How to Reupholster an Old Couch

There are several reasons to reupholster a couch. Maybe it looks terribly outdated. Maybe it clashes with everything in the living room. Or maybe it has an unappealing smell and a grimy appearance. Having an old couch reupholstered can give it new life. Professional upholstery work is usually expensive, costing enough to purchase a brand new couch. With enough care, time and patience, anyone can reupholster an old couch and save a good amount of money along the way.

Things You'll Need

• Staple remover
• Fabric
• Staples
• Padding
• Dacron
• Springs
• Staple gun

Instructions

1. Determine the parts of the couch that need to be re-cut. Possible parts include the seat, inside back, inside arms, front band, outside back, outside arms, front arm panels and welt cord fabric. Depending on the type of couch you have or the style you have in mind, you might also need to cut fabric for a skirt.

2. Measure every part of the couch to find out how much fabric you will need. For the outside pieces, take the up and down measurement first. For the seat area, measure front to back first. Measure the couch from its widest points.

3. Strip the couch from the bottom up. Take the bottom fabric, outside back and outside arms off first. Use a staple remover to take the staples out. Be careful not to rip the fabric because this is the template for your new fabric. Also, be careful not to damage the padding if it is reusable.

4. Find out if the springs need to be tightened. Run your hand over the seat of the couch and press down. You will need to tighten or replace the springs if they feel mushy or uneven.

5. Examine the padding. Replace the padding if it is damaged. If it is in good shape, deodorize it and overlay it with Dacron. This is a synthetic sheet covering.

6. Check the frame. If there are broken pieces, these will have to be fixed or replaced before the couch can be reupholstered. Tighten the arms and legs if they are loose.

7. Purchase fabric for the couch. Choose fabrics that will stand up to daily use. Softer weight, medium fabrics wear well and are easier to work with than heavier fabrics.

8. Use the old fabric pieces as templates for the new fabric. Lay the new fabric down and arrange the old fabric pieces on top. Leave an inch allowance around each piece. Pin both together and cut around the old pieces. Keep the old pieces together with the new pieces for easy identification.

9. Place the cushions on the new fabric and trace around them. Measure the width and height of the sides and out a strip with these measurements. Cut out these pieces. The cushion pieces will have to be sewn together.

10. Attach the chair pieces. Use a staple gun to attach the new fabric to the chair in the same way that the old fabric was attached. Stretch gently as you staple from one edge to the next, so that the fabric is taut.

11. Learn more about upholstery. Read "Complete Step-by-Step Upholstery" by David Sowle and Ruth Dye for more information. See the Resources section below for a link.

Tips & Warnings

• If you use fabrics with patterns, such as those with stripes, be sure to match the pieces symmetrically.

• Take pictures of your couch before you begin work and at every stage of the stripping process. This will help you remember how the pieces fit together when it is time to attach the new fabric.

• Avoid stretching the fabric too tightly so that it does not tear.

Resources

• Read this Article in Portuguese
• More about upholstery with "Complete Step-by-Step Upholstery" by David Sowle and Ruth Dye available on Amazon