Whether it's a dusty attic find or a curbside treasure, you can breathe new life into an old chair with these proven, straightforward steps. As a seasoned DIY enthusiast with years of furniture restoration experience, I've revived countless pieces like this one.
Materials and Tools:
- Old chair
- Electric drill or screwdriver
- Spray adhesive
- Staple gun
- Old chef's knife (for cutting foam)
- Pliers
- Durable fabric, 6" wider and longer than the existing chair cushion
- Heavy-duty interfacing
- 120-grit sandpaper
- Primer
- Semi-gloss water-based paint
- Paintbrush
- Optional: 2"-thick foam, slightly larger than the existing chair cushion
Steps:
- Flip the chair upside down and remove the screws securing the cushion to the frame. Set the screws aside in a safe spot.
- Strip away the original upholstery and staples from the cushion. Use a flat-blade screwdriver and pliers as needed to pull out stubborn staples.
- Assess the foam: If it feels firm and looks intact, skip to step 5. If it's crumbly, hardened, or flattened, proceed to step 4.
- Remove as much old foam as possible by hand. Use the chef's knife to slice through any remnants for a smooth wooden base. Cut new foam to match the base size, then apply spray adhesive to secure it firmly to the base.
- Cut fabric with a 6" overhang on all sides of the seat. Place it wrong side up on your workspace, center the cushion (foam side down) on top.
- Pull fabric edges over the foam to the underside of the wooden seat. Staple at corners and midpoints of each edge. Starting at one corner, fold fabric neatly for a clean edge and staple securely. Repeat around all corners, adding more staples as needed. Trim excess fabric from the bottom.
- Cut heavy-duty interfacing slightly smaller than the cushion base. Adhere it with spray adhesive to cover staples and fabric edges for a polished finish.
- Sand the chair frame lightly with 120-grit sandpaper and wipe clean with a damp cloth. Apply primer and let dry fully. Paint two coats of semi-gloss water-based paint in your chosen color, allowing drying time between coats. Reattach the cushion with the saved screws.
