How to Reupholster Dining Chairs (seats and backs)

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Believe me, before taking on this project I didn’t know how to reupholster dining chairs, but if I can do it, you can do it!

It all started when this past weekend I finally had a chance to get back to focusing on my Dining Room Makeover.

The hubs didn’t even roll his eyes when out of nowhere I was painting the walls (which by the way, wasn’t even in the original plan!) Even without the eye roll, I know he thinks I’m nuts…but totally supportive of my need to be creative. Love him.

These reupholstered dining chairs were the first of the big projects on my to-do list. Just wait until I explain what a score these were!

After reupholstering the seat and back, I love the way they look and they’re going to add to the collected look that I am striving for!

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How I found these chairs…

I am a huge Craigslist junkie so when I was browsing one Saturday and saw these chairs for only 60 bucks (for all 6 of them) my hamsters started running at full speed!

I’d pinned a mid century dining chair that had almost these exact lines that I couldn’t get out of my head. And 10 dollars a chair! A no brainer!

So here is how the transformation went…

Restoring the Wood Frames

First I had to take the chairs apart which, in this case, was pretty easy because the screws were in plain sight. I made note of how they came apart, because I would have to put them back together the same way, and labeled baggies to store my screws based on where they came from.

reupholster-a-wooden-chair-seat-and-back

I spent the afternoon, just my chair frames and I, in the backyard sanding (and scraping gum..so gross.)

I used an electric sander and 100 grit sand paper to remove the old finish but keep the wood nice and smooth. **Tip – The higher number sand paper is the finest, which takes off just a light amount of finish and keeps everything smooth.

Once that was done, I cleaned the wood chair frames using a damp towel and gave them a nice coat of stain. I used MinWax in Dark Walnut.

How to Reupholster The Chair Seat

It turns out that the gum situation on the wood frames was nothing in comparison to the yuck I found on the seat cushions. The previous owners of these chairs had invited some gum chewers with NO manners to dinner.

It kept me quite entertained as I took out one staple after another.

Remove the old piping and fabric if necessary

These dining chairs were covered in vinyl, which I decided to keep for the waterproof factor and because I didn’t want to have to get into replacing the cushions underneath.

I used a flat head screwdriver to lift out the staples that held on the cardboard cover and to remove the piping, which I reused later. (**if a staple gets stuck, use a pair of pliers to yank it out.)

Then, I gave each cushion a good cleaning with a paper towel and cleaner so they wouldn’t get the new fabric dirty.

Cut your new fabric

I found a simple grey and white scallop fabric on Fabric.com

Before cutting decide which way you want your fabric to go on your finished product and be sure to check that it’s going the right way before cutting each piece.

Lay each seat cushion on your fabric as a guide for where to cut.

I cut about 3-4 inches away from the edge of each seat cushion and ironed out the wrinkles from the backside of the fabric.

Then, I laid the seat cushion back onto my piece of fabric, print side down, (double check the direction of the fabric again) and folded one edge up and over securing it using a staple gun in 3 places.

You’ll want to make sure not to staple too close to the corners.

To ensure there are not creases on the top side of the cushion I pulled the corner tightly right from the middle and secured it with staples.

Then I gathered a little bit of fabric at a time and moved it around until I only had creases on the underside of the cushion and stapled it in place. You’ll get the hang of this really quickly.

Repeat on the opposite corner making sure to pull the fabric tight across the seat cushion. Then, repeat for the other 2 corners.

When you’re done with the seat cushion the underside will look like a mess, but the top will be nice and clean!

Seat cushion #1 done…5 to go!

How To Reupholster The Seat Backs:

The seat backs required a little bit of sewing. I decided that I liked the piping detail on these and wanted to mimic the same thing so I had to create a pattern to use for each seat back. Now, you should know that I am not a master seamstress. I’ve pretty much taught myself through trial and error, but hey, it ~~seams~~ seems to work!

How to make a pattern:

Use a scrap piece of fabric (part of an old flat sheet will work) and lay your seat back on it.

Then, cut around it leaving about 3-4 inches.

Repeat the same steps to make a piece for the back, or you could just double the fabric and do one cut.

Sandwich the seat back between the two pieces of fabric and pinch the fabric together where you want the final seam to be, and pinning together as you go.

**Notice that my pins run along the back side of the top of the seat back. This is because I want my piping to be in this location, so I actually will have more fabric for the front pieces of my seat backs…see the picture below..to account for the rounded edge here.

When it’s pinned in place on 3 sides, double check to make sure it’s taunt and smooth, then remove the seat back.

Finally, cut out the shape, using your pins as a guide, and leaving about 1 inch for seam allowance.

create a pattern to cover a seat cushion

Label each side (I used “F” for Front and “B” for Back…I know, so sophisticated) so that you know which one is which, but also so you know which side will be facing out. This side will ultimately be the side with the print on it.

Making The Piping:

I ended up reusing the piping that I took off of the seat cushions. I don’t have a picture, but I took off the vinyl that you see below and used the piping inside.

Then measured out how long it needed to be by laying it along the existing piping on the seat backs and cut it to size.

I cut a 2 inch wide strip of my fabric (be sure it goes in the direction you want) so that when I fold it over the piping I will have 1 inch on each side. This will also act as my seam guide later….I know, sometimes I impress myself…hahaha!

Sewing The Seat Backs:

Time to cut out some pretty fabric for my seat backs!

Lay out your fabric print side down paying attention to the direction of your print and how you want it to go.

Then, lay your pattern piece face down also (your “F” or “B” will be face down) and cut right along the pattern.

Don’t bother pinning it together, but you could if you want to.

Repeat with the other piece of your pattern again paying attention to the direction of your pattern. Sorry I keep repeating this, but it is so important!

Adding The Piping

Fold back the edge of your top piece of fabric and lay your piping in place.

Remember how you cut 2 inch wide strips? Well now you can simply line up the edge of the piping (folded over it’s 1 inch) along the sides of the fabric and you’ll have your sewing line too! The rounded part of the piping will go inward as shown.

Pin all the way around, making sure that you line up the edges. Now you’re ready to sew them together!

So using the piping as your 1 inch seam guide sew away!

I used a zipper foot so I could get as close as possible to the piping.

In fact, I realized that I had to run each seat back through the machine twice (see the picture? The inner stitch is my second round.) The second time I was able to get much closer to the piping. You want your piping to be tight for the best look.

You can cut off some of the excess fabric so it doesn’t make your chair look lumpy.

Almost there!

After turning the cover right side out, put it on the seat back and adjust it so the piping is in the right spot and then to finish it off use a staple gun.

To do this pull the fabric tight down the front side and secured it with a staple then fold the corners sort of like you’re wrapping a present.

For the last seam I folded it under before stapling it so it had a finished look.