How to Re-Cover a Dining Room Chair

Update a set of dining room chairs by re-covering the cushions with a stylish new fabric.

October 11, 2019
Dining Room Chair

Dining Room Chair With Floral Cushion

Update a set of dining room chairs by re-covering the cushions with a stylish new fabric.

Photo by: Jalynn Baker

Jalynn Baker

How to Reupholster a Seat Cushion
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Materials Needed

  • upholstered seat dining chairs
  • 1/2 yard fabric per seat cushion
  • 1/2 yard batting per seat cushion
  • 2-inch foam
  • temporary fabric pen
  • scissors
  • tape measure
  • staple gun
  • staples
  • screwdriver
  • utility knife

Remove Seat Cushion

Remove the seat cushion from the chair frame using a screwdriver (Image 1). Then, remove the original fabric from the cushion by removing the staples (Image 2). Remove the old foam from the seat.

Cut New Foam

Using the seat as a template, trace for a new piece of foam with a temporary fabric pen. Cut the foam using a utility knife.

Cutting Foam for Seat Cushion

How to Re-Cover a Dining Room Chair: Cut New Foam

Using the seat as a template, trace for a new piece of foam with a temporary fabric pen. Cut the foam using a utility knife.

Photo by: Jalynn Baker

Jalynn Baker

Cut New Fabric

Place your foam and seat on top of your new fabric. Using a temporary fabric pen, trace a line three inches out from the seat and cushion. Cut the fabric along the line.

Cutting Fabric for Seat Cushion

How to Re-Cover a Dining Room Chair: Cut New Fabric

Place your foam and seat on top of your new fabric. Using a temporary fabric pen, trace a line three inches out from the seat and cushion. Cut the fabric along the line.

Photo by: Jalynn Baker

Jalynn Baker

Cut and Attach Batting

Use your new fabric cutout as a template to cut the new batting (Image 1). Attach the batting to the seat using a staple gun (Image 2). Pull the batting taut to the seat as you go. Trim the excess batting along the outer edge of the staple line (Image 3).

Attach Fabric

Next, attach the fabric in the same way. Pull the fabric taut to the seat and staple it into place (Image 1). Pull the fabric snugly around curved corners to eliminate tucks on the top side of the cushion (Image 2).

Reattach Seat Cushion to Chair Frame

Now that your seat cover is fully re-covered, reattach to the chair frame using the original hardware.

Attaching Seat Cushion to Chair

How to Re-Cover a Dining Room Chair: Reattach Seat Cushion

Now that your seat cover is fully re-covered, reattach to the chair frame using the original hardware.

Photo by: Jalynn Baker

Jalynn Baker

And there you have it! A beautiful new chair for next to nothing.

Dining Room Chair

Wood Chair With Floral Cushion

Update a set of dining room chairs by re-covering the cushions with a stylish new fabric.

Photo by: Jalynn Baker

Jalynn Baker

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