How to Recover a Chair Cushion

A ratty cushion can make an otherwise quality dining room chair look like it should belong in the dump. The good news is that you can revitalize that dumpy looking seat or completely change the look of your dining room by recovering the chair cushion. The process is fairly easy and all you need is a little time and a few items. Read on to learn how to recover a chair cushion.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Staple gun
• Staples
• Screwdriver

1. Carefully pick out a fabric to match your decor and the level of use the chair will experience. Chairs in a dining room that is heavily used will require a sturdier cloth than chairs in a dining room that is more for show.

2. Loosen the screws underneath the seat to make it possible to remove the cushion. Pry loose the staples and remove the old cushion cover.

3. Determine which part of the pattern on the fabric will be at the center of the cushion. Place the fabric over the cushion in the position you'd like it, then staple the sides down at the back. Leave the corners loose and the top unstapled.

4. Pull the fabric on the cushion tight, then staple the front. Be sure to press from the middle as well to get it as smooth as possible.

5. Press the corners tight and hold it with your thumb to make the corners. Then staple them down.

6. Turn the remaining loose flap of fabric over and pull it into the curve of the chair to create a neat corner. Press down and staple. Keep working the fabric to make sure that it remains tight.

7. Reinstall the newly recovered chair cushion.

Tips & Warnings

• Use short staples when first stapling the fabric so that it's easy to remove if the fabric isn't exactly where you would like it. Staple with longer staples later.
• Expect to use 1.5 yards to 2 yards of fabric to recover a chair cushion.
• The tighter you pull the fabric, the more professional it will appear.