Laying new fabric on a chair cushion is a simple fix for outdated or mismatched furniture. It’s also a great way to refresh inexpensive thrift store finds, and it’s easier than you think.
Prep the Piece. To re-cover a chair like this one, unscrew the cushion from the chair frame. Then remove the original fabric.
Lay down a layer of muslin first. The muslin layer will improve the appearance of the upholstery when you're finished. Attach the back edge, and then pull it taut in the front.
Cut large pieces of upholstery fabric so there’s plenty to work with when attaching it at the back with staples. The trick to keeping the material from bunching and stretching is to wrap the edge around a straight stick, pull it taut, and space the staples close together.
Fold excess fabric at the cushion's corners into pleats. Staple the fabric securely, and keep your technique consistent from corner to corner. Then trim off all the remaining fabric.
The last step is to reattach the cushion to the chair frame. You can cover an entire set of chairs with matching fabric, or pick different fabrics in coordinating colors to get an eclectic look.
