If you have a chair or dining chair with outdated upholstery fabric, here is How to Recover a Chair Seat Cushion easily with no sewing required.
My desk chair has been reupholstered several times and I decided it needed another update. Since I had some farmhouse style stripe fabric left over from another project, I decided to give the chair a farmhouse flair.
Here’s how easy it is to do.
Remove the Chair Seat cushion
Most chairs of this type have a wooden chair bottom that is screwed from underneath and they are easily removed with a screw driver.
You can remove all the fabric from the seat if desired. Because I wanted to increase the softness of the cushion, I choose to leave the original fabric and batting in place.
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Simple Seat Cushion Easily Removed
Measure & Cut Fabric
Next measure your seat bottom and allow approx. 3 inches additional for all edges. This seat bottom is 20 inches at the widest point so I cut the fabric 26 inches wide. Do the same for the depth of the seat bottom.
In addition, be sure to allow for any pattern. Since the fabric has a stripe, I made sure the stripe would be in the center of the cushion once attached.
Seat is 20 inches Be sure to align patterns
Gather Supplies to Recover A Chair
- High Loft Batting Material
- 1/2 yard of desired fabric
- 1/4 yard of drop cloth fabric
- Staple Gun & Staples
Attach Batting Material
I choose to add an additional layer of batting. If you are happy with the softness, you may skip this step.
Begin by wrapping the batting material around the top of the seat bottom and pull tightly as you staple. In addition, cut of any excess material at the corners.
Cut off excess at corners. Pull tightly. Staple
Add fabric to the chair seat Cushion
Next, do the same with the desired fabric. Be sure to align the fabric correctly if there is a pattern to consider. Once again, pull the fabric tightly around the edges to assure that the fabric is smooth once turned over and attached to the chair. Also, be sure to tuck the fabric at the corners.
Tuck the corners neatly. Staple to assure the fabric is smooth all around
Finish with Drop Cloth Fabric
The last step is to cover the raw edges of fabric and batting with another fabric. I choose to use drop cloth fabric because I have plenty of scraps on hand and it’s cheaper than the fabric I used for the top of the seat cushion. You can see here a table runner project using drop cloths.
Lay fabric over raw edges Turn under edges and staple
Re-Attach Seat Cushion
Screw the seat cushion back to the chair frame being sure that the screw goes through the new material into the wooden frame. If the screws are to short, purchase a slightly longer screw the same diameter.
The Recovered Chair Cushion
I’m loving the Farmhouse feel of the new chair cushion. It’s perfect to use at my desk.
Shop My Farmhouse Style
The chair now feels brand new and went from trash to treasure within just a few hours.
If you would like to see other chair makeover’s, check out this deconstructed chair tutorial.
How to Recover a Chair Seat
Equipment
- staple gun
Materials
- ½ yard high loft batting
- ½ yard Fabric Of your choice
- ¼ yard Drop Cloth Fabric
Instructions
- Detach Seat Cushion from chair by unscrewing from the bottom of the chair
- Remove existing fabric from the seat if desired
- Measure and cut batting, fabric and drop cloth fabric to size
- Staple the batting to the seat by wrapping the batting around the top and stapling to the backside of seat to secure. Cut any excess off of the corners and pull tightly as you staple.
- Cover the batting with the fabric being sure to align so that any pattern is placed correctly. Then staple the fabric to the back side of seat tucking the corners.
- Place the drop cloth fabric over the raw edges of the fabric and batting to completely cover and fold raw edges of the drop cloth fabric under. Then staple the drop cloth fabric over the raw edges of the fabric for a clean finish.
- Place the newly covered seat cushion back on the chair and re-attach with the screws.
Thank’s so much for stopping by today! Your support and comments mean so much to me. I look forward to sharing my next project and adventure with you!
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Rachel luv the fabric you chose and that pillow with it is adorable!
Ann,
Thank you so much. I’m glad you like it.
Rachel
That looks great. I love the style of the chair. Good job.
Miche,
Thank you so much. I always appreciate you sweet comments.
Rachel
Love both chairs and great tutorial. My husband has recovered chairs many times. In fact he’s going to be doing a few again soon.
Cindy
Cindy,
These are so easy. I appreciate you for stopping by.
Rachel
Great project! Love the After!
Stacy,
Thank you so much.
Rachel