If your budget won't allow you to replace your old dining room chairs, you may benefit from an inexpensive alternative. After a few years of use, it's not unusual for the fabric to become stained and the padding to wear out. A few tips for refinishing dining room chairs can give you the confidence you need to completely make over your existing chairs and make them new again.
Gather Materials
You will need a dining room chair, medium-density fiberboard or 1-inch-thick plywood, fabric, foam padding, staple gun and staples.
Remove Old Fabric
More than likely the fabric is attached with staples. Start removing the fabric by turning the chair upside down and removing the staples underneath.
Choose Upholstery Fabric
Upholstery fabric is a much more durable fabric. A stain-resistant material makes it much easier to clean up unexpected spills and food spatters. You can find affordable upholstery fabric in a variety of colors and patterns online at cryptonfabric.com.
Measure the Seat
Measure the dimensions of the seat to find out how much material you'll need. You can trace a pattern using a pencil and paper or use the old fabric you removed as your pattern when cutting out the new fabric. Add 2 inches on each side for tucking and stapling into place.
Attach Foam Padding
Attach the foam padding to the base of the seat. Staple it into place. Choose padding that's specifically meant for upholstery projects.
Add New Fabric
Place the fabric neatly over the cushion. Smooth out any wrinkles and pull it as tight as you can on all sides as you staple it to the underside of the chair. Trim away any access fabric. Finish the look by adding creative touches with upholstery tacks, cording and more upholstery trimmings around the edges of the seat. You can find these decorative items and more at trimandtassels.com.
Tags: dining room, foam padding, into place, seat find