Reupholstering Dining Room Chairs

Dining room furniture can last a lifetime with a little maintenance and proper care. The first set that you purchase can still be around for your kids to have when they are grown. Keeping it clean and the joints tight will make it an heirloom for generations to come. The cushions on the chairs however, will wear and the material will loose its appeal over time. The seats of dining room chairs can be reupholstered frequently with little cost. They will always look clean and the fabric will match the ever-changing decor.

Reupholstering dining room chairs can be done in few steps, with only a screwdriver and staple gun. First thing that need to be accomplished is a few quick measurements. Determine the width and depth of the seat and the widest point and add twelve inches to each dimension. Go to your local fabric store and pick out the material that best suits your taste and buy enough yards to cover the chairs. At times the pads on the seats need and upgrade. With the same measurements in mind, purchase enough foam and batting to cover the chairs and use it for the seats.

The base of the chair is held on with four screws. Just remove the screws and pull off the old material. The seat itself is made out of a piece of plywood and is usually cut with the tapering angle to the rear. If the pad is being replaced just trim the foam to match the tapered edge and cut the batting a little larger to cover the thickness of the padding. There is no need to tack any of this material down because the fabric will hold it in place.

Cut the material in squares twelve inches larger than the widest points of the seat. Place the material down on a solid surface, the outside of the material face away from you. Now center the seat, with the pad over the material. Take the material from each side and pull it over the seat, working one side at a time and tack the center down with one staple. Pull the material tightly as you work around each side of the seat. Make sure the pattern of the material is straight as you pull the cover over. If the material is striped it is very important to make sure the stripes are straight and in the right direction

After the material is tacked down it is time to go back and give it final the stapling. Make sure the edges of the material are tucked under and staple each side down with a nice tight fit. Safe the corners of the seat to last and work the material so that there is no areas that are bunched on the surface. Take your time and the seat will have a nice smooth appearance. Remember that the seat needs to be screwed back on so keep the area with screw hole in it free from too much material. It will help to bore or snip a hole in the material where the screw will fit, it make reattaching the seat a little easier.

Once you have inspected the seat and find it to look satisfactorily, it’s time to finish the project. If the seats are covered frequently or the wood is quite worn it is best to add a little wood putty to the holes before putting on the new cover. This will ensure a tight fit every time you finish screwing them back on. Take each seat and reattach it to the chair making sure it tapers to the rear. The dining room set now has a new look and a clean finish.

For seats that are used frequently always use a nice upholstery material and consider spraying it with a fabric protector. Some people like to change the seat covers with the curtains seasonally. To keep the material in good shape try finishing the edges to stop them from fraying. Reupholstering dining room chairs is a great project for the first timer. Once you have had the experience of handling the material and a staple gun, other project that need reupholstering will be within reach.

The dining room chairs will add a fresh look to the home and give any do it yourselfer great satisfaction. The material will keep with the decor of the house and the new cushioning will add comfort to the piece. This project is a must do for every homeowner.