Upholstery of chairs - selection of materials, review of design options and instructions for implementation (115 photos). Correct reupholstery of chairs with your own hands Reupholstering of chairs with your own hands by a master

Old furniture in the house usually brings melancholy and despondency. Holes and abrasions in the upholstery, peeling paint and unfashionable design make you want to convoy boring interior items to the nearest landfill. Let it go new chair flimsy and unreliable, but there are so many positive emotions from updating the interior. But you can get where More fun, giving a second life to an old thing. Creative potential is in each of us, and some tips will help to realize it.

Methods for restoring old furniture

Restoration old furniture– the process is labor-intensive, but undoubtedly creative. Usage various techniques, the wealth of choice of materials and their combinations allows you to get a unique thing of its kind. The methods used in repair depend on the type of furniture and the degree of its damage, but they all have one thing in common: preparatory stage: removing old coating from the surface wooden product any in an accessible way, For example, sandpaper, starting from coarser and ending with fine-grained.

• Traditional methods furniture updates count varnishing and staining. In this way, you can update the coverage partially or completely.
• Other popular and in an inexpensive way is lamination, that is, covering the surface with a film. It is more suitable for flat surfaces. When gluing, it is important to start from the center, gradually moving towards the edges. This will avoid unsightly bubbles.

• Veneer coating- that's more professional type restoration. Materials required special glue, iron and the veneer sheets themselves. The technology is not very complicated - 2 layers of glue are applied to the surface, veneer is applied and ironed from the center to the edges. The method is somewhat similar to the previous one, but the result looks much nobler.
• Of the fashionable trends in furniture renovation, greater preference is given to techniques decoupage, craquelure, paint painting.

If the object of restoration is upholstered furniture, for example, a chair, then in addition to basic measures, it will probably be necessary to change the upholstery. When updating soft surfaces, sometimes it’s enough just to alter decorative fabric. But most often, internal breakdowns that require major repairs are hidden under the cover.

What features of chairs need to be taken into account when restoring?

Before you begin repairs, it is important to determine the type of chair, its purpose and design features. It is necessary to assess visible damage and try to predict possible internal ones. This data will help us understand what tools and materials will be useful to us. Several classifications will be discussed below.

The following groups are distinguished by purpose:

• For home. This group includes chairs for the kitchen, living room, office and other rooms. Most often they are universal and can be used in any room of the apartment;
• For the street Most often, models are made of plastic and polymers. There are examples of wooden outdoor chairs, but they must be treated with moisture-resistant impregnations;

• Office chairs are mobile, have a back and sometimes armrests, and are equipped with height adjustment;
• Bar chairs are up to 80 cm high and come with or without backrest. The seat of a bar stool is most often round; the presence of upholstery depends on the model.

Depending on the method of making the frame, there are the following chairs:

• Carpentry chairs are the easiest to make, which were made during labor lessons at school;

• Chiseled- so named because all the elements round section are made on a machine;

• Bent chairs are made on special equipment. The wood is treated with steam, given the desired shape and dried;

• Cast or stamped models are made from metal or plastic.

According to the type of seat, chairs are divided into the following options:

• Tough. These are models without flooring;
• Semi-soft. These include chairs without spring block with a foam pad of 2-4 cm;
• Soft chairs. For elasticity, they are equipped with springs and a layer of foam rubber, the average thickness of which is 3-5 cm.

By the presence of armrests:

• Chairs with armrests can be hard or soft, upholstered in leather or textiles.

Removing old upholstery and inspecting the frame

The initial stage of reupholstering a chair is its disassembly. When dismantling each part, remember and mark what was where, this will make assembly easier. finished product. The first step is to remove the seat, to do this you need to remove all the fasteners (bolts, nails, staples, metal plates). The backrest is disassembled in the same way, if there is one.

After this, you should inspect the chair frame for hidden damage, cracks, loose connections, check the condition of the springs; those that have become unusable can be easily replaced with jute tape. Next is the disassembly of the seat and back: removing the staples and carefully removing the finishing fabric and filling. You shouldn’t throw them away right away, as it’s easy to make a pattern using them and measure approximate consumption fabrics. The plywood base must be cleaned of any remaining foam rubber and glue; if it is cracked, then cut a new one. The next stage is the preparation of materials and tools.

How to choose materials?

Having assessed the scope of work, you can proceed to compiling a list of materials. Upholstery replacement typically requires the use of the following materials.

Upholstery fabric

• The aesthetic appearance of the future cover should be combined with practicality. Options with a strong odor and fading should be avoided. Probably, low-quality, toxic dye was used in production.
• A thick fabric with a pile will help a beginner hide imperfections in the upholstery. At the same time, when cutting out parts, it is important to take into account the direction of the pile. If you forget about this feature, the color of the parts in the final product may differ.

• To save on fabric consumption, you should prefer a smooth material with a small abstract pattern. This texture and texture allows you to place the patterns sparingly, in any direction.
• If the highlight of your design should be a pattern or large ornament, then get ready to buy more fabric. In this case, when cutting, the direction of the lines is important. The mismatched pattern on the seats and back stands out and looks sloppy. For example, if the red stripe abruptly turns into blue, or the details of the ornament are offset relative to each other.

• Choosing decorative upholstery, consider the purpose of the chair. For example, for kitchen chairs you should choose a material that is durable and easy to clean.
• Leatherette upholstery will add solidity to the furniture, but it will not be much more durable than other types of fabric.

These tips do not imply limited choice at all.

Types of upholstery fabrics can be varied:

• The most common fabric in the production of upholstered furniture is tapestry. This fabric is two-layer, it has a rich texture and texture. But it captivated furniture makers not only with its beauty, but also with its strength, durability and practicality. It is washable and does not fade in the sun. The tapestry has antistatic properties, due to this, dust does not collect on its surface.

• Another popular option is chenille. This is a beautiful, affordable fabric made from fluffy chenille threads. The fabric woven from such a thread turns out to be voluminous, and it is soft and velvety to the touch. The use of chenille threads in various types weaving (tapestry, jacquard, satin) allows you to get interesting textures, and the combination various colors(their number sometimes reaches eighteen) creates unique patterns. The best option for reupholstering chairs at home there are samples with a mixed composition. The presence of artificial fibers increases the wear resistance of the fabric. Main disadvantage chenille is hygroscopic: water leaves stains on it and is likely to deform, so it is not suitable for kitchen chairs.

• Flock- This artificial analogue velvet. It meets all the requirements for upholstery fabric: pleasant appearance, durability, ease of care (easy to clean with water), not afraid of animal claws.

• Velours- one of the most expensive and impractical upholstery materials, velvety to the touch, impressive, but wears out quickly. Suitable for furniture that is rarely used.

• Pulling a chair genuine leather, You'll get practical thing for many years. But this material is quite expensive, so the consumer is offered leather substitutes: eco-leather and dermantine. Adopted leatherette external characteristics real leather, but inferior in quality. Leatherette upholstery will last from 2 to 5 years, depending on the intensity of use. Perhaps reupholstering it with eco-leather will slightly increase its service life.

Filler

For upholstering upholstered chairs at home, the choice of filler is not so wide: padding polyester or foam rubber. Having settled on padding polyester, pay attention to its color and smell. Different white shade, as well as the presence of a pungent odor, indicate the use of second-rate or toxic raw materials in production. Check the structure of the material and its strength. A fabric of uneven thickness and density that can be easily torn by hand is definitely not suitable. Suitable foam rubber can be easily distinguished by its structure: the smaller the bubbles, the higher the density and quality. In order not to be deceived by the seller, make sure that when pressed the sample does not make a cracking sound (this is the artificially sealed cells bursting).

• If the chair is spring, you may need jute tape. It can replace springs that have become unusable.
• Elements for decoration: ribbons, lace, cords, buttons and others.
• Cardboard or thick paper for the pattern.
• Primer, paint, varnish or stain for the frame.
• Plywood sheet.
• PVA glue.

Preparing tools

The following tools will be useful:

• A furniture stapler with staples or a hammer with furniture nails;
• Screwdriver, pliers, wire cutters, side cutters;
• Measuring tape, scissors, ruler;
• Strong sewing thread (Titan recommended);
• Sewing machine.

Replacement process step by step

• Frame repair. The old coating is removed, all cracks identified during inspection are carefully glued, and chips are puttied. Loose connections are sealed, for example, by inserting a wedge, and additionally fixed with glue. The failed springs are removed, and strips of jute are fixed in their place in a checkerboard pattern. If the bottom is made of plywood, then depending on the condition, it can be replaced with a new one or cleaned of residual glue and filler. The frame is covered with paint, varnish or stain, or one of the following is used modern techniques decoration. In order for the new coating to last longer, the surface should be treated with a primer before painting. A white primer is suitable if you are going to use paint; a colorless primer allows you to preserve the wood grain, so it is suitable for varnishing. After the primer has dried, the surface is sanded and painted in at least 2 layers.

• While the frame dries, it is produced seat reupholstery. The first step is to cut out parts from fabric and foam rubber. If it is not possible to use old upholstery as a template, then a pattern is made from cardboard. To do this, outline the plywood base and add 2-4 cm for allowances. The filler is cut out using a utility knife. Then a fabric pattern is made using the same pattern. Remember that displacements and inconsistencies in the drawing are not acceptable. When cutting out fabric, leave a 10 cm allowance at the hem.

• Next step - seat cover. If the seat is separate part, then the filler is glued to the upper side of the base. When the glue is dry, lay it out upholstery fabric wrong side up and cover with foam side seat. Make sure the base is positioned correctly in relation to the pattern or design. Sequentially nail the edges of the fabric to the base using a furniture gun (1-2 cm steps), trying to avoid large folds. This step is difficult to complete on your own, because the fabric needs to be pulled tightly and evenly on all sides. Here it is important to observe “ golden mean": if the foam is pulled too tightly, it becomes deformed and wears out faster. Trim excess fabric. If the seat is inseparable from the frame, then all manipulations are carried out immediately on the chair, and if there are springs, it is advisable to cover them with thick fabric, for example, burlap, and lay the filler on top of it.

Beautiful cases different shades Usually used to perfectly disguise worn-out chair upholstery. This option is really good. Should I spend money on purchasing covers if the chair doesn't look good enough?

If you decide DIY chair upholstery, be sure to find out for yourself which installation work will be needed. It is up to you to decide whether the upholstery needs to be replaced.

Restoring a chair is quite simple. But the work requires careful attention. The previous fabric is completely removed. After this, a thorough inspection of the entire surface will be required. If necessary, repairs are carried out. Then a new filler is prepared and the upholstery fabric is strengthened without fail.

Upholstery. Preparatory work

You want to do any job efficiently and quickly, chair upholstery is no exception. And when you do it yourself for the first time, there can be a lot of “delays.” For this you need to be prepared.

Any fairly thick fabric will do. If desired, leather (artificial or natural), wool or tapestry can be used.

Foam rubber of a certain thickness is suitable for padding. Batting, latex, and padding polyester are also often used.

Don't forget a furniture stapler, pliers and a screwdriver. You will need them during the restoration process.

Your chair may need some preliminary repairs. If it is “flimsy”, then it must be carefully glued, perhaps nailed somewhere. this must be done at the preliminary stage. In this case, you will not have to remove the updated upholstery later.

And also this advice: “If a chair is “flimsy”, its wooden part is “dead,” then throw away such a chair and buy a new one. Restoration is relevant when the repaired chair is no worse than a new one.”

Removing old upholstery

The chair is pre-disassembled. The first step is to carefully remove the seat. Then the chair must be turned over. Then unscrew the bolts and remove the brackets. All work must be performed with the utmost care. There is no need to rush in such a matter. As a result, you will be able to perform upholstery on high level. Use pliers to remove staples. The screws can be easily removed using a regular screwdriver.

Be sure to find out how stable the entire structure is. If the legs are loose, they must be strengthened. All loose connections are sealed. To seal cracks, a mixture of sawdust, PVA glue and dye is used.

If repairing the chair is not needed, then start by removing the old fabric. After this, you can proceed to creating a new upholstery. The staples are removed carefully.Often, old upholstery material can be used when creating a pattern. Now the removed upholstery can be thrown away. The same manipulations are done with the back. The work is carried out in the same sequence as we described above.

Features of fabric and padding

Prepare the foam and fabric of your choice. Make a pattern. A strong and tight fastening of the material is required. It is important to use a template. It is made from paper. I use wallpaper for this. The process itself is not difficult. After the chair is completely disassembled, the seat is placed face down on the paper and carefully traced around it. It is required to deviate at least 5 cm from the line. This margin is provided for hemming. The template is carefully cut out and everything marked is carefully transferred to the material.

Good for stylish upholstery:

• Furniture fabric of sufficient density. We recommend paying attention to high-quality wool, carpet fabric, velor with or without ornament.
• High-quality leather (artificial or natural).

The choice depends directly on the features of the interior and the textiles used in the interior. It is important that chairs and upholstered furniture are in harmony in style and color. We recommend choosing textiles that are ideally matched for bedspreads and at the same time closely follow the pattern of the curtains.

Foam rubber is traditionally used as padding. For optimal reliability, we recommend carefully placing it on the seat and gluing it. Do not use a thick piece. In this case, it will simply be uncomfortable to sit on the chair. It's best if you focus on old material. You need to purchase not only textiles and foam rubber, but also suitable threads. Use only those with optimal strength. At the same time, they must match the color of the fabric. If the edges of the fabric need to be hemmed, you simply cannot do without them. This will also be needed when the pattern is not so simple and is made not from one part, but from several.

Do-it-yourself furniture reupholstery

To change the upholstery of chairs correctly, you must follow a certain sequence:

Initially, the foam rubber is glued to the base. At the same time, all excess is carefully trimmed off. Don't forget to fold the edges before doing this. To strengthen the hems on the wrong side, staples are used.

Then they move on to cutting the fabric. Perfect flat surface Place the fabric (right side down). A seat is placed on it (foam down). There is a margin left for the obligatory hem. The rest of the fabric is cut off.

Used for fastening upholstery furniture stapler. The fabric is stretched well. It is important that there are no folds and free places. Before this, the upholstery is folded, and the necessary points are outlined at which fixation will be made.

The upholstery depends entirely on the shape of the seat. It is much easier to do the job if the piece of furniture is rectangular. If it is round, you will have to try. The same can be said about the chairs.

Be sure to pay close attention to how the legs are secured. Often special cutouts are provided for them on the seat. In the process of attaching fabric and foam rubber, you will have to remember this. It is necessary to make cutouts so that this space is completely free.

Take into account the size and shape of the grooves for the legs. If you do not take this into account in time, you will not be able to produce high-quality upholstery. It will no longer be possible to carefully assemble the chair if you do not provide cuts in the fabric. There really is a way out of this situation. But it requires some patience. When you create a pattern, you need to select small wedges. They will very beautifully surround the cutouts designed for fastening.

In order to change the upholstery of your old, but beloved chairs, you will not need a significant time investment. Don’t forget about the neat design of the back. There is an option to replace the method of fastening the material from staples to nails (and sometimes vice versa).

Here's the video of the process of self-upholstery:

The fabric is carefully stretched over the foam. They attach it with staples. This will allow you to nail the nails correctly. In this case, folds are guaranteed not to appear. Then the fastener itself is performed. They always start from the top. The fastener pitch varies. It is not recommended to make it very large.

Restoration involves not only the obligatory polishing and subsequent painting of all its wooden parts.

I think you understand that upholstering chairs with your own hands is not particularly difficult. But for some reason, everyone can cope with such work.

Furniture workshop "Encore" is ready to reupholster your chairs, armchairs, sofas if you can't do it yourself!

No matter how dear your furniture is, over the years it wears out and the time comes when it is no longer possible to use it. The first thing to deteriorate is the upholstery on sofas, armchairs and chairs; it not only becomes outdated and dirty, but also deteriorates. Because of their unsightly appearance, you have to part with your favorite soft chairs. If your family has antique furniture, which you inherited, then there is a chance to restore it.

To reupholster chairs, you must comply with the basic requirement - to preserve wooden frame, but the final result will depend on your efforts and desires.

If the chair is not very worn and abrasions have formed in some places, then you can disassemble it - remove the back and replace it old fabric to a new one of a suitable shade. If the frame is severely damaged by bark beetles, then such a product can be restored, but the chair is unlikely to be as strong as before and over time it will still begin to deteriorate and crumble. Carpenters do not advise starting restoration of furniture damaged by grinder beetles. Individual elements can be replaced, but if the chair is badly damaged, there is no point in restoring it.

In the 60-90s of the last century, burlap, felt, cotton wool and hay were used as fillers for upholstered furniture. Even now, some furniture factories continue to use 90s technologies in production, and use plant fiber as a filler for chairs. Over several years of use, such a natural filler quickly cakes, lumps can form in places, as a result of which the upholstery fabric quickly becomes unusable.

How to choose upholstery

When choosing fabric for upholstering a chair, consider the following:

• density of the material - it must hold its shape well and be durable;
• the fabric should be easy to wash;
• the ability to treat the surface with soapy water or clean it with a brush.

Popular fabrics:

• jacquard – thick fabric, has good wear resistance, no puffs form on it;
• Chenille is a popular upholstery material for upholstered furniture. The fabric is very dense and durable;
• tapestry - made of cotton, the material can be washed by hand or in a washing machine;
• nubuck or faux leather- abrasion-resistant material;
• velvet, flock - durable fabric, does not fade;
• leather - “breathes”, but is not resistant to mechanical damage(scratches).

How to reupholster a chair with your own hands

To ensure that the work of reupholstering a chair is completed in a short time, think in advance what materials you will need and prepare the appropriate tools.

Tools

List of materials and tools:

• textile. It is best to use furniture fabrics for upholstering chairs - tapestry, flock or jacquard. They are abrasion resistant and durable. Before you go to the store to buy fabric, you need to arm yourself with a centimeter and decide on the amount of material. Take measurements of the chair seat and add another 10 cm on each side to the resulting figure. This reserve will be used for the hem, as well as for the height of the upholstery;
• filler. Good recommendations received such a filler as sheet foam rubber (thickness no more than 40 mm), you can also use synthetic winterizer, batting or latex as a filler. Cannot be used as a filler for a chair seat bulk materials(buckwheat husks, polyurethane or silicone balls), since the load on this part of the chair will be much higher than the load on the pillow. If you use fine filler, after a few weeks of use it will begin to crumble. If foam rubber is chosen as a filler, then its density should be from 30 to 50 kg/m3. If you use a material of a different density, the foam rubber will sag and sitting on such a chair will be uncomfortable;
• thick cardboard to make a pattern;
• glue and brush. It is best to buy PVA from a hardware store;
• stapler and furniture staples or more cheap option– small nails and a hammer;
• screwdriver;
• pliers;
• tape measure and sharp scissors;
• ruler, pencil, chalk or piece of soap for marking.

How to remove old fabric

Work must begin by removing the old upholstery.

How to properly remove worn fabric:

1. First you need to remove the seat. To do this, you need to turn the chair upside down and, in a strictly specified sequence (it is advisable to remember the order of actions, since you will then have to put the chair back together) disassemble the fasteners. First, pry up the fasteners with a screwdriver, then remove the nails, unscrew the screws and remove the metal plates. The staples can be easily pryed with a screwdriver and pulled out with pliers. If they become unusable, the staples can be thrown away and all other fasteners can be placed in a separate bag so as not to be lost.
2. Now you need to check the condition of the wooden frame of the chair. If it is loose, then reupholstering the furniture will not solve the main problem; the appearance will be beautiful, but sitting on a loose chair will be unsafe. Therefore, it is first necessary to eliminate all cracks in the wood (fill with colorless sealant or glue with PVA glue), install clamps, and preferably seal the loose connections.
3. Now it's time to remove the old upholstery fabric. Place it on the floor plastic film or lay down old newspapers. Remove the old fabric and carefully remove all the foam. On at this stage When reupholstering chairs with your own hands, you need to decide on the measurements, so don’t rush to throw away the worn-out fabric - you can just make a pattern right away from cardboard or cut out the seat right away according to the old model. Place the old fabric on the wrong side of the new furniture fabric and trace the outline with chalk.
4. Now you need to put the fabric aside for a while and work on the base of the seat. Remove the remaining crumbled foam rubber that has stuck to it and remove the old glue.

Let's prepare the fabric and foam

Since it will be difficult for a beginner to reupholster a chair without a template, we’ll just start making one. You can make a template in different ways. First option: place a plywood seat on a sheet of cardboard and outline it with a pencil. Now the plywood can be removed, and in our drawing we can add 10 cm allowances on each side. We cut out the template with scissors or a sharp stationery knife. Second option: let's use ready-made template and apply the old fabric to a sheet of cardboard and trace the outline with a pencil. This will be our template. Choose for yourself suitable option and make a seat template.

We have a ready-made stencil - you can cut it out sharp knife from a sheet of foam rubber the required part. Using the same principle, we make a fabric template: trace it along the contour and add another 10 cm on each side (it’s better to have a small supply of fabric than not have enough). We cut out the detail.

If you have chosen fabric with a pattern, then you also need to initial stage– when purchasing fabric, take this point into account and take the material with a reserve. Place the fabric with the pattern so that it is in the middle and there are no offsets. If this rule is not followed, the chair will not look presentable. Now you need to fix the fabric and mark.

In some chairs, instead of the usual plywood seat, you can see a frame made of mesh or rubber. When the wicker base is normal, then nothing needs to be done; if the material has become unusable, then it must be replaced with dense, wide rubberized tapes.

How to reupholster a chair

First, glue the foam rubber to the plywood. The foam rubber is glued with PVA glue. Apply a layer of glue to the front (top) part of the plywood seat with a brush and apply foam rubber. Wait for the glue to set. Work on fabric upholstery can begin after completely dry glue.

When the glue dries, check again whether the foam has stuck well - if there are un-glued areas, then it is advisable to fill them with glue and wait for it to dry completely again. After which you can fix the upholstery fabric. Place it wrong side up, place the seat on top so that the foam is facing the fabric. Tuck the fabric (this is extra) onto the plywood on each side. Pull the material tightly so that the fabric does not bunch up. Now take a furniture stapler and shoot the edges of the fabric to the plywood. Work sequentially, in increments of no more than 2 cm. Large folds should not form between the staples. If you see that large folds form in the places where the curves are formed, and furniture staples do not hold them, then you can strengthen these places with furniture nails. Tap the nails with a hammer. Excess fabric can be trimmed off after the chair is reupholstered.

If you are reupholstering a square chair seat, then you need to put folds in the corners and direct them towards the center, fold the fabric, and then attach it to the plywood.

We install the re-stretched chair seat back on the frame, first attach the plates, and then tighten the screws. Do-it-yourself chair reupholstery is complete. This is what the restored chair looks like:

How to reupholster a chair, you can watch this video:

Even with the most careful treatment, furniture sooner or later begins to wear out. What to do if the casing wooden chairs Has she completely lost her presentable appearance? Don’t rush to part with things that are familiar and dear to your heart! Thanks to such a simple measure as reupholstery, you can quickly and easily bring them into proper condition.

Before you start reupholstering a chair, you need to decide on the choice of new upholstery materials– internal seat padding and front fabric. Sheet polyurethane foam or foam rubber is traditionally used as filler. When purchasing material, keep in mind that the sheet thickness should be at least 40 mm, and the density should be about 30-50 kg/m3. Batting and padding polyester are used less frequently for padding - during use they quickly deform, lose their original shape and sag all the way to the plywood. It is no less important to approach the choice of upholstery fabric – the appearance of the restored furniture directly depends on it. Give preference to durable and dense materials - the fabric for upholstering the chair should hold its shape well. In addition, the textiles you like should be easy to wash and clean from dirt with a sponge or brush. The most popular materials for upholstering chairs are chenille, tapestry, flock and jacquard.

When choosing the color of the upholstery material, take into account the overall color scheme of the interior. Traditionally, textured fabrics of rich and rich colors are considered the most practical. dark shades, light cladding in pastel colors requires more careful treatment and proper maintenance. It is worth noting that for the restoration of chairs you can use several different materials– they may differ in both color and texture. When starting to reupholster furniture, first remove the old upholstery. Turn the chair upside down and remove the old staples, screws, bolts and other fasteners one by one using a screwdriver and pliers. Perform all actions as carefully as possible so as not to accidentally damage wooden planks tool. Required parts, which will be required for final assembly, set aside. Then check general state and the integrity of the frame - tighten all loose connections, glue cracks in the wood and tighten them with clamps for 2-3 hours. Thoroughly clean the plywood base of the seat from old glue and remaining stuck filler. Sand if necessary wooden parts sandpaper, then open them acrylic paint or stain. Be sure to fix the new coating with varnish.

Next, proceed to making templates and cutting out upholstery materials. The pattern can be cut out of thick cardboard - attach it to the plywood seat and trace the outline with a pencil. Step back 7-10 cm from the outline and draw a second line - this increase is necessary for allowances. Using the prepared stencil, cut the new filling and fabric covering (use scissors or stationery knife). When cutting patterned fabric, try to ensure that the pattern does not move and lies in the center. Alternatively, you can use a worn fabric covering as a template for new upholstery.

When the blanks are ready, proceed to the actual reupholstery of the chair. First, glue the filler to the outside of the plywood seat. After the glue has completely dried, you can attach the textile covering - lay the fabric on a flat flat surface with the wrong side up, lay the seat on top of it soft part down.

Use a furniture stapler to secure textiles. Pull the material tightly and aim consistently towards back side plywood upholstery edges. Optimal distance between staples - 1.5-2 cm. It is important that there are no loose or large folds between the fasteners. To ensure the staples are secure, carefully tap them with a hammer. Once the material is completely secured, trim off the excess with scissors. Finishing touch– installation of a reupholstered seat on a wooden frame.

As you can see, self-upholstery chairs does not require special skills and abilities. Rather, it's interesting creative process allowing significant savings family budget.

Seeing a multi-colored cover on a chair, tightly tied with beautiful ribbons, you just want to lift it and see what condition the upholstery is in. Most often it turns out that it is deplorable. Are people really that scared of upholstering chairs with their own hands? This work is not as difficult as it seems, and the result will please you for a long time.

Anyone can reupholster chairs

Preparatory stage

Here is a list of tools and materials that we will need:

• Fabric (chenille, jacquard, tapestry, flock). Before going to the store, you should measure the seat of the chair, adding 15-20 centimeters on each side. This reserve is needed for hems and upholstery heights.
• Filling (sheet foam rubber 40 mm thick, batting, latex, padding polyester). When deciding how to reupholster a chair, we choose the appropriate padding. Polyurethane balls are definitely not suitable, buckwheat husk and other bulk materials. Still, the seat of the chair is not as airtight as a pillow, and it experiences considerable stress. After some time, the fine filler will slowly begin to crumble. If foam rubber is chosen for the seat, its density should be 30-50 kg/m3, otherwise during operation it will sag all the way to the plywood.
• Cardboard for the pattern.
• PVA glue.
• Furniture stapler and staples (or hammer and furniture nails).
• Pliers.
• Screwdrivers.
• Scissors, tailor's centimeter.
• Pencil, chalk for marking material, ruler.

Removing old upholstery

Preparing fabric and foam

Re-upholstering requires a precise approach. You can't do without a template here. We place a piece of cardboard on a plywood seat and trace it with a pencil. We remove the plywood and add 2-4 cm to the drawing for allowances. Now the template can be cut out with scissors or a stationery knife.

Using a ready-made stencil, we cut out the foam rubber for the new upholstery using a sharp knife.

You can make a cardboard template, or copy the plywood seat directly onto the foam rubber

If the old fabric covering was not used to cut a new one, as was said earlier (well, you never know what happened, maybe oil was spilled on it), then we cut the material according to the same pattern. We trace it with chalk on the fabric and add 10 centimeters to the hem on all sides. Cut out the resulting outline.

If the fabric has a pattern, then upholstering chairs with your own hands becomes a little more complicated. In this case, we purchase the material with a reserve so that the picture lies in the center, without displacement, otherwise the chair will have an unpresentable appearance. We first apply the fabric to the seat, achieving ideal location lines and patterns. We immediately record the result obtained with clear markings so as not to do the same work twice.

The seat of the chair in some models may not be a solid piece of plywood, but a frame intertwined inside with mesh or rubber. In this case, we check the condition of the wicker base. If the material has become unusable, we replace it with wide and dense rubber bands.

Note the replaced woven base

Chair seat reupholstery

Glue the foam to the top side of the plywood seat. After the glue has dried, we lay the upholstery fabric wrong side up, with the seat on it, the foam facing the fabric. We fold the fabric reserve on all sides onto the plywood. Now upholstering a chair with your own hands is no longer a sealed secret for us.

We successively target the edges of the upholstery to the plywood seat with a furniture stapler

Pulling the material tightly, we sequentially adjust the edges of the upholstery to the plywood seat, in increments of 1-2 cm. There should be no weak points and large folds. We knock out unreliable staples with a hammer. Trim off excess fabric. If the chair seat square shape, at the corners we lay folds directed towards the center of the seat, bend the material and shoot it to the plywood.

Trim excess fabric

Chair reupholstery completed successfully

We install the reupholstered seat on the chair, attach the plates and screw all the screws into place. Now we can praise ourselves for what we have given new life old chair, saving the family budget and once again confirming his reputation as a jack of all trades.