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Transform a cheap chair into something new by reupholstering it yourself. If you’re a fan of hunting down bargains in antique shops and second-hand stores, this is for you. An old chair can get a serious revamp quite easily, with a little TLC and know-how. This isn’t for antiques, though – they’re best left to the specialists. You’ll need a chair that’s sturdy and sound – no woodworm – paint stripper, rubber gloves, and furniture wax, a staple gun, and textile adhesive. Here’s how to reupholster an old chair.
First things first: stripping and cleaning
If you’ve been wondering how to upholster an old chair, take note: the most important step in the process is stripping and cleaning. There’s no point reupholstering a chair when the wood looks old and tired. Remove the fabric on the chair to use as a pattern, and then use a powerful paint stripper to get rid of old paint or varnish. Follow by waxing the wood to protect it and give it a shine.
Upholstery and patterns
Choose a fabric you like, and one that will match your existing décor, then follow the pattern of the chair’s original upholstery. Using tracing paper will make this job easier. You need to be able to pull it taught over the chair, and you don’t need to hem it, as the edges will be concealed by a trim.
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Secure the fabric to the chair back and seat with upholstery tacks. This is where the trim will go, as the tracks are visible.
Trim
Take a bundle of ribbon and join a variety of lengths and widths so that you will have enough to fit the fabric on the back. You want the braid to be wavy, so don’t worry about any distortion when sewing. When you have the right length of trim, set your sewing machine to embroider. Use contrasting embroidery thread, and stitch a trailing motif along your ribbon. Using textile or craft adhesive, stick the trim in place.
Fitting the seat cover
The fabric needs to be stretched tightly across the chair’s pad, with neat corners. If the seat is removable, take it our first, and pin the fabric in place as you work. Using a staple gun to secure the fabric can give you a more professional finish.
And now you have a new piece of furniture made to fit the décor in any room. There’s how to reupholster an old chair. It’s as easy as one, two, three.
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