Things You'll Need
Measuring tape
Screwdriver
Masking tape
Upholstery fabric
Scissors
Staple lifter
Wooden mallet
Staple gun
Staples
Dining chairs typically hold up longer than their fabric seats, but don't assume yours are a loss because you've never upholstered. If you can turn a screwdriver and press the top of a staple gun, you've already mastered most of the tools. Take on the old chairs in grandma's attic, or take advantage of discount store chairs where the price is right but the cushions are wrong. Give your chairs a brand new look just by reupholstering the seat cushions.
Step 1
Turn the chair upside down. Turn a screwdriver counterclockwise to remove the screws holding the chair seat to the four corners of the frame. Set the screws in a safe place or tape them to the underside of the chair so you don't lose them; use low-tack masking tape so you don't mar the chair's finish.
Video of the Day
Step 2
Measure the width and length of the chair seat at its largest points. Measure the chair seat's depth, which is its thickness. Multiply the depth by three and add the result to both the width and length measurements. Cut your new cushion fabric to those dimensions.
Step 3
Turn the chair seat upside down. Insert the tip of a staple lifter or flathead screwdriver under the staples affixing the fabric to pry them out of the seat. Tap the end of the tool with a wooden mallet to pop out staples that seem stuck. Remove the old fabric once you've removed all of the staples.
Step 4
Lay the new seat cover on a flat surface with the decorative side facing down. Center the chair seat on top of the fabric with the cushioned side facing down.
Step 5
Fold the fabric over the back edge of the seat. Staple the fabric to the seat's bottom at the center back, no more than an inch from the edge. While pulling the fabric tight enough to remove any wrinkles, repeat with the fabric at the front and both sides of the chair's seat.
Step 6
Fold the fabric over the back edge of the seat. Staple the fabric to the seat's bottom at the center back, no more than an inch from the edge. While pulling the fabric tight enough to remove any wrinkles, repeat with the fabric at the front and both sides of the chair's seat.
Step 7
Fold the fabric at each corner over its corner of the chair. Secure the corner fabric with a single staple placed halfway between each of the seat's corners and the screw holes used to attach the seat to the frame. Clip off the points off of the fabric corners so they don't cover the screw holes. Staple the remaining inch of unattached fabric at each side of each corner.
Step 8
Turn the chair right side up and position the seat on the frame. Insert the screws you saved into the holes at the four corners. Turn the screws clockwise to refasten the reupholstered cushioned seat to the frame.
Tip
Check the remnant section of your fabric store for discounts on designer fabrics. Cushioned dining chair seats don’t require much yardage.
Video of the Day