How to Upholster a Chair
If a chair has poor upholstery or no longer matches your decor, the easiest thing to do is to reupholster it with new, more attractive cloth. Follow these simple how-to instructions to upholster any chair big or small.
First: Remove old fabric
If the chair still has old upholstery on it, rip it off starting at the bottom of the chair and working your way up. This will leave a bare frame and padding. You can reuse the padding inside the chair if you are careful not to damage it as you remove sections of upholstery. Add padding if there are springs that you can feel.
Second: Cut new upholstery sections.
Flatten each piece of material used on the chair and trace it onto the new fabric. Cut the new pieces from the desired fabric. If the fabric has a nap or a pattern make sure that each piece is cut the right direction so that it looks uniform and united when it is finished.
Third: Stretch the fabric
Stretch each piece of the fabric over the appropriate section of the frame and staple it into position. You can either use a staple gun or furniture tacks, depending on how the chair was originally constructed. Start at the top of the chair and work your way to the bottom. Essentially the last piece you removed is the first piece you tack back on. Make sure that each piece is pulled tight so that it is smooth and taunt over the chair's padding.
Fourth: Add details
Add any final details like piping, wooden arms or decorative pieces and other detailed elements, like buttons, back to the chair.