Recovering old chairs - A creative guide to beautifying furniture

There are few things more beautiful than breathing new life into old pieces of furniture. With chairs in particular, you can achieve great results with a little effort and creativity. Whether you want to reupholster your dining room chairs or a beloved armchair - with these step-by-step instructions, you can give your old chairs a makeover in no time at all.

Materials:

Fabric of your choice
Bostich (stapler for furniture) and Bostich staples
Scissors
Sewing machine (optional if you want to neaten the edges of the fabric)
Upholstery wadding or foam (if the upholstery needs to be replaced)
Screwdriver (to remove the seat)
Measuring tape or ruler
Hot glue or textile adhesive (optional for smaller details)

Procedure

1. disassemble the chair

First you need to separate the seat of the chair from the structure. The seat is usually attached with screws or nails, which you can remove with a screwdriver or pliers. Place the seat on a clean, flat surface.

2. remove the old fabric

Now remove the old fabric that forms the chair cover. This is usually attached with Bostich staples. Carefully pull out the staples with pliers. If you do not want to damage the upholstery in the process, take care to loosen the staples carefully in order to keep the upholstery if it is still in good condition.

3. check and replace the upholstery (if necessary)

If the padding is worn or damaged, you can replace it with new padding wadding or foam. Cut the foam so that it exactly matches the shape of the seat. Glue the new foam onto the seat if it is not fixed in place by the new fabric.

4. take measurements and cut the fabric to size

Now measure the seat and leave a 5-7 cm margin all around when cutting the new fabric so that you can fix it in place later. If the fabric is patterned, make sure that the pattern is straight. Cut the fabric carefully.

5. stretch the fabric over the seat

Lay the cut fabric over the upholstery of the seat. Start attaching the fabric to one side of the seat by attaching it with the bostich. Work your way along the edges by pulling the fabric tight so that there are no creases. Bostich the fabric to the underside of the seat - depending on how your chair is designed, you can also attach the staples particularly neatly to the corners to fold the fabric nicely.

6. neatly fold and secure the corners

The corners are often the most difficult part. Here you should fold the fabric so that no unsightly creases or overhangs are visible. Fold the corners in carefully and secure them with the basting stitch.

7. reassemble the chair

As soon as the new cover is firmly attached to the seat, place the seat back on the chair structure. Screw or nail it on, depending on how the chair was originally assembled.

8. finishing touches and cleaning

Check all areas and make sure that the fabric is tight and well attached everywhere. Any loose staples or edges can be repaired. Finally, carefully clean the new fabric.

Tips:

• Choose a fabric that goes well with your furnishing style but is also durable, especially if the chairs are subject to heavy use.
• If the chair has lots of nooks and crannies, a plain, solid-colored fabric choice might work well.
• To refine the finish, you can add a decorative seam or bias tape to the edge of the fabric.
  
  

Conclusion:

Upholstering a chair can be a very rewarding and creative task. With a little patience and the right material, you can transform your old chairs into new favorites that will add freshness and character to your home. Take this opportunity to let off steam creatively - and enjoy the fruits of your labor in the end!

Have fun crafting and embellishing!