Step 7

Re-install upholstered seat

With the fabric fully secured, reposition the chair seat onto the frame and make sure it sits flat. Using the same screws, join the seat back into place. Be sure to enter the same holes so the seat is positioned correctly.

• Tip: If the screw holes are stripped, fill the holes with small pieces of toothpicks and a dab of wood glue. Then screw it in.

Paint an added feature: To really dress up the chair and add another pop of color, I picked a color complementary to the fabric and painted the lower third of the chair.  This is called a “paint dip.”

TMB Studio

FAQs

Will any fabric work to reupholster a chair?

Yes and no. When selecting a fabric to upholster a cushion or seat, you want to check quality and durability. Go to a fabric store and look at recommended uses and fabric grades A through F. Fabric grades will reflect the price and quality of the fabric. An “A” grade is less expensive, with “F Grade” being the most expensive because it has a more complex weave and typically incorporates more natural materials. 

Another way to determine the quality of a fabric is called a double rub. It is a test to determine how often a fabric can be rubbed before it wears out. One pass back and forth accounts for one “double rub.” Domestic fabrics are usually rated at 25,000 double-rubs. If you are purchasing one that is over 50,000 for a high-use chair, you will be making a good fabric choice. Industry standards set commercial-grade fabrics as wearing out after 100,000 to 250,000 double-rubs. Take your time to look at the differences before you make your final selection.

If the wood seat to my chair is made of particle board and falling apart, can I change it?

Yes. There are two important factors to adhere to when changing out the wood in a chair seat: First, try to keep the same shape as the original. The chair frame was designed for this seat to bear and distribute weight. Changing the shape of the seat may make the chair unsafe to sit in. Second, always use at least 3/4-in. thick stock. Anything less may bow and buckle, further compromising the chair.

How do I know if my chair is worthy of being reupholstered?

Before you go through the process of reviving a chair by reupholstering the seat, be sure the chair is a viable candidate by checking these few things.

• Solid Frame: Make sure the frame of your chair is solid. That means no creaking when you shift it back and forth and no obvious cracks in the wood.
• No cracks in the gussets: When you look under the chair, you’ll find four smaller pieces of wood, one in each corner angled at 45 degrees. These pieces are often called gussets and keep your chair square and together. If one is cracked or missing, your chair won’t last long, and it is not worth the effort of trying to revive it.
• Unions where the chair frame meets the seat must be solid: If there is a gap where the seat frame meets the chair seat, your chair will have a high likelihood of falling apart. A quick nail or screw will probably be unsightly and won’t keep the chair together for an extended period of time. All of these factors make the chair not worth a reupholstery job.