Repair any cracks in the frame of the overstuffed chair before reuphosltering it.
Despite extra padding, overstuffed dining room chairs benefit from reupholstery when the existing fabric shows signs of tear. Recovering old, stained or outdated fabric not only breathes new life into the furniture, but improves its future condition. Select stain-resistant, durable fabric that matches the theme of the dining room for a cohesive style. Take accurate measurements of the covered sections of the chair beforehand, so you purchase the right amount of fabric.
Instructions
1. Remove the staples holding the current fabric to the chair padding with a staple remover, or use needle-nose pliers if it is tacked to the frame. Work carefully so that you do not damage or rip the padding.
2. Remove the fabric from the chair's seat pad and back carefully keeping these cutouts aside to use as a template. Alternatively, drape muslin on the overstuffed sections of the dining chairs, such as the seat pads and backs, and draw around them with . Make the outlines 2 inches larger than the stuffed sections to make up for seams.
3. Spread the new fabric on a table and place the old fabric or muslin cutouts on it. Insert pins into the edges of each old fabric cutout to keep it in place while you trace around it with colored chalk.
4. Remove the pins and the old fabric cutouts. Use sharp scissors to cut around the outlines on the new fabric. Snip off loose threads around the edges.
5. Spread each fabric over the corresponding side on the dining chair. Center the fabric for the seat in place and tuck the edges into the seam between the seat and the chair back.
6. Insert a row of staples to secure the back edge of the fabric to the padding. Pull the fabric along the opposite edge, or the front, taut over the padding before stapling it in place. Avoid pulling it too taut, but work the fabric to move with the shape of the seat due to the excess padding. Staple the fabric along the sides of the seat to the padding, each in turn, so it fits snug over the seat.
7. Center the fabric for the inner back of the overstuffed dining chair over the padding and repeat the process of stapling opposite edges. Brush out any folds or creases with your hand, so that the section of the chair is smooth when covered.
8. Step back and review the chair. Snip off excess fabric from the upholstered sections. Hot glue decorative trim over the seams for added impact.
Tags: Center fabric, colored chalk, dining chair, dining room, each fabric, fabric along