The best way to fix or change the look of any chair with a removable seat is to rebuild the seat fabric. If you have pets and children, or just love remodeling old furniture, you will appreciate this quick restoration technique.
Steps
Step 1. Unscrew the seat from the base of the chair
Step 2. Remove the existing upholstery
This is optional. Removing the existing fabric can be time consuming, use a screwdriver and pliers to pull out each staple. If there is no smell, and the lining under the upholstery is not damaged, then it is recommended not to remove the base layer of fabric, but to pull a new one over it. Rebuilding the seat pad is much more difficult and may require additional steps. If the batting or foam pad has degraded, you may need to replace it.
Step 3. Measure the width, length and depth of the seat
If the seat is rounded or curved, measure its longest and widest. The depth should be three times the length and width, and you will need this size of fabric for one place. For example, if the seat is 10 "x12" x2 "(25x30, 5x5 cm), then you will need a piece of fabric with dimensions 16" x18 "(40.5x46 cm).
Step 4. Buy fabric
Find an upholstery fabric that is suitable for your daily use. You can also use material from an old jacket, skirt, or tablecloth if it is made of durable material. If you only use chairs occasionally, or want to rebuild for other purposes for more than a year, look for lighter, more elastic fabrics that can make your job easier.
Step 5. Place the fabric on a flat surface, wrong side up
Position the base on it so that the part of the seat you are sitting on is on the wrong side of the fabric. If necessary, line up the patterned seat on the fabric, especially if there are stripes.
Step 6. Cut the fabric just enough to wrap around the entire edge of the seat
Usually 2 or 3 times the thickness of the seat will suffice. Save any leftover pieces of fabric for other projects (see tips below).
Step 7. Fold the overhanging piece of fabric along the straightest side and staple it, starting from the center and working towards the corners
Make sure the fabric fits snugly and smoothly with no wrinkles between the staples. See the tips below for the correct use of staples.
Step 8. Repeat on the opposite side of the seat
Pull the fabric firmly against the first row of staples to make sure you have removed all wrinkles and wrinkles. Start stapling again, starting from the center and moving to the edges. When you get to the bend, fold the material and make sure all the folds are folded under the seat and are not visible from above. Secure the folds with staples. If you make a mistake, remove the staples and start over.
Step 9. Continue along the sides, still pulling, making sure the fabric is snug against the top of the seat
Step 10. Wrap the corners
- Point the corner towards the center of the seat (diagonally).
- Fold one side down so that the folded edge runs along the diagonal.
- Fold the other side underneath in the same way, so you will now have diagonal folds. Walk with a stapler.
Step 11. Cut off the excess fabric
Use a hammer to hammer in any protruding staples.
Step 12. Treat stains on the seats
Set up some milk boxes or other support structure outside, and spray the seats according to the directions on the package. Let them dry overnight in a protected but well-ventilated area. If they can be placed in a driveway or garage, they protect you from fumes, and your shiny new seats from dangerous birds of prey.
Step 13. Screw the seat back to the base of the chair
Step 14. Done
Advice
- An alternative approach to stapling: Start with one staple in the middle of each side (punch one staple on all opposite sides) and then add two staples (moving outward) on each side, rotating the seat each time. This can help with consistently stretching the fabric over the edges of the chair, which is most likely a problem when stapling all over the side at once.
- When nailing the fabric with the stapler, be careful not to overlap the screw holes with too much fabric or staples. You can easily go through one layer of fabric, but staples will be a problem.
- You may want to fit the tape around the edge to prevent fraying of the fabric.
- A powerful stapler or staple gun is best suited for this task. The old carpenter's stapler doesn't have the strength to penetrate the tree.
- An old blanket that is no longer in use can be used to make good batting on chair seats.
- Buy extra fabric in case you need to make matching coasters, guides, or coordination pads.
- To make the underside really neat, cut a piece of coarse calico or lining to the same size as the bottom of the seat and make 1 inch (2.5 cm) edging all around the chair seat so that no scuffs or an unsightly look there was no tree to be seen.