Don’t let stains and rips force you to throw your beautiful chairs out; learn how to bring old chairs back to life. Read on to learn how to reupholster a chair for beginners. Save yourself money in the long run with this DIY project. You may also save yourself time from shopping around for new chairs that work in your home.

Remove the Old Fabric

Begin by removing the old fabric; this may involve taking apart the chair itself. Ensure you don’t lose any parts along the way by placing the smaller parts in a special bag or bowl. If the fabric was held in by staples, you’ll want to use plyers to remove the staples from the wood. If there aren’t any stables, you’ll want to remove the back cloth from underneath the chair first. Save welting and tack strips if there are any, as these will help you immensely if you choose to sew a new cover.

Replace Padding

The next step is to remove old padding or batting. Over time, the chair’s padding has likely worn down, become stained, and developed a bit of odor. If the padding isn’t worn down, there’s no need to throw it all away. Try to reuse as much of the old padding as possible and simply add new padding as needed. Be sure to measure using the old padding’s pattern, then cut and stretch the material to fit all corners of the chair. Next, use the stapler to staple this portion down.

Choose New Fabric

Use the old fabric to create a pattern for your new fabric. You should have already done this with the padding, so the process should feel familiar to you. If you choose an entirely new fabric, you’ll need to determine how much stretch it provides. You want to pull this new fabric as tightly as possible before stapling or sewing it into place. If it has more stretch than the previous fabric, adjust your pattern and cut it a tad bit smaller. Once your pattern is complete, place it over your chair and staple it to the underside of the wood. If you decide to sew a slipcover, do so and then it over the chair. You may want to include staples on the underside to ensure the sewn fabric doesn’t move over time.

Enjoy the DIY process of reupholstering a chair. Use this guide to understand how to reupholster a chair for a beginner. It can be hard work, but your budget will thank you. Whether you’re reupholstering secondhand furniture or furniture that you bought new many years ago, this process will allow you to enjoy a brand-new look and feel.