How to Re-Cover a Dining Room Chair

How to Reupholster a Seat Cushion01:36

Materials Needed

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.

Jalynn Baker

Jalynn Baker

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

Remove the seat cushion from the chair frame using a screwdriver.

Photo By: Jalynn Baker

How to Re-Cover a Dining Room Chair: Remove Original Fabric

Remove the original fabric from the cushion by removing the staples. Remove the old foam from the seat.

Photo By: Jalynn Baker

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.

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.

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).

Jalynn Baker

Jalynn Baker

Jalynn Baker

How to Re-Cover a Dining Room Chair: Cut Batting

Use your new fabric cutout as a template to cut the new batting.

Photo By: Jalynn Baker

How to Re-Cover a Dining Room Chair: Attach Batting

Attach the batting to the seat using a staple gun. Pull the batting taut to the seat as you go.

Photo By: Jalynn Baker

How to Re-Cover a Dining Room Chair: Trim Excess Batting

Trim the excess batting along the outer edge of the staple line.

Photo By: Jalynn Baker

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).

Jalynn Baker

Jalynn Baker

How to Re-Cover a Dining Room Chair: Attach Fabric

Pull the fabric taut to the seat and staple it into place.

Photo By: Jalynn Baker

How to Re-Cover a Dining Room Chair: Pull Corners Taut

Pull the fabric snugly around curved corners to eliminate tucks on the top side of the cushion.

Photo By: Jalynn Baker

Reattach Seat Cushion to Chair Frame

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

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.

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