Whether you have a piece of furniture that you really love at home with the upholstery in poor condition, or you have a cheap piece of furniture that is reasonably priced but doesn't look great, you can completely change the appearance of your furniture by changing the upholstery. While this process can be time-consuming, changing upholstery at home can save hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars and result in a truly unique piece of furniture that fits your own home and style.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Preparing for the Upholstery Replacement
Step 1. Choose a quality piece of furniture
Replacing furniture upholstery is a long and time-intensive process. If you try to do this on poor quality furniture, you will experience two things: increased difficulty with the process, and an increased chance that the furniture will not last (which makes your investment of time/money useless). Start off on the right foot by choosing high quality furniture with ugly 'skin'.
- Look for furniture made of solid wood, not plywood. Solid wood will retain its value and last a very long time, while plywood furniture is not of high quality to last.
- Check the furniture for creaking, noise, or imbalance. Shake the furniture slightly - if it vibrates or makes a sound when you do this, it means the furniture is not in great shape and may not be worth replacing the upholstery.
- Look at the overall construction of the furniture to determine if there is any major damage or problem areas. Sticking or missing nails/screws, broken boards/pieces, or loose areas may be a sign that the furniture will require more work to fix than you would like it to do.
Step 2. Get lots of quality upholstery
While you can technically replace furniture upholstery with any type of fabric, most fabrics won't be thick and strong enough to last for years. Look for special furniture upholstery fabrics, which are thicker and made to withstand wear and tear better than other types of fabric. Please note that the type of furniture you use will depend on where it is placed; You can safely use regular fabrics on furniture that you won't use often, but you will definitely need to change the fabric again for furniture that you use frequently (such as sofas).
- Since changing upholstery is a very time-consuming process, try to choose a fabric that is relatively neutral and will stand the test of time in terms of style. Thus, the furniture will match your interior design preferences longer than the choice of fabrics with bold or trendy colors/patterns.
- If you get a patterned fabric, try to choose one that doesn't need to be pattern matched to a particular section (like wallpaper) when you're cutting it into sections. You can still use a fabric with a custom cut pattern like this, but it will take more time to try to match the pattern so that each piece goes in the same direction as every other piece.
Step 3. Prepare all your equipment
There are no special tools required for the upholstery replacement process, but you will need a few tools for the job. Get this equipment in advance to make your job easier. You will need:
- A flat-head screwdriver (or a butter knife - this will be used for prying)
- Tang
- A hammer
- A stapler with staples (the length of the staple required will depend on the thickness of the fabric you are using)
- Sewing machine and accessories.
Step 4. Prepare more/optional supplies
You may not need the following kits depending on your specific project, but they may be useful for certain upholstery replacement projects. Check the following list and see if there's anything you might need for the furniture you're working on:
- Cleaning supplies (only for old sofas)
- Fabric hose (for seam/edge)
- Cotton wadding for extra cushioning
- Buttons (with needle and upholstery thread)
- Pillow zipper
- Substitute legs
Part 2 of 2: Changing Your Furniture Upholstery
Step 1. Remove the current upholstery from your furniture
Work slowly and carefully to remove the fabric from your furniture by pulling out all the staples/tacks/screws holding the fabric. Use a flat-head screwdriver or butter knife to carefully pull out all the staples. Don't cut any of the fabric to remove it, as you will be using the existing fabric as a pattern for the new upholstery.
- If you remove the fabric from the sofa, you will have to turn the sofa over and also remove the fabric from the bottom and back.
- Remove any existing pillows, but if they don't have zippers, you may be able to make a cover for them instead of changing the current fabric.
- Side panel fabrics (such as on sofas) may not need to be removed, as often you can nail your new fabric over them.
- Be careful not to injure yourself with staples or tacks, as these can be a source of tetanus.
Step 2. Clean the furniture
Removing old fabrics will often reveal the dirty underside of the used furniture; It is best to clean any dirt or soiled place before adding a new cloth on it. For sofas, vacuum the inside of the frame, and spray some cloth cleaner over the cushions and foam to freshen them up. Use a small amount of wood oil or cleaner to prep the wood parts of your furniture, and cover them if necessary.
- If your furniture is damaged or scratched, you should take the time now to repair it and prepare it for new fabric.
- If you want to color or paint wood on your furniture, you must do so at this stage.
Step 3. Measure and cut your new fabric
Spread out all the fabric you removed from the furniture, making sure you know where each piece of fabric is on the sofa (or where it was originally attached). Spread out your new upholstery and stack the old fabric pieces on top, then trace the shape of the old fabric to the new fabric using a fabric pencil. This will serve as your pattern, and allow you to cut out all the parts needed for your project. Once you have finished printing the old fabric pattern onto the new fabric, you can carefully cut each piece of fabric, and make sure you mark or remember where each piece of fabric will be attached to your furniture.
Use fabric scissors to cut your fabric, to make a smooth and neat cut
Step 4. Sew the fabric where needed
Not all of the upholstery you'll be installing requires stitching, in fact it's usually only the pillows and sleeves or angular pieces of fabric that will require stitching.
- Use thread that matches the fabric, or use clear plastic thread.
- If you can, use a serger sewing machine along the edges to prevent fraying.
Step 5. Glue the new fabric to the furniture
Work one piece at a time, matching the new fabric to an appropriate location on the furniture. Use your stapler with staples of the appropriate length to securely attach the fabric to the furniture. Make sure there are no gaps, and fold/tuck the edges of each piece of fabric for a smooth finish.
- If you need to apply an extra layer of cushioning, do so before re-gluing the fabric.
- Some fabrics will need to be tacked on using tacks for the upholstery, but you'll find out based on how the original fabric was attached.
Step 6. Add the finishing touches
When all the fabric has re-adhered to your furniture, you will need to sew all the pipes/hoses on the edges, buttons, or legs to the bottom of your furniture. This is your chance to make last-minute changes or to add design details that might not have been in the original furniture. If you decide you are completely finished, inspect the furniture once thoroughly to make sure that there are no loose threads for example, and that the furniture is ready to be placed as a permanent fixture in your home.
Tips
- Get creative with the fabric you use for upholstering your furniture. Choosing a fabric that is completely different from the original will express your creativity, as well as transform the furniture into something new.
- If your upholstery is too thick to nail with staples to the corners, use canvas tacks instead of staples.
- Begin to replace the furniture upholstery on furniture that is small and basic in shape. A chair with a square seat is perfect for beginners. Always practice using "disposable" or simple furniture before trying anything complex.
- Learn the basic techniques first, practice, practice, practice!
- If using foam, apply a layer of Dacron foam between the foam and the fabric layer. This will give the finished product a full and beautiful looking lather.
Warning
- Always use professional tools! Sharp upholstery scissors are essential!
- As an amateur upholsterer, don't try to work with suede or leather upholstery. This thick material is very difficult to handle.
- When installing staples, make sure the fabric pattern, if any, is aligned.
- Hire a professional if you are dealing with quality vintage furniture.
