Make It Your Own! Custom Reupholster a Simple Chair Cushion

Have you ever seen a chair at a thrift store or garage sale that's really, really close to what you’re looking for, but something is just not right? Have you ever thought to yourself: "It’d be perfect if it weren’t for that funky stained seat cushion”? Once you know how easy it is to switch out, you'll never be disheartened in these instances again! A few materials and a bit of repetitive elbow grease can make a world of difference. You can transform it to reflect your textile preference, give it a brand new cushion for increased comfort, or simply freshen back to its original vintage charm to make it more inviting.

Locate a chair with an upholstered seat cushion you'd like to change.

Measure your chair's seat cushion to approximate how much yardage you will need to complete your project - always round up. Perhaps even add an inch or two to both the length and width... I have learned from experience it is far easier to upholster with excess fabric than just enough.

Locate or purchase your replacement textile.

You will need to gather the following tools:

• power drill with proper drive bit (or screwdriver)

• staple lifter

• needle nose pliers

• fabric scissors (or sharp all purpose scissors)

• staple gun (electric or pneumatic version highly recommended)

• wide edge staples

• small hammer

Use your power drill with drive bit (or screwdriver) to remove the cushion from the chair base. Be sure to save the original screws in a safe place, you will need them when it comes time to reattach the cushions.

Using your staple lifter, begin to remove the staples which hold the unwanted cushion cover in place.

Repeatedly remove each staple from the entire parameter of the original cushion cover.

Needle nose pliers can be quite useful if you come across any stubborn staples.

Continue to remove staples until the original fabric is free from the cushion base.

Remove the old fabric from the cushion, and use as an approximate pattern for your replacement textile.

Remember to cut your replacement textile a little larger than the original. This will make it easier to pull and manipulate while stapling down.

Position the chair cushion, sans original textile, on top of your properly sized piece of replacement fabric.

Staple the replacement textile in the center edge of your choice.

Add another staple to the center edge of the opposite side.

Continue to add a staple to the center edge of side 3...

..and again on side 4.

Fold the and fasten the replacement fabric directly over the corner.

Using caution with awareness of the edge of cushion base, cut away the excess.

Pull taut and fasten with staples from one side of corner all the way to the center staple.

Staple remaining edge of corner to center staple, remember to take care that the fabric is smooth and taut.

Repeat steps 15, 16, 17, and 18 until all corners are complete.

If necessary, the small hammer may be used to compress any staples that aren't flush against the fabric and cushion base.

Excess fabric may be trimmed once all sides are satisfactorily fastened .

Use the original screws (saved from step 5) to attach the reupholstered cushion back on to to the chair base.

Take pride in a job well done and enjoy your results!