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Whether you are trying to upgrade your existing furniture to make it look new again or you are perusing used furniture, updating upholstery is an effective way to refurbish your sofas and chairs. You might even furnish a home theater with distinctive seats with just a little time, some basic tools, and a few materials. Reupholstering furniture can be a green choice because it keeps furniture out of landfills. You can save money with upholstery skills as well.

How to Care for Upholstered Furniture (PDF)

Upholstered furniture needs regular care to prevent excessive wear. Vacuuming helps remove loose debris, which can lead to permanent stains.

Before starting a reupholstering project, make sure that the furniture piece is structurally sound and that you have the necessary tools to complete the work.

brown cloud chair

Upholstery for Beginners (PDF)

Re-cover a secondhand chair using basic tools including a screwdriver, staple gun, and wood glue. This document walks you through each step of the project.

Simple Upholstery Methods (PDF)

Reupholster a footstool to replace worn fabric. Steps involve replacing the webbing strips, springs, padding, and outside fabric.

Selecting Upholstered Furniture (PDF)

When selecting upholstered furniture, examine the frame to ensure that it is strong and sturdy. A frame made of a strong wood such as oak should last for many years.

For upholstery in homes with pets, choose fabric carefully to ensure that it will withstand potential stains and abuse. Synthetic fabrics will usually wear well and clean up with plain water.

pets on the sofa and how to clean furniture

 

Upholstery Tips and Tricks

Reupholstering furniture yourself might seem intimidating, but a few tips can help make the process simpler.

Re-upholstering an Antique Sofa (video)

In this video from Martha Stewart, an antique couch is reupholstered to give it a new look.

Furniture Reupholstery vs. Replacementred velvet couch

Reupholstering your furniture instead of replacing it can be an environmentally conscious decision that helps minimize garbage in landfills.

Furniture Reupholstery: The Tricks You Have to Know (video)

This video shows the basic steps of reupholstering, including removing the old fabric, adding fresh padding and batting, and stapling the new fabric in place.

tips on how to re-upholster furniture

Solutions for Supporting Sprung Seats in Historic Upholstered Furniture (PDF)

Older furniture pieces often have issues with the webbing and springs, but you can fix these elements to restore sofas and chairs.

Upholstery Glossaryinside of chair

Learn all of the important terms and definitions connected with upholstery to help you maintain and work on your furniture.

How to Reupholster a Chair

As you disassemble a furniture piece, take photos to help you remember how it goes back together again.

How to Reupholster Furniture

You might be surprised to find out that many upholstery projects involve little sewing. Instead, you can cut fabric pieces to fit parts of a chair or sofa and staple them into place.

Upholstery Projects for Newbies

These projects are simple enough for people who have never tried upholstering anything before to pull off.

Upholstery Basics: Simple Slipcover

Cover metal chairs with a simple slipcover that adds both decorative color and comfort.

slipcover sofa

How to Reupholster an Arm Chair

To recover a standard arm chair, plan to buy about four yards of upholstery-weight fabric. This should give you enough fabric to match patterns.

How to Clean Upholstery in 15 Minutes or Less

Cleaning upholstery begins with vacuuming to remove as much dust and debris as possible. Attack spots and stains with a dry cleaner to prevent damage to upholstered fabric.

Reupholstering 101: How to Reupholster a Chair

Take a close look at old and worn furniture pieces. With just a little reupholstering work, you might be able to create a whole new chair or sofa.

upholstery of dining room chair

 

How to Upholster a Dining Room Chair Seat

One of the easiest reupholstering projects involves replacing the fabric on dining room chairs. Explore the steps involved with this process.

Do-It-Yourself Upholstery Cleaning Tips

Knowing whether to treat stains with wet or dry cleaning techniques is important to ensure success. Upholstery labels generally give you information about the best cleaning techniques.

How to Make a Diamond-Tufted Headboard

Learn how to make a diamond-tufted headboard, which can be a timeless addition to any bedroom.

diamond tufted headboard

 

DIY No-Sew Wingback Chair Reupholstery

Watch the transformation process as a blogger documents reupholstering an old wingback chair to make it into an elegant living room piece.

DIY Upholstery: Finished Sofa

A reupholstering project can be inexpensive, and it may enable you to extend the life of an antique piece of furniture.

15 Tips and Tricks to Make Upholstery Look Like New Again

A simple cleanser made of white vinegar, isopropyl alcohol, and essential oils can remove upholstery stains as well as infuse pleasant scents into old furniture.

Surface Buttoning

Installing surface buttons is a common part of upholstering furniture, and it can add beautiful accents to a couch or chair.