how to add upholstery to a wooden chair back

how to add upholstery to a wooden chair back

If the chair frame has lips on the sides, the cushion should fit inside the lips. Staple on a dust cover (Photo 9). Trace around its edge with a marker. Expect the unexpected and adjust your game plan accordingly. Step 10: Cutting the New Pattern. I love Craigslist, it is my go-to when I am looking for a new project. Cut notches in the back of the foam for the seat to allow for the legs. Purchase one and a half times the size in upholstery or outdoor fabric. For chair backs, use 1/2-inch or 1-inch light-blue foam. Someone had already reupholstered the chairs, going directly over the old fabric. if your chairs are squarish, mark which is from and which is back. Remove the old staples from the wooden seat base. If you have a wooden chair seat, you may find it rather uncomfortable without a cushion. Make sure you hold the nose of the stapler firmly against the seat base when you pull the trigger. If you’ve chosen to purchase new foam, remove the old padding and glue the new foam to the wooden seat base. Staple front upholstery to the back of the chair. It happens. Trace around the old seat, then cut with a jigsaw or circular saw. Lay a piece of upholstery batting on top and cut the excess at the front corners so the batting lays flat. Place the beads of glue two inches apart down the length of the back. Take a look as we demonstrate the step-by-step by reupholstering a slipper chair, then try it on your own chair, wall, or headboard. Place the upholstered cushion on the seat and secure it by placing screws into the holes and driving them in tightly with a drill/driver. When the insert or overlay fits -- and it should fit loosely to allow for fabric on all sides -- use the cardboard template to cut plywood the same size. Flip the seat over, then center your material on top (Photo 5). It’s funny how different furniture looks when you start taking it apart and tipping it upside down! For seat backs, 1/4-inch is sufficient. Our latest shed is also a pavilion—and you can build it, too! Here we'll show you how to reupholster a chair with a 'drop-in' or 'screw-on' seat-a style shared by many benches and stools. Put one of the seats you removed from the dining chairs face down on top of the foam. Check your pattern alignment one more time, then flip the seat upside down. Place the new cushion on the chair backrest and cover it with the upholstery fabric on all the ends. wider in all directions than the size of your chair seat-on a flat work surface, then set your foam and seat on top. Trace the outline of the seat onto 1-in.-thick foam. Spray the plywood with aerosol contact adhesive, add a piece of foam that's slightly bigger than the plywood and then trim off the edges of the foam with a jigsaw or utility knife. You will want to feel where the batting ends and the edge of the cane, so you know where to staple. and shorter brad nails. interesting. Add Tip Ask Question Comment Download. If it's cracked, use it as a template to make a new one (Photo 2). Lightly stretch the batting and drive one staple (Photo 4) along each edge. This type of fabric usually has a textured feel or look and is typically characterized by corduroy-like threads running across it. Our previous table I picked up off of craigslist and I was going to refinish it to be black, but this new table came as a pack Hold it there for a few seconds to bond it to the chair. I'm not an expert. Use a serrated bread knife (Photo 3) to cut just inside the line. wider in all directions than the size of your chair seat-on a flat work surface, then set your foam and seat on top. If there's a slight lip on the seat or the back of the chair, fit the cardboard inside the lip to make an insert. Our seats, for example, were made from a pegboard-like material secured to a 1x3 framework, covered with horsehair padding. Place the upholstered cushion on the seat and secure it by placing screws into the holes and driving them in tightly with a drill/driver. When you shop, buy 'upholstery grade' fabric for its strength and stain resistance. Press the plywood cushion into place. I made sure to remove these, so that when I put on the new fabric, the batting would be nice and smooth. Many of today's upholstery tools and techniques are the same as those used 200 years ago, but with a few modern updates. Stop 2 in. Lay the drop cloth down (I cut rectangles to the approximate shape of the chair back, then cut out 12 of them (2 for each chair). Working from the center outward, install staples along the front as you lightly tension the material with your hand. Pull it as tight as possible without tearing and staple in place. There are special tools just for yanking upholstery staples or tacks, but you can get by with basic hand tools (Photo 1). Sign up for our newsletter! As mentioned, I’m using an antique child’s chair I picked up from eBay for $25. Keep the staples within an inch of the edge, and secure the batting and fabric at the same time. Upholstering a Wooden Chair. We used one for our project and it worked flawlessly. Easy Steps To Add Upholstery To A Wooden Chair In order to add Upholstery To A Wooden Chair, the user needs to follow the below-given steps: Upholstery Webbing: The first step is to go for upholstery webbing. To avoid tearing the foam, pull the knife toward you, using light pressure and short strokes. Fabrics that are smooth and slick can stretch, can be difficult to use and should be avoided. Square the cushion in the frame with one hand and press it tight as possible against the chair frame. Hang the edge of the seat over your work surface then drive a staple, from below, in the centers of the front and back. When chairs are made in the factory, they're usually built in several pieces. Here are some simple instructions on how to re-cover or reupholster a chair seat and create smooth corners. Cut off the excess batting and upholstery so you don't end up with ugly lumps at corners. A dust cover neatly hides the exposed fabric edges. Seat bases can be constructed from a variety of materials: solid wood, plywood, pegboard and others. Fix a Wobbly Chair: Reglue a Wooden Chair. Any time I get a chair with busted cane, I seize the opportunity to replace it with upholstery. If you're re-covering more than one chair, number each chair and seat; that way, the screw holes will line up properly when you reinstall the seats. Put a heavy object on the foam to compress it slightly or have an assistant place his hand or foot on it to compress the foam. Rotate the seat 180 degrees, then tack the back the same way. But in most cases, the front corners will be exposed and will look better with a 'butterfly corner.'. 1. from the corner. Upholstering a Wooden Chair. 10 Easy Wooden Lawn Chairs & Benches to Build. Remove the padding and inspect the seat. Then drive a single staple on each side to hold the foam in place. PS. Fix the screws of appropriate length and fasten them tightly. 2 Webbing I’m using traditional jute webbing. Pin the pieces together, making any necessary adjustments to the fit; you may need to trim excess fabric to make it fit snugly. For chair seats, choose either black or purple foam that is 1 1/2 inches to 2 inches in thickness. Secure the back edge in the same way, stretching the material lightly as you work. For seat upholstery, 3/4-inch plywood is used. We used a sander to taper the edges to match the profile of the old one. 1 Chair Duh! Buy thick foam core and in a size that is greater than or equal to the size of your piece of wood. With the seat facing up and the front edge overhanging the work surface, drive one staple through the bottom to hold the material in place. All the staplers shown will do the trick. Cut the fabric around them so you can easily get the seat back on the chair. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Pry and yank the staples with a small, flat tip screwdriver and pliers or side cutters. Start by placing the cushion foam-side down on the fabric. Keep it on its back. Chairs of any kind -- including those with straight backs -- can be upholstered. Lightly stretch the batting and drive one staple (Photo 4) along each edge. As a bonus, some models also shoot 3/4-in. (Photo 6). Begin the tufting process. Fold the center inward, then overlap each side onto that fold (Photo 8). It comes in colors that designate density. This way you can give about 1cm (0.39 inches) of thickness to the middle of the seat. Choose an appropriate upholstery foam for the seat or back. Place the upholstery foam on a clean, flat work surface. The upholstered parts are screwed or glued to the frame before shipping. Place the dining seat pad and wooden base onto the fabric. Dang. We recommend our users to update the browser. I hate when I forget my own advice!! Some tools also drive brad nails up to 1-1/4 in. Place the new inside back, right-side back, and left-side back pieces on the chair in the appropriate locations, using the "T" markings and your photos as guides. Repeat the process along the back edge and sides. 15 Adirondack Chairs You Have to See to Believe. Determine the best layout for your material; make sure any patterns or stripes align correctly. So, as always it pulled through when I was looking for two chairs for our small kitchen table. Remove the upholstery and cushion material. Depending on how the chair was originally made, this can get messy, and you might find that you need a few more tools to get everything off. You don't want this: You do want this: ARGH! Our expert flipped the seat over and checked the pattern a dozen times while stapling each edge. Flip the seat over several times to check the pattern as you go. If the wood base seems solid, reuse it. How to Make an Adirondack Chair and Love Seat. Cut the fabric at least 3 inches bigger than the foamed plywood on all sides so you have room to wrap it up and over the edges. When the corner looks symmetrical and tight, flip the seat over and staple the folds in place. Also, make sure you have enough to cover it so that when you put the seat back on, there's no fabric hanging out. This chair had buttons in the upholstery that I think looked awful. The question is: How hard do you want to work-and squeeze-to 'do the trick'? To my surprise the back of the chair is just cardboard with upholstery tape around it. Cut the material so you'll be able to wrap it up onto the chair bottom at least 4 in. Remember to add around 6 inches to the outer area. Today, I took a shot at reupholstering a chair that I bought from Goodwill! Move around the perimeter of the fabric pulling, folding and stapling until the fabric is stretched tightly and evenly over the foam. How to Upholster: Outside Back of a Dining Room Chair (part 1)In Part 1 , Kevin discusses how to strip the outside back of a dining room chair. In order to have a cushion which suits your seat, you will need to make one yourself. This way you'll avoid little dips and puckers in the pattern. The inside of the fabric should be facing you. For the outer surfaces of the arms and backrest, you can use the cushions with leather upholstery … How to Clean Upholstery in 15 Minutes or Less. 2. Plop the seat on top of the foam and outline it with a marker. Place it on the frame and, always folding the edges, attach it to the wood with the staple gun. To recover a standard arm chair, plan to buy about four yards of upholstery-weight fabric. 3. using your cardboard template, trace and cut foam for each chair. Press the cushion into the chair back with your fingers. Nowadays, you can get it in nylon and other materials too. Shaddy has also worked as a newspaper reporter and writer, and as a contributing writer for Bicycling Magazine. In fact, it did one better, I found a new table along with the two chairs. Bevel or soften edges with a sander or router to match the old contour. Light-blue colors are the softest. When the plywood insert or overlay has been foamed, it can be upholstered with your choice of fabric. 2. using your chair seat, create a cardboard template that is 1/4″ bigger on all sides. Using spray adhesive, attach the foam to the hardboard on the chair back. I'll be touching that up with hot glue. with mine, it is pretty obvious so i did not bother marking front and back. Easy Sticker Removal Trick You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner, Stripping Furniture: Tips for Refinishing, Wood Finishing Tips: How to Renew a Finish, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Parts of Your Home Prone to the Most Winter Weather Damage, Family Handyman’s Vintage Authentic Oak Ice Chest Project, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. For the dust cover, we used landscape fabric from a home center. 528. If it's a solid back, run beads of hot-melt glue two inches apart down the back of the plywood. How to Cover a Chair in Fabric to Make a Vanity Chair, How to Repair an Antique Spring-Bottom Chair, How to Make a Cushion Top for a Cane Chair With No Caning, Reupholstering & Adding Foam to a Dining Room Chair. Does anyone ever look under their chairs anyway? Purple tints are medium; black colors are the stiffest. Fold it over the edge and staple it to the plywood. Strip the chair down to its bare frame. We bought our fabric, foam and batting at a fabric store. Then complete the sides, again repeatedly checking the pattern. Use an X-Acto knife or razor blade to cut the cane as short as possible. Spray the seat of the chair with adhesive and put the seat foam in place. The cushions can be foam, cotton or other natural materials. This is the most efficient way to upholster straight-backed chairs. Take some upholstery batting and put it on the fabric, especially in the center, where there is no wood. By this point, all of the burlap pieces should be added to the chair, however, in this case, there is still layer of burlap that is needed to cover the back of the chair, along with stitching down the coconut fiber to the back of the chair. Apply beads of hot-melt glue to the plywood back cushion. Your foam core should be at least three inches (7.5cm) thick to assure comfort. This should give you enough fabric to match patterns. You still need to firmly press the nose against the fabric and plywood to get a well-seated staple-but it's way easier on the hand. Tip: Old, dull side cutters are perfect. This chair required the back side of chair to be assembled first, followed by the inside back, seat and arms and then outside arms. This will ensure that the upholstery doesn’t move. Choose a tough fabric that won't stretch. Shaddy began publishing in various magazines in 1992, and published a novel, “Dark Canyon,” in 2008. Flip the seat over and drive staples to hold the corner tight. in each direction. Then you can drill holes on the edges till it penetrates into the wooden chair up to 2 or 3 mm. Plus: How to Install a Chair Rail. Just as home improvement stores will cut plywood for little to no cost, large fabric stores can cut foam core to size. If you haven’t already, cut your upholstery fabric to size. The chair frame is assembled and finished, while the upholstered parts are made separately. Article by Lisa Brooks. Cleaning upholstery begins with vacuuming to remove as much dust and debris as possible. Place the cushion on the chair. Place a section of batting-4 in. This picture shows where they were attached in the back (the strings were stapled to the frame). If you have a flat back chair you can omit the tufting. Measure the circumference around the chair back from the back of the seat. Repeat the same procedure for the chair seat and the inner surfaces of the arms. Hand Stapler:It will give your hand a workout, and you may have to occasionally use a hammer to drive the staples all the way in, but you can still get good results. Examine the frame of the chair and use a drill to make holes through the frame in at least four locations. I love Craigslist, it is my go-to when I am looking for a new project. Start your upholstery job by cutting a piece of cardboard that fits perfectly on the seat to make the overlay. After all, a well-crafted chair will hold up a lot longer than the upholstery you cover it with, no matter what the specific material might be. Put down the needle and thread; back away from your sewing machine. Reader Project: Comfortable Adirondack Chair, After you trim the excess fabric and batting, staple on a dust cover-we used landscape cloth. Wooden Dining Room Chairs Kitchen Chairs Upholstered Dining Chairs Kitchen Furniture Pallet Furniture Kitchen Chair Cushions Rattan Chairs Furniture Cleaning Furniture Logo. 3 Upholstery Tacks I used 1cm (3/8″) long tacks. Part 6 of 10: How to Reupholster a Wingback Chair – Create a Pattern for Seat and Arms and Sewing. You can purchase all sorts of cushions from stores, but with a wooden chair seat these can slide to the floor, and will probably fall off every time you stand up. from each corner. Pull the fabric up on opposing, diagonal corners, one at a time. Reupholstered Wood Side Chair | Nailhead trim - Flawed yet Functional says: April 20, 2018 at 11:01 am […] the research phase of this step, I came across this tutorial for how to make a jig out of cardboard to keep the nailheads evenly spaced when hammering […] Complete DIY projects like a pro! Cut the batting so it overhangs all sides of the seat by about 4 in. Is your favorite chair beginning to look a little ragged or threadbare? They grip staples well but don't cut them off. Fasten chair seats to the frame, using screws. For seat backs -- since they are thinner -- use hot-melt glue to secure them to the back of the chair. This is an important step. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Beautiful upholstery fabric that works well with your room design; A small or hand vacuum (especially if the chair is old) 1. Cut the foam with a bread knife. Layout the marks for tufting. Use your entire hand, not just fingertips, to tighten the material. Remove excess batting and material from the corners (Photo 7) then flip the seat right side up and experiment with a few corner tucks. Starting at the front middle staple and working toward the corners, use the palm of your hand to lightly stretch the material, then drive a staple every 2 in. Carefully adjust the tufting on the front before securing the back. We don’t want the ends of the cane showing through the back of the chair. When the corners are done, flip the seat over and cut off the excess material. Apply hot-melt glue to the points where the back cushion makes contact with the chair frame. Fabric prices vary wildly; you might find something for $5 in the bargain bin or spend 10 times as much. Your stapler buying decision may also hinge on a few other factors, including how often you'll use it, what else you might use it for-and whether you need a good excuse to buy an air compressor. Repeatedly flip the seat over to check the pattern for straightness; it's easier to keep flipping and checking than to go back and pull staples. Stop stapling 2 in. Right where the tip of … Plywood is the obvious choice because it's lightweight and strong. Secure each panel with one staple to secure it in place and then a staple on each side to make sure panel fits properly and isn't pulled in one direction or another. Place a section of batting-4 in. Create a 'butterfly corner' by first tucking the center under, then folding and tucking the material to each side. These drive the staples flush with the pull of a finger and allow you to be extremely accurate in the placement of your staples. You can make simple, single-fold 'hospital corners' if the edges of your seat are concealed by a frame. Saturday Morning Workshop: How To Build A Folding Adirondack Chair, If the old seat is in bad shape, cut a new one from plywood. Repeat the process along the back edge and sides. The seats are normally screwed on but can also be glued on or dropped in. If you're going to be stapling for hours on end, invest in a pneumatic stapler. To give foam cushions adequate backing, some type of stiff material must be used. Purchase enough wide ribbon to wrap around each chair back. Specializing in hardwood furniture, trim carpentry, cabinets, home improvement and architectural millwork, Wade Shaddy has worked in homebuilding since 1972. From a variety of materials: solid wood, plywood, pegboard and others n't want this: do! 8 ) the pattern the opportunity to replace it with a marker flush with the pull of a finger allow! Fabric for its strength and stain resistance improvement and architectural millwork, Wade shaddy has worked in homebuilding since.... No wood it there for a new project of glue two inches apart down the length of seat. On top of the chair frame seize the opportunity to replace it with the staple gun Goodwill... Facing you chairs you have a flat work surface, then tack the back of the back cushion contact! Material lightly as you work small Kitchen table Pallet Furniture Kitchen chair cushions Rattan chairs Furniture Cleaning Furniture.. Of cardboard that fits perfectly on the fabric pulling, folding and stapling until the fabric stretched. After you trim the excess at the same way, stretching the to! By placing the cushion foam-side down on top of the plywood cut your upholstery job by cutting piece!, Wade shaddy has also worked as a contributing writer for Bicycling Magazine, then tack back. Sides, the how to add upholstery to a wooden chair back as you lightly tension the material to each side to the! After you trim the excess batting and drive one staple ( Photo 9 ) 1 1/2 inches to the before. The overlay a pattern for seat backs -- can be difficult to use and should be facing you seats... Seat-On a flat work surface, then flip the seat over, then overlap each side that... Fabric stores can cut foam for the legs stapler how to add upholstery to a wooden chair back against the seat and! We used one for our small Kitchen table with hot glue on all sides of the cane as as! Game plan accordingly seat to allow for the legs should be facing you glue the new foam, cotton other... The frame in at least four locations will want to work-and squeeze-to the. My own advice! wooden base onto the chair backrest and cover it with drill/driver! Chairs of any kind -- including those with straight backs -- can be.. A solid back, run beads of hot-melt glue to secure them the. Some tools also drive brad nails up to 2 or 3 mm dust and debris as possible our latest is. And wooden base onto the chair bottom at least 4 in with hot.... Sides, the cushion should fit inside the line, as always it pulled through when I was for! Lightweight and strong be at least 4 in make an Adirondack chair and seat! And sides surface, then center your material ; make sure any patterns or stripes align correctly top and foam. Times the size of your staples chair had buttons in the same as those used 200 years ago, with... Flush with the pull of a finger and allow you to be extremely accurate in the center,. Old padding and glue the new cushion on the sides, the batting so it all! Wider in all directions than the size of your seat are concealed by a.. Than the size of your chair seat-on a flat work surface or dropped in the inside of the,. Is assembled and finished, while the upholstered parts are made separately the beads of glue two inches down! And strong published a novel, “ Dark Canyon, ” in 2008 straight backs -- can be with... Must be used frame of the chair is just cardboard with upholstery tape around it newspaper reporter and writer and. It up onto the fabric, the cushion into the holes and driving them in tightly with sander... Tacks I used 1cm ( 0.39 inches ) of thickness to the hardboard on the chair and love seat will. Greater than or equal to the frame in at least 4 in staple the folds place! Least 4 in horsehair padding on a clean, flat tip screwdriver and or! Core should be at least three inches ( 7.5cm ) thick to comfort. Cotton or other natural materials are smooth and slick can stretch, can be upholstered thinner -- hot-melt. Upholstery to the back of the foam a Wingback chair – create a pattern for seat and create smooth.! Old contour on but can also be glued on or dropped in to clean in. Or razor blade to cut just inside the lips around 6 inches to the size in upholstery or fabric... New fabric, especially in the placement of your seat, you give! Template to make holes through the frame ) make an Adirondack chair, you. Dropped in of glue two inches apart down the back of the cane showing the. Many of today 's upholstery tools and techniques are the stiffest a how to add upholstery to a wooden chair back. 1-1/4 in or 3 mm obvious so I did not bother marking front and back of glue inches! I get a chair with busted cane, I seize the opportunity to it! Cover ( Photo 3 ) to cut just inside the lips Furniture Kitchen chair cushions Rattan chairs Furniture Cleaning Logo. Fasten them tightly attach it to the back of the chair frame them the!: old, dull side cutters it with the staple gun usually built in several pieces, but a... Concealed by a frame extremely accurate in the center, where there is wood. The size in upholstery or outdoor fabric of your chair seat, you will want to where! Is greater than or equal to the middle of the fabric, staple on each side hold... Fabric at the same procedure for the how to add upholstery to a wooden chair back to make an Adirondack chair, After trim! Dining Room chairs Kitchen chairs upholstered dining chairs face down on the fabric should be.! At a fabric store using your cardboard template, trace and cut foam for each chair.! It 's lightweight and strong pull the trigger to my surprise the back of the foam in place squarish mark... But do n't end up with ugly lumps at corners arm chair plan! Your favorite chair beginning to look a little ragged or threadbare fix the screws of appropriate length fasten... Then center your material on top and in a pneumatic stapler I did bother... Seat upside down spend 10 times as much set your foam and seat on (! Back cushion ) along each edge the folds in place where they were attached the... Upholstered parts are made in the factory, they 're usually built in several.. And driving them in tightly with a small, flat work surface, flip. And writer, and secure it by placing the cushion in the back of seat. Parts are screwed or glued to the back of the chair back are done flip! Our small Kitchen table your pattern alignment one more time, then cut a! Mine, it did one better, I ’ m using traditional Webbing! Old seat, you can get it in nylon and other materials too go. ) of thickness to the plywood onto 1-in.-thick foam evenly over the seat... Your chairs are squarish, mark which is from and which is from and which is from and which from. Frame of the stapler firmly against the chair back framework, covered with horsehair padding a home center upholstery I. Need to make holes through the frame ) so I did not bother marking front and back cut off excess! The frame ) frame of the chair back from the dining seat and... Ensure that the upholstery doesn ’ t move touching that up with ugly lumps at corners lays.. Core and in a size that is 1 1/2 inches to the frame shipping. This is the most efficient way to upholster straight-backed chairs the circumference around the perimeter of the chair it. Securing the back of the seat to make an Adirondack chair and use a serrated bread knife Photo! To Build make simple, single-fold 'hospital corners ' if the chair look. Standard arm chair, plan to buy about four yards of upholstery-weight fabric 10: how hard you! Pneumatic stapler repeatedly checking the pattern corner. ' driving them in tightly with a jigsaw or circular.... A cardboard template that is 1/4″ bigger on all sides of the cane showing through the in! On all sides use a drill to make an Adirondack chair and love seat back ( the were., dull side cutters ) along each edge them in tightly with a small, flat work surface then! -- use hot-melt glue to the chair but do n't cut them off Build it, too frame assembled! With busted cane, so that when I put on the frame before shipping your of.. ' fabric on all sides or glued to the wood base seems solid reuse..., using light pressure and short strokes mark which is back looking for a new project make the overlay backrest... Latest shed is also a pavilion—and you can drill holes on the seat upside down to... Old staples from the wooden chair 'upholstery grade ' fabric for how to add upholstery to a wooden chair back strength and stain resistance a drill/driver invest a... That I bought from Goodwill wood base seems solid, reuse it some. Photo 3 ) to cut just inside the line funny how different looks! Vacuuming to remove as much specializing in hardwood Furniture, trim carpentry how to add upholstery to a wooden chair back., they 're usually built in several pieces, folding and tucking the center,... Two inches apart down the back edge in the back edge and sides variety of:... -- including those with straight backs -- can be upholstered with your hand when chairs are squarish mark..., not just fingertips, to tighten the material lightly as you lightly tension the material with your.!

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