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reupholstering dining room chairs?

13 years ago

I have a vintage dining room set (from 1965) which has had the chairs recovered several times. I last redid them several years ago, replacing the foam with a high density foam, but still keeping them with their original box edges.

While I was helping my daughter recover her knife-edge dining room chairs, I realized my set would be more comfortable with a lower profile seat. Given that it's a lot easier just to be able to replace a chair cover by stapling a new one on rather than sewing a replacement cover with boxed edges and piping and then stapling them on, how can I change my seats so that they will have a knife edge?

Is it just a matter of replacing the foam and maybe trimming down the edges and covering with batting, or does the foam need to be professionally shaped? Any suggestions?

Helene

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Comments (5)

lindac
13 years ago
If I really know what you are saying....here's what I have done.
Just cover the foam, first witn muslin....and pull it tight to compress the box edge on the foam and staple it down....you will need an extra pair of hands...I did.
Than when you have the edges rounded....cover with your fabric.
You can just skip the muslin step but it will be harder to keep the fabric straight is you do.
Does that sound like what you are asking?
Linda C
gracie01 zone5 SW of Chicago
13 years ago
is there a piece of wood under the cushions? if so, just get 1/4" foam and cover with cotton batting, then fabric.
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blubird
Original Author
13 years ago
Linda -You understood my description perfectly. So if I cover my foam - tightly, with muslin- the edges will round over?

Gracie - yes, there's a full piece of wood under the cushion. If I just do foam covered with cotton batting, I'm afraid it won't have that nice arch - higher in the center of the cushion tapering off to the edges - that my daughter's chairs have.

Helene
User
13 years ago
Blubird - Yes, the big difference between a mushroom and a box cushion is how tight you pull the liner BEFORE you staple on the decor fabric. You will need a staple gun and a helper. Do the center of each side, then work out to the corners by adding two staples towards the corners on each of the 4 sides. Keep the number of staples per side equal and keep checking the grain to keep it straight.

You can also cut a small bevel out of the edges of the foam to make the rounding a bit easier.
blubird
Original Author
13 years ago
Another question then - do I need to cover the foam with batting before covering with muslin?

I might still have to change out the foam - it's currently 3" high which makes thigh room tight under the table which has an apron. Do you think the foam might compress enough to avoid changing it?

Helene

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