Quick Fix: Reupholster a Chair Seat
Take a chair from drab to fab, no sewing or special skills required, in just 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 thrift stores rather than big-box chains.
Thrifting allows me to find beautifully crafted items at a fraction of the cost. Take this midcentury modern chair, for example. It, along with three of its friends, was a recent thrift 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.
Thrifting allows me to find beautifully crafted items at a fraction of the cost. Take this midcentury modern chair, for example. It, along with three of its friends, was a recent thrift 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.
Not only was the frame in great condition, but the chair's 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
- 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 those hard-to-remove staples.
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 spray adhesive.
Place the seat, with foam padding attached, on the wrong side of your upholstery fabric. Trim the fabric, creating a large enough square that leaves ample room to fold the fabric over the edge.
Tip: Remember to check out the remnant fabric section at your local craft or thrift store. I picked up a yard of this Waverly Modern Essentials fabric with Fun Floret pattern, in Licorice, for 99 cents.
Place the seat, with foam padding attached, on the wrong side of your upholstery fabric. Trim the fabric, creating a large enough square that leaves ample room to fold the fabric over the edge.
Tip: Remember to check out the remnant fabric section at your local craft or thrift store. I picked up a yard of this Waverly Modern Essentials fabric with Fun Floret pattern, in Licorice, for 99 cents.
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. 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 center, leaving about 1/2 inch. Then reattach the seat to the chair's frame.
If you'd like to finish the underside, staple a panel of cambric liner to the bottom of the chair pad. See how here
With the fabric firmly attached around the seat, trim off the extra fabric toward the inside of the seat's center, leaving about 1/2 inch. Then reattach the seat to the chair's frame.
If you'd like to finish the underside, staple a panel of cambric liner to the bottom of the chair pad. See how here
This chair with its vintage frame and modern seat adds to the eclectic yet sophisticated vibe of the room.