 1:
Figure out the placement of the pattern on your fabric in relation to the shape of the chair. For me, this was easy as my fabric was a simple, repeating pattern. If the back of your chair is not removable (as mine is) trace a template so you can accurately cut your fabric to size.
Figure out the placement of the pattern on your fabric in relation to the shape of the chair. For me, this was easy as my fabric was a simple, repeating pattern. If the back of your chair is not removable (as mine is) trace a template so you can accurately cut your fabric to size.
Remove the seat of your chair and measure starting from where you will staple your fabric to the underside of the seat.
Note: The original upholstery on the chair was glued to the bottom so NOT easily removed. I just reupholstered right on top which was no problem as the old fabric was light and didn't show through the new fabric I was putting on.
Step 2:
Next I took my template and cut the fabric out for the back of the chair. I cut a little wide around the template, just in case (this is the first time I've recovered ANYTHING and didn't know what to expect!)
Using the measurements I took of the seat, I cut a square piece of the fabric:
Next I took my template and cut the fabric out for the back of the chair. I cut a little wide around the template, just in case (this is the first time I've recovered ANYTHING and didn't know what to expect!)
Using the measurements I took of the seat, I cut a square piece of the fabric:
Step 3:
Center the back piece fabric against the chair and secure with straight pins. Because I couldn't take the back of the chair out of the frame, I decided to attach the fabric to the chair using upholstery nails. I didn't want to use glue, thinking this might be problematic if ever I wanted to recover the chair again in the future. Start at the top of the chair and try to cut any excess fabric as you go along, before you nail as it's tough to do neatly after the fact. When you push in the upholstery nails you should meet with a little resistance so you know your pins are secure. Once all the nails were in place, I took a rubber mallet and tapped all the way around.
Center the back piece fabric against the chair and secure with straight pins. Because I couldn't take the back of the chair out of the frame, I decided to attach the fabric to the chair using upholstery nails. I didn't want to use glue, thinking this might be problematic if ever I wanted to recover the chair again in the future. Start at the top of the chair and try to cut any excess fabric as you go along, before you nail as it's tough to do neatly after the fact. When you push in the upholstery nails you should meet with a little resistance so you know your pins are secure. Once all the nails were in place, I took a rubber mallet and tapped all the way around.
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Step 4:
Lay the bottom fabric over the seat, place as desired and secure with straight pins. Flip the seat over and, using a staple gun, fasten it to the bottom of the chair making sure to keep your fabric taught. I left the corners till last. I had seen several tutorials suggesting the corners be done similarly to the way you'd wrap a present. I actually didn't like the look of that technique on this particular chair so I just gathered the material and stapled it. After I cut the excess fabric from around the staple line I covered the bottom of the chair with the original sheer gauze that the chair came with just to make the underside a little prettier.
Lay the bottom fabric over the seat, place as desired and secure with straight pins. Flip the seat over and, using a staple gun, fasten it to the bottom of the chair making sure to keep your fabric taught. I left the corners till last. I had seen several tutorials suggesting the corners be done similarly to the way you'd wrap a present. I actually didn't like the look of that technique on this particular chair so I just gathered the material and stapled it. After I cut the excess fabric from around the staple line I covered the bottom of the chair with the original sheer gauze that the chair came with just to make the underside a little prettier.
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Step 5:
Reattach the bottom of the chair and voila!
Reattach the bottom of the chair and voila!
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