How to cover a chair with fabric with your own hands. How to update an old armchair or sofa. We change upholstery ourselves. The main features of the restoration of the old chair

12.04.2020

Self hauling upholstered furniture The task is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. To make the updated chair look modern, stylish and appropriate, you need to study the technology and strictly follow the instructions.

If the upholstery on the old chair has become unusable, do not rush to throw it away, just drag it with a new fabric.

In order for the restoration to be successful, you need to take into account all the subtleties, only with a thorough approach to business, the updated furniture will look good. This scheme of work can be used to update any upholstered furniture. But if a worn-out sofa or chair has a complex shape, it is better to turn to professionals (Fig. 1).

Preparatory work

For the upholstery of the chair, you will need not only materials and tools, you must also have sufficient sewing skills and perseverance. Shouldn't be ignored preparatory stage otherwise, difficulties may arise at the most inopportune moment.

For a successful stretch you will need:

screwdriver;
pliers;
anti-stapler;
furniture fabric;
foam rubber;
synthetic winterizer;
strong threads;
scissors, needles, pins;
sewing machine;
stapler with staples.

Figure 1. Diagram of the chair.

If the chair has wood details, you will additionally need sandpaper, stain or furniture varnish.

First of all, you need to photograph the furniture from different angles. This will greatly simplify the assembly process and avoid incidents. After the subject of alteration is imprinted, you can proceed to the next step.

The chair needs to be taken apart. Remove all decorative elements and pillows. If you make a surface constriction and leave wooden details worn out, the overall impression will be hopelessly spoiled.

Next, you need to very carefully remove the old upholstery. It is important not to damage the fabric, as it will act as a pattern. You can use an anti-stapler, a screwdriver and any other tools with a flat edge for these works. After the fabric is removed, you need to measure it and calculate how much fabric you need to sew a new upholstery. It is important to take into account the stock of material for folds and tucks.

It is necessary to assess the condition of the soft part of the chair. If the foam shows signs of dirt and wear, it should be replaced. It is better to do it right away so that in a few years the updated chair will not surprise you with a change in shape.

Figure 2. Fabrics such as tapestry, jacquard, gunny, velor, chenille are suitable for upholstery.

After that, you can go to the store for consumables. For work, you need foam rubber 3-5 cm thick, standard or increased rigidity. Such a sealant is used for the production of furniture, and it can be purchased in specialized stores. You will need upholstery material, it is better to choose a fabric labeled "furniture". Tapestry, jacquard, matting, velor, chenille are suitable for finishing upholstered furniture (Fig. 2). When buying, you need to take into account the stock of material. The presence of a pattern on the fabric will increase the consumption by about 1-2 steps of repetition of the elements of the image. And, of course, threads of a suitable shade must be taken durable, designed to work with furniture. Reinforced threads 45-70 LL are suitable (lavsan is an analogue of polyester).

Intermediate stage of restoration

After all the tools and materials are prepared, you can proceed with the restoration.

The first step is to update the armrests, legs and all wooden elements. They must be carefully processed with sandpaper, covered with stain or varnish and left to dry.

Figure 3. Carefully remove the old upholstery from the chair and detach all parts to further create a new pattern.

Next, you can proceed to the manufacture of new upholstery. The old one, if this has not been done before, needs to be torn open, trying not to damage the fabric. Each detail must be numbered and set aside. After that, you need to mark and cut out the new upholstery (Fig. 3).

It is best to do this on the floor. Marks are applied using a special marker, chalk or a simple pencil. Cutting is more convenient with large sharp scissors. After all the details are cut out, you need to process the sections so that the fabric does not bloom. The easiest way is to hem it using the double hem method or lightly singe over an open fire. When choosing the second method, you need to act very carefully, checking the reaction of the material on unnecessary trimming.

After that, you need to sew all the details of the new upholstery on sewing machine. It is better to "try on" several times new case than redo everything.

After the upholstery is ready, you can proceed to the main part of the work on the restoration of the chair.

Padding and assembly

You need to drag the chair in stages in disassembled form. For example, first cover the seat, then the back and small parts.

Lay the frame of the part in front of you, place foam rubber on it. The edges of the softening layer may protrude slightly beyond the frame: this will soften the ribs and make it more comfortable to use the updated furniture. If thick and dense foam rubber is purchased, the corners can be cut off by making the transitions rounded.

Figure 4. An example before and after the reupholstering of the chair.

The synthetic winterizer layer will protect the foam rubber from displacement and greatly simplify the process of installing a new upholstery. This nonwoven fabric you need to put it on top of the foam rubber and fix it on the base with a stapler.

Then you can go directly to the upholstery. The fabric part must be applied to the base, carefully straightened. You need to start fastening according to the scheme, this will avoid displacement and skew of the material. First, using 4 staples, fasten the fabric to the ribs, approximately in the middle. Further, proportionally, pulling the fabric, fasten with staples. For example, 2 - on one side, 2 - on the opposite side, and so on.

It is important that the material does not sag, but also does not stretch unnecessarily. Constant control will fit the chair with high quality.

After the last bracket is fixed, you can proceed to the hauling of the next part. To make the updated chair look presentable from all sides, the back can be covered with lining fabric, also securing it with staples.

After constricting the last soft part, you can start assembling. It is at this stage that it will come in handy detailed photo furniture. Remember how you disassembled the chair, and repeat all the steps in reverse order. All screws and fasteners must be tightened. If the chair is on wheels, it makes sense to replace them with modern bearing ones.

If all the steps were carried out correctly, you should see a beautiful updated chair (Fig. 4).

The ability to fit a chair with your own hands is a very useful skill. It is worth one day to spend time and effort on studying the technology, and tomorrow you will be able to update the interior of your house or cottage on your own and without significant expenses.

How to update an old armchair or sofa. Change your own upholstery

It's easier than ever to take the old armchair to the closet, take it to the dacha or even throw it away, then go and buy new furniture ... But where is the guarantee that the new furniture will be better? Are you sure that the new chair is made of high quality, from dry wood, that the new upholstery will be durable and practical and will not rub off right away? But you can complicate your task, but at the same time win, do not part with your native thing) I suggest you restore your old favorite chair, which is associated with so many memories, so many positive moments .... I know from personal experience, such furniture will bring much more pleasure, because it is updated with your own hands.

Replacing upholstery is not such a difficult task as it might seem at first glance. The most important thing you will need is fabric. And also, foam rubber, if you want to make the old chair more voluminous and soft. Below I suggest you familiarize yourself with some useful things that you need to know before starting the restoration of any piece of upholstered furniture: properties that a new upholstery fabric should have, what types of fabrics are best for upholstery and how to calculate fabric consumption for a chair, how to sew a sofa cover , as well as photos of the work process. I would be glad if the information is useful to you) And where to buy fabric for a new upholstery, I can also recommend: of course, in the same Moscow Fabric House, which is on Leninsky Prospekt, in which all fabrics from Europe and Asia are priced lower than in other stores in the city. Here you can buy a suitable fabric for furniture upholstery, for curtains, and you can also order cheap curtains for any of the rooms and even order cornices (for your own home-made curtains). The store has over 3,000 fabric samples in stock. Here you will find a fabric for every taste, in the store direct supplies of fabrics from manufacturers in Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, Turkey, China. A specialized sales hall is at your service - there are always fabrics from past collections at purchase prices. You will be helped with the selection of fabric according to styles, patterns and other properties; professional consultants and designers are always in the hall. The store has two own studios, if you want to order curtains, they will sew them in a week. There is a cumulative loyalty card, periodically there are promotions with discounts on the order, and there is also a delivery and installation service. By the way, the Fabric House is currently running a promotion for the month of October: if you buy fabric for curtains, cornices and order tailoring at the same time, there is a 10% discount on the entire order.

So, we figured out where to buy fabric for upholstery and curtains), and now we’ll find out what fabric to choose and how many meters to buy to update an old chair:

Properties that upholstery fabric should have

The fabric must hold its shape and not wrinkle, it must be easy to wash, it must be impregnated with an impregnation that repels dirt and water, it must be strong and fairly dense, it can be cleaned with soapy water, the fabric can be cleaned with a sponge or a soft brush. All these points indicate the quality of the fabric. The more properties a fabric has, the better it is suitable for upholstery.

What types of fabrics are preferred for chair upholstery?

The most popular fabrics are: chenille, jacquard, tapestry, nubuck or artificial leather, flock, leather.

Calculation of fabric consumption

Most convenient way determining how much fabric you need to upholster a piece of furniture is to take the calculations at the stage of calico upholstery or when the old upholstery is still intact and you can take measurements on it. It is very important to approach this stage of work correctly: there is nothing more offensive than finding that there is not enough fabric. Always round your numbers up, especially when buying fabric. It is useful to sketch out a sketch of the chair to be reupholstered, and write down next to it the dimensions of each part. If the fabric you choose has a distinctive weave or pattern, use arrows to indicate its direction on the upholstery.

When measuring furniture to purchase decorative fabric, bring the measuring tape to the farthest point of each piece. For example, inner part backrests should be measured from the back of the top bar to the inside back bar. Measurements should be taken at the points of greatest width along the corresponding frame rails. Remember that adding an allowance of at least 10 cm wide makes sewing much easier.

Start by measuring the inner armrest panel. Attach the tape to the armrest inside, under the curl, circle it and slide it down to the seat, remembering to add 10 cm at both ends.

Measure the seat by applying tape from the back bar between the back and seat back bars, across the seat, along the front edge of the seat to the bottom edge of the front bar. Add 10 cm to each end.

Continue to take measurements from all parts of the chair. If you are going to sheathe a chair with a welt, depending on the measurements taken, calculate the required length of the welt. Remember that welt fabric is best cut on the bias. All furniture is different, some armchairs have straight armrests, others have curved ones, others have buttons - try to take into account all the details that you need to cover with fabric. If the chair has buttons, you will need to take the buttonholes into account when calculating fabric consumption. When measuring, pass the tape through each hole.

Record the resulting numbers in the table. You can refer to it as you work.

In size, draw the details of the chair to scale on graph paper. Designate the maximum width and length of the panels, try not to fit them. exactly the size of the chair, as this can be done during the sewing process. Cut out the panels and lay them out on a piece of fabric with the appropriate width, taken in the same scale. There is a standard fabric width - 140, 200 cm. Find the most advantageous arrangement of parts so that as little fabric as possible is lost.

Monochromatic fabric. The diagram on the left shows how you can lay out the details on the fabric without a pronounced weave or pattern (this is one of several ways to lay out the patterns on the fabric). If you choose a fabric with a weave or pile, such as velvet, take this into account when calculating, since such fabrics should be laid in a certain direction so that the pile goes from top to bottom and back to front.

Patterned fabric. If you intend to cover the furniture with a fabric with a pattern, you will need more fabric to match the pattern. Measuring such tissue takes more time and requires careful planning. Measure the details of the furniture, build patterns, as you have done before. On the patterns, mark the places where the pattern repeats. The style and size of the pattern, as well as the length of the repetition, dictate the order in which they are laid out on the fabric. If the fabric has a large pattern, position the panels so that the pattern is centered. In this case, the pattern will fit almost entirely on the seat, as well as on the inner and outer back panels, and at least the main part of the pattern should fit on the armrests and ears. In our example, the ear panels are mirrored: the patterns on them repeat like reflections and create balance. The same applies to the armrest panels. If the pattern on your fabric repeats a lot, it's best to align the panels so that the pattern continues on the adjacent panel. For example, the inner back panel continues the seat panel. Do not forget about allowances and that the fabric will have to be attached to the frame. On an upholstered chair, the pattern should not visually disintegrate, it should be combined with the pattern on adjacent panels. Panels on fabric with a small pattern are best laid out in a certain order. Place the seat panel first, then the inner back panel to continue the pattern. Next, place the patterns for the inner panels of the armrests, remembering that the pattern on them should be symmetrical. The outer panels of the armrests should also be cut out in a symmetrical pair. Then place outer panel backrest, making sure that it matches the pattern with inner panel backrests and outer armrest panels.

To calculate the required amount of matter, you will need to draw each part on a reduced scale and prepare a cutting pattern. Before you outline the sewing lines, place the details of the cover on the sofa, front side down and pin. Use the seams of the old case as a guide to mark the stitching lines of the new case.

Measurements. For the manufacture of a new cover, it is necessary to determine all dimensions very accurately. Take your sofa measurements as shown in the two pictures below. This is how the dimensions of the parts of the cover are determined. Add 4 cm of seam allowance to the dimensions of each piece. A part pattern can be made using a cutting pattern. If the fabric has a large pattern, stripes or checks, add an additional allowance to match it.

A new cover can extend the life of a still durable but heavily worn sofa.

Cutting scheme. Before cutting fabric, draw a cutting pattern. On a reduced scale, draw the dimensions of each part, including seam allowances, on graph paper. If the width of the piece is wider than the width of the fabric, you will need to add pieces of the same size on each side or make a piece of two pieces sewn along a line passing through the center of the sofa.

Cut out all the details of the cover according to approximate sizes. If the right and wrong sides of the fabric are difficult to distinguish by eye, mark the wrong side of each piece. Measure the width of the back of the sofa with a centimeter. Determine the middle and mark it with a pin on the top of the sofa. Mark on the back of the cover its middle. Pin the middle of the back of the cover inside out to the middle of the back of the sofa. Pin the entire back of the cover to the back of the sofa.

Remove pillows. Mark the middle of the seat back piece and place it in line with the center of the back piece already pinned to the sofa. Cut off two pieces. Holding the excess fabric, mark the stitching line on the details with a tailor's chalk.

When fastening parts in all places where the sofa does not have rectangular shape, there will be a slight excess of tissue. Cut off the excess, leaving a seam allowance of at least 1 cm. Connect the inner and outer parts of the armrest in the same way as the parts of the back. Mark the stitching lines on the back of the seat and the inside of the armrest where they meet the seat base. Pin the pieces and sew along the seam line.

Lay the cushions in place, place the seat piece on them inside out, leaving a fold allowance at the back and sides of the cushions. Pin and sew the folds of the seat piece to the back of the seat and the inner armrest piece along the marked stitching lines.

Sew the outer edges of the front of the seat piece to the side of the outer armrest piece. Do this on each side of the sofa. Turn the cover right side out and put it on the sofa, tucking it in on all sides of the cushions so that it does not move. Fold and pin the 1.25 cm and 2.5 cm edges to the back pieces and the outer pieces of the armrests so that the seams are not visible when looking at the sofa from the front. The edges should be wide enough so that Velcro tape can be sewn to them.

Pin the Velcro in place to the right side of the edge of the outer armrest piece and inside the edge of the back piece. Fasten the Velcro so that the cover fits as best as possible. Remove the cover and sew the Velcro tape in place. Be careful, as the needle will pass through the braid and three layers of fabric. Put the cover back on the sofa and check the position of the "skirt" to make sure it fits correctly. The "skirt" should have 1 cm allowances for the seam at the top and for the hem at the bottom.

Connect so many parts of the “skirt” so that their length is three times the perimeter of the sofa, adding allowances to the end edges of each of the cuts in the back. Peel off the folds as shown in the photo; For every 2.5 cm fold there is 7.5 cm of fabric. On the front side of the cover, mark with pins or a small line 1 cm below the “skirt” attachment line. Lay the “skirt” right side up on the cover so that its top follows the marked line (and the rest of the material is above the line). Sew on the "skirt", leaving a 1 cm allowance.

Flip the "skirt" right side up and smooth the seam. Bend up, pin and sew the edge of the "skirt". Turn the finished cover inside out. Using a sewing machine, zigzag stitch the edges of the fabric to reinforce them and give the cover a neater look.

Do-it-yourself furniture upholstery is a laborious, long process that requires rich experience and skills. For this reason, many simply throw away old furniture, not imagining that it can be restored with their own hands. If you are good at working with your hands and have a rich imagination, hauling a chair with your own hands will not be difficult, especially if you follow the instructions.

Restoration of furniture is the restoration of not only its functionality, but also its appearance.

Do-it-yourself new life for an old but beloved armchair

Making something with your own hands is a fascinating process that allows you to unleash your creative potential. It is not for nothing that in the age of factory production, handmade products are valued higher than factory counterparts. Such a thing will surely attract the attention of guests, will decorate your interior.

An old chair with torn upholstery can be turned into a chic exclusive piece of furniture.

Having decided to reupholster an old chair yourself, you are free to choose finishing materials, and you can also save on buying a new chair. Any design, texture, the only limitation is your fantasy and imagination. And also things made by hand are much nicer and closer than bought in a store.

Fabric selection, attention to detail

Variety of upholstery fabrics

When choosing a finishing material, first of all, you need to pay attention to how to pull the chair, as well as indicators of strength and wear resistance.

By choosing suitable material upholstery, pay attention to the presence of special impregnation. It will extend the service life, simplify the care of the fabric. Therefore, before buying, check with the seller about the presence of impregnation.

Required set of tools

Necessary tools and materials for sewing a cover

Consider a set of tools that is needed to reupholster the chair. Prepare them in advance so as not to waste too much time.

A furniture stapler is the main working tool with which the upholstery is attached to the frame. You can buy it at any hardware or hardware store, for a small price. To the stapler, you need to buy special staples of the appropriate size. It is better to take them with a margin so that you do not have to interrupt the work process.

Foam rubber or batting - if the old filler has lost its former elasticity, it is necessary to replace it with a new one. Sold at a hardware or hardware store.

Furniture filler - foam rubber

Batting for filling upholstered furniture

Flathead screwdriver or pry bar for removing old staples.

The minimum set of tools for repairing furniture at home

A hammer, pliers, tailor's scissors, an adjustable wrench - all this will be needed for the complete assembly and disassembly of the chair.

Sewing machine, tailor's chalk or bar of soap, for sewing new upholstery.

A sewing machine will be needed to sew a new chair cover

A metal brush, coarse and fine sandpaper - to update the external wooden elements, as well as varnish or paint of the desired shade.

Dismantling the chair before restoration

The internal structure of the soft chair

Having prepared the entire set of tools, you can begin to disassemble the old chair. First of all, you need to put it on its back to get to its bottom. Using a screwdriver, unscrew the legs and wooden armrests, if any.

We disassemble the bottom, for which we remove the old staples. It is convenient to pry them with a flat screwdriver and finally remove them with a pry bar. We remove the upholstery of the bottom, we must get to the back of the seat. After that, we begin to remove the old upholstery with pliers. It is important to do everything with extreme caution, as the upholstery will be needed to cut the new fabric.

Scheme of a chair for sewing new parts

To simplify the process, you need to mark the sequence of steps, this will come in handy when reassembling. You can also note which part, where it was, so as not to get confused. Since the upholstery is attached with staples, remove them with a flat screwdriver and a pry bar.

After dismantling the old fabric, you can evaluate the quality of the stuffing. If the foam turned yellow, began to crumble, it is better to replace it with a new one. If it just lost its shape, you can add a new layer of foam rubber or batting on top. In places where fasteners remain, they should be removed for a better fit of the skin or filler.

Wooden frame chair

The process of sewing a new chair

We take measurements, make patterns, leaving allowances for seams

The next step, using a tape measure, is to take measurements from the old upholstery, write it down separately. Then we go to the store and buy a canvas of the appropriate size. At this stage, you can choose the material, texture, pattern to your taste. It is advisable to take the canvas 10% more than the required length. In any case, it will be possible to cut off the excess, but if the length is not enough, it will no longer be possible to sew. For fabric with a pattern, specifically take more fabric to match the pattern on all elements of the chair.

Cutting and cutting pieces from the main fabric

We place the old upholstery details on the fabric, outline them with tailor's chalk, leaving a small margin.

Stages of sewing the side of the chair cover

If the fabric is woven or piled, pay attention to the correct direction of the pile: from top to bottom and from back to front.

We replace the soft stuffing - synthetic winterizer or foam rubber

To create decorative folds, mark the folds of the fabric and use sewing machine. Before sewing, fasten each element to the frame of the chair with pins, check how it will look in ready-made. After a series of trials and experiments, you can proceed to the final tailoring. Having cut out all the details and brought them to the proper form, you can proceed to the constriction.

We make cuts on allowances in those places where one part is sewn to another

Padding: step by step instructions

Before reassembly and re-upholstery, the external wooden elements should be updated. To do this, remove the old paintwork with a wire brush or coarse sandpaper. After sanding these parts with fine-grained sandpaper and coat with varnish or paint of your choice.

Fasten the new cover with staples

Once again, try on all the details to the furniture with the help of pins: if everything fits together, you can start tight. We start the process from the place where we finished disassembling the chair. We fasten one end of the part to the frame with brackets, starting from the center, leaving a distance of 10 centimeters along the edges. Having fixed, we stretch the fabric from the front side, check for the absence of wrinkles. If everything is in order, we stretch it and fasten the remaining sides. We check again appearance. If everything is in order, we fasten the edges of the upholstery to the frame.

Fasten with staples internal detail seats

By the same principle, we fasten all the elements of the chair, observing the reverse order of disassembly. As a result, the fabric will completely envelop the entire chair, and all edges will be folded.

We make holes in the case for attaching the legs and fasten the legs

A complete upholstery of furniture can take a lot of time, but the most important thing in this process is not to rush anywhere. It is important to note that different chairs its own characteristics, so you will have to figure out many details on your own. The final result will definitely pay off all the efforts for the hauling and will delight you. long time.

Finished chair after do-it-yourself upholstery

Chair back restoration

We will separately consider the repair of the back if it was broken for any reason. After the complete dismantling of the upholstery, you need to determine the cause of the breakdown. These may be loose mounting bolts that need to be tightened.

If there is a crack in the frame, you can try to find a similar part and replace the broken one. Or personally carve a new one out of wood.
If the cause of the breakdown is a loose tie band, it must be tightened. To do this, remove one of the edges of the tape and evenly stretch, after which we fasten it with staples.
If the tapes have lost their former properties, it is necessary to replace them with new ones. The remaining excess is cut off with scissors so as not to spoil the appearance after the waist. Get a beautiful chair at no extra cost.

Video: Do-it-yourself furniture repair. Chair restoration.

Probably, everyone in the house has old furniture (bedside tables, chairs, sofas and armchairs), which, after a while, have become unusable. “It’s a pity to throw it away, and buying a new one is not always enough money,” many people immediately get upset about this, not even suspecting that old furniture can be restored and restored.

Do-it-yourself repair and hauling of an old chair

Required Tool

Let's move from words to deeds. In order to make the restoration of an old chair, we need the following tool:

Hammer, pliers, screwdriver (flat),
Manual stapler, staples from 4 to 6 mm, scissors,
Sling wide (textile),
Foam rubber, batting, synthetic winterizer,
Fabric (1.5 - 2 m),
PVA glue, gauze.

Before starting work, you need to disassemble the old chair and see what is inside it.

As a rule, this wooden frame, foam on the back and seat. It is held by rubber or textile slings.

Also in the composition of the components we see legs, armrests (polished or fabric-like). Back wall armchairs are fixed with plywood. That, perhaps, is all.

After parsing:

Determine what needs to be replaced. All spike parts are carefully knocked out with a rubber mallet so as not to damage the edges and preserve the polish.
With a scalpel or a knife with a thin sting, we clean the grooves so that there are no glue residues inside.
We coat the spike parts with PVA glue, after which we wrap the bandage directly on the spike.
We carefully hammer everything into place and wait a day for complete drying.

Do-it-yourself chair upholstery

Let's take a step-by-step look at the chair upholstery process

Foam rubber replacement

The next step in the restoration of the chair with your own hands will be the replacement of foam rubber. The list of brands that are used in furniture production:

ST - standard type

EL - characterized by an average degree of rigidity

HS - soft type

HL - extra hard type

HR - low degree of hardness

ST - standard type,
EL - characterized by an average degree of rigidity,
HS - soft type,
HL - extra hard,
HR - low degree of rigidity, most often used in the manufacture of upholstered furniture.

In our case, HR is the best option.

It is best to cut foam rubber with a knife with a long blade sharpened on abrasive stone. We cut in several stages.

Change of passes (belts)

After we have decided on the foam rubber, we check the passes. They can be made of rubber or thick tarpaulin.

They are fixed on a wooden frame with nails, in rare cases they are pierced with staples.

We remove the old belts, measure their length and, with a slight stretch, change them to new ones. The edges of the belt must be wrapped (folded at least in two). In this position, they will last a long time and will not stretch with a lot of weight.

The belts are tight, now you need to fix the foam rubber. We coat the passes with glue for foam rubber and carefully set the seat first, and then the back.

After we have the frame ready, we proceed to the choice of fabric.

Chair upholstery fabric

Today the textile industry offers wide range of fabrics for repair and upholstery.

Seat upholstery fabric:

One must remember simple truth: if the fabric has a pattern or abstraction, you need to make sure that the image does not move during the pattern.

We cut the front and back of the back from the first meter of fabric, the seat from the rest.

Having made a cut, you need to check whether we have kept the dimensions correctly by covering the seat with a cut-out piece of fabric. Having set the corners correctly as shown in the figure, we begin to “shoot” our cover to the chair frame.

We fix the rest of the fabric with staples, make a mandatory stretch - to ourselves.

The corners can be sewn on a typewriter or, if not essential, by hand, with a small seam.

At the moment of fixing the cover to the frame, we pierce the staples with an interval of 3-4 cm. If these are nails with a wide hat, then the distance should be slightly less.

As soon as we changed the seat upholstery, we do the same with the back.

You should always remember that the restoration of a chair with your own hands always requires consistency in work, as well as attention.

When removing each of the details, you need to remember in what place and how it stood. Some masters use a camera for such purposes.

Restoration of frame parts

The concept of "restoration" includes not only the upholstery, but also the restoration of the wooden parts of the chair. Over time, the decorative details (armrests, chiseled elements, curly legs of the chair) become unusable, that is, they fade, the lacquer surface is erased, and small cracks appear on the furniture frame.

What can be done in such a case?

To solve this problem, we need:

Sandpaper,
Scraper,
Blade from a clerical knife.
Lacquer, stain.

Every detail must be sanded. You need to start with a large grain, gradually moving to a smaller one.

It is necessary to sand only in the direction of the fibers. If you make movements against the fiber, then the varnish will definitely show transverse lines.

Many master restorers use drill with special emery drums. They come in different widths and lengths, very convenient for grinding in hard-to-reach places.

After the parts are sanded, carefully remove dust with a damp cloth or foam rubber sponge.
Apply with a soft brush nitrolac until completely dry.
After the varnish has dried, you can run your hand over the surface and feel how the pile has risen. With the finest sandpaper, we carefully “knock down” the risen fibers, that is, we make the surface smooth.
Then you can apply a stain (alcohol, water or based on white spirit) and only then cover it with any varnish available in the production.

Video: do-it-yourself restoration of an old chair

That's the whole wisdom - how to easily and efficiently restore the chair at home.

Good luck to all masters!

Detailed instructions for the restoration of a chair with wooden armrests

In the article I will consider the conditions, and possible options restoration and alteration of the Soviet armchair. I'll tell you about the features that need to be considered when restoring old furniture. I will write down the requirements for the necessary materials and tools. I will consider the types of alteration of the old chair, and provide original ideas to update furniture.

The main features of the restoration of the old chair

The process of restoring damaged furniture is not a partial restoration of parts, or replacement of upholstery, it is giving a new look to an old armchair, an opportunity to refresh the interior. Alteration is carried out in the case when the legs stagger, the upholstery is erased, the springs stick out, or the structure is loosened.

A feature in the process of restoration is that it is quite difficult to produce it on your own, so this business is entrusted to professionals.

You can partially redo and restore upholstered furniture on your own:

dismantle the upholstery;
make a constriction;
repair or replace legs.

It is worth trying to restore furniture with your own hands with sufficient experience in furniture repair or with a lack of money for high-quality material.

Of the minuses of the restoration, one can only note the lack of professionalism in the restoration business.

Advantages of restoration at home:

cost savings;
the value of the interior item increases;
the interior is refreshed.

Necessary materials and tools

First you need to pick up a set of tools and materials.

You can use a standard set of tools, and a set of brushes and paints for a painter. Not available tools are purchased according to the recommendations of the master, so as not to harm the details during work. Furniture made of pure wood is afraid of floors, so it can dry out.

Required materials and tools:

chisel, spatula;
hammer, screwdriver;
stationery knife, wood glue;
set of brushes, roller;
acrylic paints, water-repellent varnish;
grinding machine, foam rubber;
stapler, sandpaper, new springs;
screwdriver, awl, large needles with silk threads.

The main types of alteration and materials

The restoration of upholstered furniture, as well as the restoration of an old chest of drawers, is divided into types that can be combined.

Padding

This method does not affect the restoration of the framework. Here the upholstery fabric is pulled. It is attached either to the old coating, which is not recommended by the masters, but this makes the chair voluminous. Or change the coating along with the filler.

High quality and durable fabrics

velor, velveteen;
eco-leather, jacquard;
flock, tapestry;
microfiber, chenille.

For the inner upholstery of the filling, a dense crinoline is suitable. The density and elasticity of the material will not allow foam rubber and springs to stick into the upper upholstery.

The stretch is done like this:

- parse chairs, even if it contains wooden handles or back;

- unscrew the bolts that fasten the legs to the frame;
- remove the armrests, disassemble the bottom;

- remove upholstery from the seat, armrests, back;
- the old upholstery is applied to the new fabric, the details are cut out according to the exact parameters;

- foam rubber is cut according to the parameters of the bottom with an addition of 2-3 cm;
- springs are attached to the bottom, then the filler, the structure is fixed with internal upholstery;

armrests sheathed with foam rubber and inner fabric, the back is restored as its bottom;
the details of the cross are attached to the frame, lined with outer fabric.

The constriction is made for a soft version. Furniture with the presence of wooden parts is subject to complete repair.

Upholstery

Restoration method for a chair with a rigid base. Seemingly furniture with clear geometric lines, upholstered with dense fabric with dense foam rubber inside.

Recovery requires:

remove the top lining;
remove the filler and its fasteners;
new parts are cut out on old parts;
the structure is checked for looseness, the damaged frame is replaced or restored;
the filler is fixed to the new base with a stapler, then the upper upholstery.

This method restoration is suitable for armchairs with a solid wooden base.

Repair

General view of the restoration work. Combines the process of upholstery, upholstery and complete replacement of the base. The design is checked for damage, the legs are replaced, a metal mount is added for strength.

Restore the surface with paints, varnishes, additional tools. This method of restoration is quite complicated, the chair is given to the work of masters.

What accessories may be needed

When restoring office chairs or models with movable wheels, casters or crosses are needed. In order not to injure the surface of the laminate or parquet, purchase sets of rollers with a mechanical lock.

Complete overhaul:

The master can update the chair more qualitatively, but it is possible to restore it yourself. It is necessary to choose high-quality upholstery material. Restore the appearance of furniture to match the interior of the room. Then there will be no need to purchase new furniture.

How to drag a chair with your own hands

Restoration of furniture is the restoration of not only its functionality, but also its appearance.

Do-it-yourself new life for an old but beloved armchair

An old chair with torn upholstery can be turned into a chic exclusive piece of furniture.

Variety of upholstery fabrics

When choosing a finishing material, first of all, you need to pay attention to how to pull the chair, as well as indicators of strength and wear resistance.

Choosing the right upholstery material, pay attention to the presence of special impregnation. It will extend the service life, simplify the care of the fabric. Therefore, before buying, check with the seller about the presence of impregnation.

Necessary tools and materials for sewing a cover

Consider a set of tools that is needed to reupholster the chair. Prepare them in advance so as not to waste too much time.

Foam rubber or batting - if the old filler has lost its former elasticity, it is necessary to replace it with a new one. Sold at a hardware or hardware store.

Furniture filler - foam rubber

Batting for filling upholstered furniture

Flathead screwdriver or pry bar for removing old staples.

The minimum set of tools for repairing furniture at home

A hammer, pliers, tailor's scissors, an adjustable wrench - all this will be needed for the complete assembly and disassembly of the chair.

Sewing machine, tailor's chalk or bar of soap, for sewing new upholstery.

A sewing machine will be needed to sew a new chair cover

A metal brush, coarse and fine sandpaper - to update the external wooden elements, as well as varnish or paint of the desired shade.

The internal structure of the soft chair

Scheme of a chair for sewing new parts

To simplify the process, you need to mark the sequence of steps, this will come in handy when reassembling. You can also note which part, where it was, so as not to get confused. Since the upholstery is attached with staples, remove them with a flat screwdriver and a pry bar.

Wooden frame chair

We take measurements, make patterns, leaving allowances for seams

Cutting and cutting pieces from the main fabric

We place the old upholstery details on the fabric, outline them with tailor's chalk, leaving a small margin.

Stages of sewing the side of the chair cover

If the fabric is woven or piled, pay attention to the correct direction of the pile: from top to bottom and from back to front.

We replace the soft stuffing - synthetic winterizer or foam rubber

To create decorative folds, mark the folds of the fabric and use a sewing machine. Before sewing, fasten each element to the frame of the chair with pins, check how it will look when finished. After a series of trials and experiments, you can proceed to the final tailoring. Having cut out all the details and brought them to the proper form, you can proceed to the constriction.

We make cuts on allowances in those places where one part is sewn to another

Fasten the new cover with staples

Once again, try on all the details to the furniture with the help of pins: if everything fits together, you can start tight. We start the process from the place where we finished disassembling the chair. We fasten one end of the part to the frame with brackets, starting from the center, leaving a distance of 10 centimeters along the edges. Having fixed, we stretch the fabric from the front side, check for the absence of wrinkles. If everything is in order, we stretch it and fasten the remaining sides. Again, we check the appearance. If everything is in order, we fasten the edges of the upholstery to the frame.

Fasten the inner part of the seat with brackets

By the same principle, we fasten all the elements of the chair, observing the reverse order of disassembly. As a result, the fabric will completely envelop the entire chair, and all edges will be folded.

We make holes in the case for attaching the legs and fasten the legs

A complete upholstery of furniture can take a lot of time, but the most important thing in this process is not to rush anywhere. It is important to note that different chairs have their own characteristics, so you will have to figure out many details on your own. The final result will definitely pay off all the efforts for the hauling and will delight you for a long time.

Finished chair after do-it-yourself upholstery

Chair back restoration

We will separately consider the repair of the back if it was broken for any reason. After the complete dismantling of the upholstery, you need to determine the cause of the breakdown. These may be loose mounting bolts that need to be tightened.

If there is a crack in the frame, you can try to find a similar part and replace the broken one. Or personally carve a new one out of wood.
If the cause of the breakdown is a loose tie band, it must be tightened. To do this, remove one of the edges of the tape and evenly stretch, after which we fasten it with staples.
If the tapes have lost their former properties, it is necessary to replace them with new ones. The remaining excess is cut off with scissors so as not to spoil the appearance after the waist. Get a beautiful chair at no extra cost.

Video: Do-it-yourself furniture repair. Chair restoration

How to drag an old chair with your own hands - step by step instructions with a photo

Do-it-yourself chair restoration may be needed when the furniture loses its novelty and beauty. You will definitely have to update the chair if it is your favorite and is often used, since the upholstery of the chair loses its attractive appearance. In some cases, restoration of an old chair is necessary from an aesthetic point of view - when its design does not fit into the interior after repair. Restoration of a boring chair with a cloth will help to solve these problems.

Upholstery of an old chair will not take much time and effort from the worker. But what delight you will experience when you see what came out of the old chair! If you purchased a cheap chair with wooden armrests, it needs to be redone. Padding the armchair with your own hands will give it novelty and freshness.

How to update an old armchair with your own hands? First you need to stock up on tools and materials. It is recommended to give preference to a special fabric that will be impregnated with a dirt-repellent composition and has increased wear resistance. Select the material you like from a photo or video to imagine what will happen in the end. Do not forget that very old chairs cannot be restored. Such furniture should be handled by professionals, as the seats may not withstand and fall apart. Before we redo one chair in stages, we need:

a piece of dense fabric;
10 cm foam for the seat and 6 cm for the back;
textile sling;
stapler for furniture;
auxiliary tools - wire cutters, scissors.

Necessary for sewing a cover

The internal structure of the chair
Chair scheme

Before you drag the chair, it must be disassembled. A master class on how to properly remove the cover from the chair is presented below. First, remove the bottom and the fixing wall from the old chair. At the Soviet armchair, they are held on by self-tapping screws or carnations. When the plywood is still usable or can be restored, we work with the utmost care. Under the seat there will be a foam lining that provides elasticity to the chair. It must be carefully removed. Now we twist the fasteners between the elements of the chair. If they are significantly rusted, apply a rust remover.

With the help of the manager, remove the cover and remove the lining from the back. This process can be facilitated by using a screwdriver and pliers. If the home chair and the plywood layer should remain intact as a result, pry off the fasteners not one at a time, but take them out in order. When the fasteners are removed, you can remove the lining and old upholstery. If the conditions of the apartment allow, cover the floor with newspapers so that the old lining does not crumble. We restore the wooden frame separately. Before you redo it, you need to get rid of the old varnish and paint, strengthen loose elements and paint the structure.

Chair upholstery

How to drag an old chair with your own hands step by step? We separate the back from the spring chair, carefully bending the brackets. Now we begin to pull out the screws, get rid of the belts and the fabric with which the products are covered. Rid of the contents of the skin, the structure is thoroughly washed and dried. From the slings we assemble the frame.

Scheme of a cover tie with a cord

Don't forget to cut longer pieces to make them easy to tuck. All cuts are soldered with fire. In order for the sling not to dangle on the legs, it must be well tensioned.

We make cutouts. Don't forget to leave seam allowances. Cutting and cutting pieces from the main fabric We replace the synthetic winterizer or foam rubber

We make cuts on allowances in those places where one part is sewn to another

Fasten the new cover with staples

Fasten the inner part of the seat with brackets

We make holes in the case for attaching the legs and fasten the legs

Our chair is ready

We drag the fabric over the slings and securely fasten it with a stapler. We cut foam rubber. Do not forget that the length made should not completely cover the frame and back. For those who make a chair with a fabric covered with a pattern, we remind you - make sure that the image does not move out after repair. We update two patterns for the back from the first meter of fabric, and for the seat - from the second.

Tighten the parts in such a way as to press the foam rubber against the tree. Tuck the fabric, passing the stapler from its middle to the ends. It is necessary to restore the chair in such a way as not to transfer the material, otherwise it will be impossible to sit on it. However, we do not sew weakly, because the fabric can be covered with folds at the legs. After you fit all the details of the restored chair, connect the back and seat. Now you know how to remake a piece of furniture without much effort.

All furniture is old. One becomes a rarity, and the other is in your house and upsets you every time you look at it. Actually, this is not a problem. In order for the furniture to sparkle with fresh colors again, it is enough just to update its exterior, especially since hauling furniture with your own hands is a fairly simple and interesting process.

Before you remove the outer layer of your chair, you need to decide on the materials that will be required to restore it. In almost all situations, it will be upholstery and filler. It's about about foam rubber, which serves as a layer between the frame of a piece of furniture and upholstery. Most often, it is this component that comes into the greatest unsuitability. But buying it is not a problem at all.

Another thing is the upholstery material. Here, indeed, what is needed for the upholstery of the chair is the upholstery. The problem also lies in the fact that usually not the entire set of furniture is restored, but only part of it - a separate armchair or sofa.

It can be very difficult to pick similar material. In no case should you give up everything because of this, on the contrary, I advise you to act more confidently, because a unique piece of furniture can also positively refresh the room.

The fabric must be selected dense enough so that it can withstand the load. It will not be very easy to calculate the required area - it will take some time. It is necessary to measure each individual part of the chair with a centimeter or ruler. Don't forget to bring some extra tacni.

At this point, the practical part of the instructions for hauling chairs with your own hands begins. We are not afraid, there is nothing difficult. First you need to remove the legs, if they are removable. If there are no legs with wheels, then you need to unscrew the entire lower part of the chair. To do this, turn the chair over, preferably with an emphasis on the back and armrests.

Why start from the bottom? This is because the furniture assembly process usually ends with just this part. So it makes sense to start from here.

We unscrew the screws, self-tapping screws, if any, too, and pull out the brackets. If the chair has been standing for a very long time, then a not very pleasant smell could appear. In this case, it should be disinfected with a spray and, if possible, put to ventilate on the street.

Step-by-step instructions on how to drag a chair at home could not have passed without removing the external structure. Almost always it is a support for the bottom, less often the side parts that go into the armrests.

At this stage, you could have separate legs, without wheels - they also need to be removed. Thus, we got a very interesting picture - outwardly, nothing holds back the upholstery of the chair, so you can start shooting it.

The lower part of the chair, most often, is closed with a separate sheet of fiberboard. It rests behind a thin layer of upholstery that needs to be dismantled. It is better to work with gloves and a tool, even with a regular screwdriver. Old furniture can have nails sticking out that are not visible through the upholstery, so be careful.

Now we have access to the main fasteners of the outer part of the upholstery. These should be staples that need to be gradually bent. Do this as carefully as possible, because you will need this upholstery cover when creating a new one. If the fabric doesn't pull back, don't push too hard, just check to see if you missed a staple somewhere.

If you haven't taught a furniture assembly beginner class, it's best to write down all the steps you take while disassembling furniture. After all that you will do next, from memory it will be possible to go the wrong way back. It is better to walk on your own breadcrumbs than to look at the sun and the side of the stone where the moss grows.

In pursuit of extra reliability, manufacturers often add additional fabric fasteners. Usually they go under the first layer of upholstery, and are covered with fabric on top.

Pay attention to the places between the brackets that you removed earlier, because that's where the insurance can hide. These will be longer, and therefore more difficult to pull out. If you manage to remove them carefully enough without damaging them, you can shove them back during assembly.

Now that all fasteners are removed, you can begin to remove the main part of the upholstery. The foam or batting that is under it may tear during this process. It's okay, because most likely you will need to replace this layer. At the same time, you can make it thicker so that the furniture is softer.

If you see several separate parts in which the filling has lost its properties, it is better to replace the entire packing, while removing the old layer.

There are a lot original ways upholstery of old armchairs and other pieces of furniture. At this stage, you need to decide whether you want to stick with the old chair style, or try something new. From this will depend on the new cut of the upholstery. You can sew it yourself, you can go to the studio - then the choice is yours.

Next, we install a layer of filler in the form of foam rubber or batting, after which it needs to be fixed. Then you just need to go in the opposite direction, after which, having reached the bottom, fix the new upholstery, install the bottom and legs. This completes the stretch.

One of the easiest and most unexpected ways to update an old chair is to repaint its upholstery. This option will help if the upholstery is not damaged, but, for example, you need to hide stains or just want to change its color. You can repaint the upholstery using paint from a spray can or from a can. Choose a universal paint or acrylic for fabric, and before painting, you can put a layer of a special primer. You can find paint and primer in construction, art and craft stores. The bonus of such an alteration is that the upholstery treated with paint acquires not only a new color, but also water-repellent properties, and stains from it can most often simply be removed with a damp cloth.

You will need:

Fabric paint;

A large brush for covering wide surfaces and a small brush that is more convenient to paint over the edges;

- a container for mixing paint;

Spray bottle with water;

If desired - masking tape, which can protect the wooden parts of the chair from getting paint on them, and you can do without a primer).

1. First, remove the cushions from the chair. Clean out all the dust, wipe the upholstery with a damp cloth, if there are significant greasy stains, it is better to treat them with a stain remover so that they do not prevent the paint from lying flat.

2. If you want, prime the surface of the chair. You can do without it. In this case, first soak the upholstery with water by spraying it with a spray bottle. Don't forget the seat cushion(s). Before the upholstery is dry, dilute some paint with water in a 1:1 ratio and saturate the upholstery with this mixture. This step is especially important if your chair is upholstered in thick fabric. Before painting, you can protect the wooden parts of the chair with masking tape.

3. When the first layer is completely dry, you can proceed to the second. This time paint the chair undiluted. Carefully go over the brush in all corners, painting over all the necessary areas of the upholstery.

5. If you wish, you can decorate the finished chair with decor by putting it on glue. Ready!

More upholstery chair ideas:

2. How to drag a chair: a master class

This method is, of course, more difficult than repainting. However, by reupholstering, you can almost completely update the old chair, getting rid of holes and scuffs and getting an almost new item for your interior.

You will need:

Hauling fabric (choose a strong, dense fabric);

Scissors;

Sewing machine and thread;

Furniture stapler and staples to it;

Glue gun;

Braid for decoration;

Screwdriver to remove the staples from the upholstery of the old chair.

1. Using a screwdriver, carefully remove the staples holding the upholstery to the chair. The removed parts will serve as patterns for new upholstery parts of the same type. You can remove not all the upholstery or, if desired, not remove it at all. Then you will have to take measurements from the chair and build patterns for new upholstery parts.