This took about one hour and was ridiculously easy. Free Downloads & other Resources for Upcycling Businesses, Facebook Group – Upcycle My Stuff – Share My Stuff, « The Ultimate Guide to Upcycled Gifts on Etsy, 10 DIY Personalised Gifts You Can Make From Your Upcycled Stuff! If you have a straight back chair, use a thicker hardwood for the back. If you use a pattern, center it on the chair before cutting the fabric. I stapled it in place following the existing staple line for the old seat padding. Tack to the left or right of your thumb rather than right below it as this will leave unsightly "tack … Piping is a small detail that makes a huge impact. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It happens to be my daughter's great-grandma's and it is going in her room. Materials Needed. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 111. If the base is in good condition, remove the old fabric and staples with an awl and pliers. In that case, you need to decide whether it’s simpler and cheaper to simply purchase an entirely new chair. The chairs look fabulous! The average cost to reupholster 6 dining chairs is $900 to $3,600, depending on the type. – for years now. Repeat this for each corner of the chair. Before you remove the old upholstery, you’ll need to dismantle the chair. Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our experts–straight to your inbox. It's amazing what a fresh fabric can do for a dining room chair. That’s not a problem with one of these compact, ultra-efficient units that heat water as you need it. Love Upcycling? Attach Fabric. Unscrew the seat base from the chair frame. The seats and everything is nice and firm and don’t need new batting or anything,; just a change in material, I don’t like the colors. Old dining chair with padded seat, back and arm rests. She said “Mom!, you’re a sawdust sister! The lines are simple, but the arms have an unexpected curve. The dining room set still looks good; the wood is fine and the chairs don't squeak, but the seat fabric is a bit outdated and drab. I knew before I started this project that I wanted some additional cushioning on the armrests as they always felt a bit hard to me – that will have been that hard wooden block underneath! You can reupholster most dining room chairs in about an hour. I am doing a much simplier project now. Back Next . socks. Changing these covers will update the set, and with accurate measuring, you can purchase the correct amount of fabric with confidence. From my research, it appears we have Parsons chair seats, so I … This is because there is such a wide variety of dining chair styles and each chair will be in a different state. Upholstery Staple Remover and/or Tack Puller. Insert the tip of a staple lifter beneath the staples affixing the fabric to the seats. Screw the seat back down to the chair frame. Hobby Lobby, here I come! 1. I did a wing back chair and vowed never to do it again! If the base is in good condition, remove the old fabric and staples with an awl and pliers. Read the full disclosure here. Feb 10, 2015 - Step-by-step instructions on recovering a chair! Next, attach the fabric in the same way. Cut the material so you'll be able to wrap it up onto the chair bottom at least 4 in. Dining room chair reupholstery costs $150 to $300 each, or between $400 and $600 each with a cushioned chair backing. A simple wooden chair, painting it white and re-covering the seat. I finally decided to go a different route with the fabric though and I think it turned out great. I did a wing back chair and vowed never to do it again! I’d love to see how they turn out! It has been reupholstered at least once before; I remember my mother and grandmother working on it for … These studs come in a long roll. I decided to pick a really bright and striking fabric so that it still ended up looking more modern even with the wood finish. Every piece of furniture, especially those that we use often and/or is placed in a high-traffic spot will show some tired signs. Step 2 – Remove the chair seat. Pull off old fabric. I am passionate about upcycling and I am passionate about helping upcycling businesses get started and grow. Unscrew the seat base from the chair frame. Here’s how! Place back panel in position and fold the right side over the top of the chair back. Transform your dining room chairs by re-covering the cushions with a stylish new fabric. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. If you like’d this post about How to Re-Upholster a Dining Chair and you want to return to it later, don’t forget to Pin it! The basic steps that need to be followed while reupholstering the dining room chair are mentioned below: Remove Fabric: The first thing is to remove the old fabric from the chair. The reupholstering a chair is also one way to add a new life to it. You can accomplish the task within a day. Here, Matthew Haly, owner of The Furniture Joint, an upholstery studio in New York City, demonstrates how to reupholster a dining chair. Trim can cost an average of $10 per yard, and the amount needed depends on the chair; a dining room chair may use less than a yard, while a wing-back chair may need eight yards of braid or trim during upholstering. A wooden Parson's chair with a unique trim costs $350 to $700 to reupholster. 10 Art Deco Style Upcycle Projects to Jazz up your Home, How to Upcycle a Bureau into an Art Deco Drinks Cabinet, How to Upcycle a Dressing Table: An Art Deco Style Makeover, How to Upcycle Antique French Fauteuil Chairs – Painting & Upholstery Tutorial. Stick the cushioning to the wood with a fast-drying spray adhesive. Here, Matthew Haly, owner of The Furniture Joint, an upholstery studio in New York City, demonstrates how to reupholster a dining chair. Either trace the old base, or measure the seat frame and mark the wood with the dimensions minus about an 1/8 inch all around. Chair cushions consist of plywood inserts with foam and fabric that comes off easily. Make sure to take the photos in good light so that you can see the chair really well. Push down on the lifter’s handle to pry the staples from the seat. Cut the fabric to the seat base's dimensions plus 1/4 inch all around. Cost To Reupholster Dining Room Chairs. To these measurements, add 6 inches on each side and 6 inches on the front and back. All rights reserved. My Grandma gave that remnant to me years ago and as best as I can figure it out, the fabric is from the early 70s. 3. Attach Back. in each direction. Alrighty, friends. If you can see it in the above photo, the two chairs that I had in the dining room had vintage cream and black striped fabric. The steps mentioned above can also be referred to. It took an … Rotate the … Use a scrap piece of fabric (part of an old flat sheet will work) and lay your seat back on it. Reupholstering your dining room chairs gives both the chairs and the room a fresh look. You simply measure, cut, place it over your staple line and use a hammer to hammer in the studs that have the nails/spikes on them. For example, the cost to reupholster a chair cushion may be less than $150, and it’s unlikely you can replace the entire chair for that amount. Then, attach the two panels back onto the chair by using a brad nailer and stapling right through the fabric into the wood of the chair. Ask This Old House master electrician Heath Eastman explains the uses and purposes of different types of electrical boxes. Turn the chair seats upside down. How To Reupholster A Dining Room Chair Seat And Back? This sturdy, comfortable ladder-back is perfect for the worktable in my library. I am fairly confident just about anyone can reupholster a dining chair using this method. Many of us own that one chair, sofa, or bench seat that has been through it all, and needs a makeover. This post may contain affiliate links. If you are lucky enough to have a solid back chair, omit this step. Your email address will not be published. Dismantle Chair. A wooden Parson's chair with a unique trim costs $350 to $700 to reupholster. Mark the measurements on the fabric with a fabric pen or chalk so that you will know where to cut. You can buy the fabric in various weights. Cut the seat cushion from high-density foam that's at least one inch thick. 3/4 yard will cover 2 chairs; Reupholstering the seat. Art Deco fabrics available on Etsy here too. Work from the center staples out toward the edges. Place the hardboard back and chair seat on foam and trace. 211. My hangup on reupholstering the chairs was that I wanted to source matching vintage fabric and I couldn’t find any that matched. :: Before inserting your seat back inside your chair you may want to scotch guard the fabric first to help repel future stains. Re-Upholstering Dining Room Chairs; Re-Upholstering Dining Room Chairs. The previous fabric on the armrests was well worn on the corners from these wood pieces so I decided to sand down the corners of these sharp rectangular blocks of wood with 60 Grit sandpaper. However, our seats pretty much make up the chairs which made reupholstering them much more involved. This board covers the raw edges of the fabric. Pin It. Re-covering is a pain in the ars! You will have to check it out! I’m based in Vancouver, Canada and I ordered this fabric from Zazzle online. Also mark the center of the front and back of the seat. I stapled into the same spots/lines that the previous staples were located. Copyright © 2020 This Old House Ventures, LLC. This part was not very fun. Cut … A simple wooden chair, painting it white and re-covering the seat. 6. How ever, I have 2 chairs that I would like to redo. I went for Poplin which probably was a touch too thin. Back in October, my 22 y/o daughter Andrea came to me and said “Mom I need you to help me reupholster some dining chairs as a Christmas gift for my mother-in-law”. This chair required the back side of chair to be assembled first, followed by the inside back, seat and arms and then outside arms. ». I used some of fabric I had taken off of the chair (a piece that was in the best condition) and added it to cover the underside. Reupholster dining chairs – what affects the price? The strip of studs cut and bend easily, so they are quick and simple to work with. So, I used drop cloth fabric (same as I used on the slip covers, and some braided gimp trim in an accent color for trim! What do you mean you don’t know how to reupholster dining chairs?” Subscribe for the latest straight to your inbox! It has been reupholstered at least once before; I remember my mother and grandmother working on it for about a week when I was 8 or 9. Revitalize the chairs in your dining room set by replacing worn seat pads and fabric with new fabric and foam. Repeat the same steps to make a piece for the back, or you could just double the fabric and do one cut. I have had this formal looking dining room chair – is it maybe called a Carver’s Chair? Reupholster a Chair From the Bones Up: My sister inherited this lovely framed chair from our mother. this was my first hack at any sort of upholstering and i think more upholstery is in my future. I kindly said “I don’t know how to reupholster chairs, Andrea”. 2. Before we can get to the piping, you need to cover your chair pads. Pull the fabric taut to the seat and staple it … Adding a new cushion and fresh fabric to a dated wood chair is a great way to bring it back to life. Dining room chairs are one of the most common pieces of furniture to reupholster. I did staple on some new padding but it still didn’t seem ‘cushy’ enough so I added in some old (but freshly washed!) Staple in the center of the fold to secure the fabric at the corner of the seat. Cut out the foam. They were probably added the last time it was recovered in the 1950s – most likely by my Grandfather! How to Reupholster a Seat Cushion 01:36. On the other hand, repairing and re-padding the same chair can raise the price more than $1,100 to $1,500. I wanted to leave the wood as it was rather than paint it as it is in good condition (plus my grandfather was not a fan of painted wooden furniture!). upholstered seat dining chairs; 1/2 yard fabric per seat cushion; 1/2 yard batting per seat cushion; 2-inch foam; temporary fabric pen; scissors; tape measure; staple gun; staples; screwdriver; utility knife; Remove Seat Cushion. The average cost to reupholster 6 dining chairs is $900 to $3,600, depending on the type. I love how simple you made upholstering chairs. I first removed the seat from the chair frame using a screw driver. Don't forget to turn the chair over to get photos from below, as well. 5. 1. With a seat only kitchen or dining room chair, your work here is easy. This was the week! These photos will come in handy when you're putting new fabric on the chair. Cut the wood with a … They all had mismatched upholstery that was damaged and worn so it was time to do something about it. :: If your seat is designed to be screwed into your chair take care during the upholstery process to keep the screw holes clear of fabric, tacks and staples – lord knows, I … By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. When I revealed my dining room table makeover, I promised I would share how to add piping to dining room chairs, so here it is! Then you cut pieces of thin foam or cotton batting to fit the chair and the front of the chair where your backrests. Fold it over, and use an upholstery staple gun to shoot a staple … I am going to show you both ways, both super easy! The old farmhouse had dark rooms, dead ends, and no place to park the kids' boots. My chair backs had a curve to them so I needed the thinner hardboard so it would curve with the chair. Tired of running out of hot water? Here’s what you need to know about choosing, installing, and living with a tankless water heater. 8. The chairs look fabulous! 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. I actually decided to add more padding at this point so I shoved it in from below under the springs and smoothed it out. This will help with any odors as well. Grasp the center of the fabric from the front edge of the seat, fold it over the seat pad, and staple it to the seat. Re-covering is a pain in the ars! I’ve always intended to re-cover and re-upholster it but it’s taken me a while to get around to it. I have parsons dining room chairs that have the “leather” peeling off. There are similar Art Deco fabrics available on Etsy here too. This pretty, early 20th-century dining chair was heading for the skip when I noticed its potential. Most chairs are finished on the bottom, so the best method is to remove fabric in the reverse order it was put on…this way the last pieces you will remove will be the first pieces you put back on. I have a fabulous tutorial for you today….. a step by step picture tutorial on how to upholster dining room chairs! Many of us own that one chair, sofa, or bench seat that has been through it all, and needs a makeover. Learn how your comment data is processed. If you are lucky enough to have a solid back chair, omit this step. The following tools are necessary to reupholster dining room chairs: Screwdriver to remove the chair seat (Phillips or flat-head, depending on the type of screws used to hold the chair seat onto the chair). Start by stapling the batting to center of each side of the seat, then work your way around, pulling the batting tight as you go. A year passed before we finally replaced our dining room set. We then used the materials she chose to upholster the dining chairs, as well as adding some individual studding as a design feature. If you want to reupholster dining room chairs, you’re in for a long project. If your fabric has a looser weave (ie, you could stick a pin through without leaving a hole), you can simply staple the fabric to the back of the padded back panel using a staple gun. How much fabric you need to reupholster a kitchen or dining room chair depends on the type of chair you have. Once you have your seat and back cushion reupholstered with your new fabric, screw them back onto the chair and you are done! I unscrewed the chair seats from the chairs and began removing staples with this miraculous little tool. Furniture expert Matthew Haly shows how to bring new life to a worn chair seat. Make sure you’re leaving at least two to three inches extra on each side so you’ll have room to securely attach the fabric to the chair. I have had this formal looking dining room chair – is it maybe called a Carver’s Chair? This guest upholstery tutorial is all about how to reupholster a dining chair with fabric on the seat and back. So then I started to fold the edge under and then staple it to the frame. The cane was busted on about 3 of them, and re-caning was out the question. Read More…. How to Reupholster a Dining Room Chair Seat and Back | 5 Quick Steps. Flip the chair upside down and unscrew the … Every fourth or fifth stud has whole in it and you also get a pile of loose studs with sharp nails on the end. Many dining chairs you'll find at thrift stores have removable seats, which makes this do-it-yourself furniture project even easier. I went as thick as I felt I could go with it and ended up adding a couple of layers. choose which upholstery fabric to use and when. Get all the latest tutorials! Time to throw them out and start saving up for some new ones, perhaps? Here's how an inventive redo made an 1830s artifact just right for a 21st-century household, How to Create a Color Wash Patina on Furniture, How to Build a Picnic Table with Attached Benches. My apartment is mostly greys, teals and blue shades so it fits in well. Turns out they were just the right size for what I needed! Thinking of starting an Upcycling Business? The screws are generally inset, so you may need a longer drill bit. For the chair and seat back I went ahead and removed the old padding and replaced it with new cotton padding. Without first seeing your chairs, it’s impossible for us to give a completely accurate quote on how much reupholstery would cost. 4. I run Upcycle My Stuff. I’ve always intended to re-cover and re-upholster it but it’s taken me a while to get around to it. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. We collected the chairs and stripped them back, replacing the old horsehair with new fire-retardant filling. – for years now. I am so pleased with how this turned out! 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. This is a professional quality reupholstering tool kit (more information) containing: a magnetic hammer, gooseneck webbing stretcher, staple lifter, regulator, mallet, 10" shears, assorted needles, etc. I put another layer of the cotton padding on top of the socks. Reupholstering chairs, especially dining room chairs, is an easy project. It can be mold, wrinkles, scratches, spills, dirt, and other visible flaws that might make us want to get rid of it immediately. We’ve been collecting a particular style of blackwood dining chair one at a time for the past couple of years. If you aren’t sure what type of upholstery fabric to go for you can also check out this guide that helps you choose which upholstery fabric to use and when. The more cushions your chair has, the more it will cost to reupholster. So your dining chairs are looking a little tatty. Of course, … Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Alright, here we go. Cut the wood with a jigsaw. I chose a bold blue and white art deco fabric. Once you have your upholstery fabric secured you will still have a visible staple line so this needs to be covered with some trim. Later I made a tape label for “1 front” on the fabric removed from that front panel, “1 back” on the back wood panel, and “1” on the seat cushion fabric removed from that chair, etc. Pull the fabric up tight on one corner. It happens to be my daughter's great-grandma's and it is going in her room. How to Reupholster Dining Room Chairs With Patterned Fabric. Though the finish is nearly perfect, the seat … I followed the advice in another upholstery tutorial on this site that says it is best practice to save the old fabric as you take it off so you can use it as a pattern piece for your chair. Place the hardboard back and chair seat on foam and trace. How to Upholster or Reupholster A Dining Room Chair Slip Seat Please read Safety Information before starting any upholstery projects. It was submitted by one of our regular contributors, Charlie Miller. Perhaps the seat fabrics are stained, marked, torn, threadbare, or just looking rather dated and no longer suit your decor. Apply … Put the seat on top of the material and staple or tack at your center marks and a couple of inches to either side. I recently upholstered the backs of 6 of my dining chairs. For example, the cost to reupholster a chair cushion may be less than $150, and it’s unlikely you can replace the entire chair for that amount. The first step is choosing an upholstery fabric and figuring out how much you need. The cost and time involved would be more than I wanted to do.