Learn how to reupholster a fabric seat chair (dining room chairs) with really cool printed fabrics. Click through for the detailed tutorial that shares the step by step process (with photos of each step). #reupholstery #diy #chairs #diningchairs #jennypennywood #diyfurniture

Learning how to reupholster a material seat chair is a skill that every DIYer should primary. And I'm non only saying that considering I accept a chair obsession. It's like shooting fish in a barrel, merely takes a few materials, and tin really transform a piece of furniture once you know a few tricks. So today I'm sharing a detailed tutorial that breaks down exactly how to reupholster a material seat chair.

Only as well, it's really merely a good excuse to talk about this set of vintage chairs I plant while scouting pieces for the evidence firm makeover. They are the perfect backdrop for a quick reupholstery job and expect one g times amend now that they're all cleaned up with the new material. Here'south what they looked like before…

Learn how to reupholster a fabric seat chair (dining room chairs) with really cool printed fabrics. Click through for the detailed tutorial that shares the step by step process (with photos of each step). #reupholstery #diy #chairs #diningchairs #diyfurniture

The original fabric was dingy and bones, which fabricated these guys look less than cute, let's face it. They weren't horrible, simply they besides didn't experience super special…and these chairs deserve to experience special. I hateful, look at that open up box weave pikestaff webbing!

I knew that sourcing a absurd fabric would requite them a more modernistic wait, to pair with the vintage silhouette. And crossed my fingers that information technology would give them that little something extra they needed. That said, hither's what you'll need to reupholster a fabric seat chair or dining chair…

How to reupholster a fabric seat chair (dining room chairs) with really cool printed fabrics. #reupholstery #diy #chairs #diningchairs #diyfurniture

Reupholster a Material Seat Chair (Supplies)

  • chair with fabric seat
  • fabric slightly larger than the seat you programme to cover
  • staple gun
  • heavy duty glue or screws (depending on how the seat is joined)
  • iron
  • scissors

Reupholstery Step 1: Remove cushion / fabric seat. #reupholstery #diy #chairs #diningchairs #diyfurniture

Remove the seat.

After giving both chairs a really good wipe down, I popped the fabric seats off of each chair. This is actually super easy! Yous can exercise this a few different ways. In some cases, y'all may be able to only pop the seat off without whatever tools at all. Sometimes the seat bottom is just resting within the lip of chair and not secured at all. If that's not the case, yous can use a rubber mallet – hit information technology confronting the underside of the seat. Or if the seat has been screwed into the wood from the underside, employ a screwdriver to remove the seat.

Reupholstery Step 2: Remove any glue or residue from the previous seat cushion. #reupholstery #diy #chairs #diningchairs #diyfurniture

Remove any leftover glue or debris from the seat lip.

This may non apply to every chair that is reupholstered, but information technology came into play on my chairs, so I though I'd mention it here. If in that location is whatever glue or debris on the inner lip of the chair, scrape it off with a putty knife or something similar. I used a screwdriver and it worked great.

Reupholstery Step 3: Prepare your fabric. #reupholstery #diy #chairs #diningchairs #diyfurniture

Reupholstery Step 3: Prepare your fabric. #reupholstery #diy #chairs #diningchairs #diyfurniture

Iron, mensurate, and cut your material.

Next, fe your fabric and then cutting it down to size, if applicable. You lot want it to be effectually 2-3 inches larger all the way around than the size of the seat. The extra inches will compensate for the fact that textile needs to wrapped underneath.

For my chairs, I actually used napkins as the material because I love textiles and collect napkins every bit a style to have lots of absurd textiles without having huge piles of fabric everywhere. This is a nice thought, but I'thousand not going to lie…I yet have piles of fabric everywhere – I collect A LOT of napkins apparently. And then, instead of measuring and cutting, I measured and realized each napkin was slightly too pocket-sized, so I used a seam ripper to go those extra inches I needed. I seam-ripped the underside of each napkin and then ironed the whole and managed to squeak by with simply enough fabric to embrace each seat.

The rust and cream abstract pattern is from Jenny Pennywood and the black and tan line pattern is from Cake Shop. Also, Jenny Pennywood sells fabric by the yard here if you accept a bigger projection.

Reupholstery Step 4: Staple the fabric to the back of the seat, being sure to staple in a back and forth / across pattern. See tutorial for full details. #reupholstery #diy #chairs #diningchairs #diyfurniture

Reupholstery Step 4: Staple fabric. #reupholstery #diy #chairs #diningchairs #diyfurniture

Stretch and staple the new fabric to the seat.

I staple the new material directly over the old one, and so I don't have to worry nearly adding new foam, etc. But if the fabric is especially dirty or smelly, you may want to remove the one-time fabric and cream first earlier this footstep.

For reupholstering a seat, I always staple fabric the way I would stretch sail onto stretcher bars. So I start at the heart one side with a staple, then pull the fabric equally much every bit I can (to brand certain information technology's tight) and rotate the frame around and put a staple on the verbal opposite side, also in the middle. Then, I practice that on the remaining two sides, so that there is one staple on each of the four sides, in the middle.

I echo the process of stretching the fabric, stapling and rotating to the reverse side until the entire slice is stapled and secure, like the photos. Annotation: when you get to the corners, you may accept to fold the fabric a scrap on the back, and and then staple, like the photo shows.

Reupholstery Step 5: Remove excess fabric. #reupholstery #diy #chairs #diningchairs #diyfurniture

Reupholstery Step 5: Remove excess fabric. #reupholstery #diy #chairs #diningchairs #diyfurniture

Cut whatsoever excess fabric.

If any excess fabric remains that makes the underside of the seat bulky or untidy, cutting off excess with scissors. This volition by and large apply to the corners, since that'south where the fabric will usually be folded over a picayune bit subsequently stapling.

Reupholstery Step 6: Reinstall seat. #reupholstery #diy #chairs #diningchairs #diyfurniture

Reinstall the newly reupholstered seat.

Then your newly reupholstered seat is fix to be reinstalled. Depending on how the seat was originally secured, you tin can employ a heavy duty glue around the lip of chair to attach the seat, re-screw the seat in (using new screws that are the same length as the originals), or simple rest the seat on the lip if no boosted security is needed (ie it's a really snug fit).

And that'southward it! I love how the chairs expect now – which probably has a lot to do with how much I love the fabrics I used. But also…the caning doesn't hurt. I think the only other thing I need to do to the chairs at present is work on concealing the deep scratches and scuff marks. I'm planning to endeavor a walnut method, which sounds super easy. And will study back if it works.

Learn how to reupholster a fabric seat chair (dining room chairs) with really cool printed fabrics. Click through for the detailed tutorial that shares the step by step process (with photos of each step). #reupholstery #diy #chairs #diningchairs #jennypennywood #diyfurniture

Learn how to reupholster a fabric seat chair (dining room chairs) with really cool printed fabrics. Click through for the detailed tutorial that shares the step by step process (with photos of each step). #reupholstery #diy #chairs #diningchairs #jennypennywood #diyfurniture

Learn how to reupholster a fabric seat chair (dining room chairs) with really cool printed fabrics. Click through for the detailed tutorial that shares the step by step process (with photos of each step). #reupholstery #diy #chairs #diningchairs #jennypennywood #diyfurniture

Learn how to reupholster a fabric seat chair (dining room chairs) with really cool printed fabrics. Click through for the detailed tutorial that shares the step by step process (with photos of each step). #reupholstery #diy #chairs #diningchairs #jennypennywood #diyfurniture

Have yous ever tried to reupholster a material seat chair like this one? Can you recollect of anything that i might have missed that would exist helpful to know? If so, leave me a message in the comments.

Also, curious to know, which one of these chairs is your fave? The Block Store cream and black line pattern OR the Jenny Pennywood Abstract cream and rust pattern?