How to Upholster a Winged Recliner Chair

New upholstery for your winged recliner chair is a solid investment for the condition, longevity and appearance of the chair. Doing the job yourself is not out of the question, and it's far less expensive than hiring a professional.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric of choice Dark writing utensil Scissors Sewing machine Needle and thread Staple or nail gun Sandpaper

Instructions

1. Choose the style, color and design of fabric you want to work with. This is probably the most exciting part of the process, but it can also be difficult deciding what material will go best with your home decor and lifestyle. Darker colors hide stains and dirt better. If you have pets or children, steer clear of fabrics that need a lot of maintenance, such as satin or silk.

2. Measure your winged recliner chair from every angle to ensure the best fit and appearance for your upholstery. Be sure to measure the upper winged parts and the armrests (if applicable), because you will need extra fabric for them. Look over the chair's padding, corners and structure to make sure it's in good shape before upholstering; you may need to trim excess threads or sand down bumpy corners. Also note any difficult angles you will need to pay extra attention to when upholstering. Even with your specific measurements, add at least a couple of inches to the fabric amount for additional corners that will be tucked in or overlapped.

3. 

   Spread out the fabric you chose on a flat space such as the floor, close to your winged recliner chair. Pop out the chair's footrest and examine the corners and how you might fold the fabric under and over. Use your writing utensil to trace the measurements and shape of this portion of the chair, leaving an extra inch and a half on the outskirts. (Depending on the design of the footrest, you may need to cut out two pieces of fabric, one for the smaller area of the footrest and one for the larger area, as shown in the picture). Cut the cloth out and lay the fabric on top of the footrest. Stretch it over the footrest and fasten it to the underside. No one will see the underside, so it is not important to hide the nails or staples you use to secure the fabric. Leave a little extra fabric on the top part of the footrest that transitions from the seat, so there is enough slack for the footrest to pop in and out. Shape the fabric to the corners by folding the ends of the fabric over each other, like wrapping a present. Secure with the staple or nails. Make sure the footrest pops in and out easily.

4. 

   Lay out two pieces of fabric and use the writing utensil to trace out the measurements and shape of the two upper wings on the back of the recliner chair, leaving an extra inch on the outskirts. Cut out the fabric. Lay one of the pieces on the right wing, and curve the fabric into the indentation between the wing and the part of the recliner where your back rests. Use the staple gun to secure the fabric into this crevice every half inch. Fold the excess fabric over to the back side of the recliner. Use the staple gun to secure the fabric on the back corner of the recliner chair, over the top of the wings. Trim off the excess fabric. The back of the chair should still have no fabric on it; only the visible portion of the wings should. Repeat this process with the left wing.

5. Repeat Step 4 with the armrests. Fold the measured fabric, with an extra inch on the outskirts, into the crevice between the cushions and the armrest. Secure the fabric with the staple or nail gun. These fabric edges will be the easiest to conceal. Where the armrests end on the side of the chair, stretch the fabric all the way underneath the recliner and secure with the nail or staple gun. Now the two sides of the recliner and the two wings are upholstered.

6. Trace the measurements and shape of the structure of the chair onto your fabric. This includes the area where your back rests, the back of the recliner and the seat cushion. Leave an extra inch and a half on the outskirts. Cut the cloth out. Make sure all edges are straight and thread-free.

7. Drape the fabric over the back of the chair. Use the nail or staple gun to attach the cloth to the chair's frame. Start on the back of the chair, then stretch the fabric over to the front and bottom. On the front of the recliner in between the two wings, fold the extra fabric into the crease where you secured the wing's fabric. Secure the fabric to the recliner every inch with the nail or staple gun. Blend the fabric into the wing and arm rest fabric as smoothly as you can.

8. Remove the recliner's cushion (if able) to upholster it. If it is removed, use the measurements of the seating area of the recliner to cut out one long length of fabric and wrap it around the cushion. Use a needle and thread or a sewing machine to stitch around the edges to create a chair cushion. If it is not removable, wrap the fabric as closely as you can around the cushion and lift up the sides of the cushion as far as possible. Use the nail or staple gun to secure the fabric to the inside of the arm rests or the bottom of the recliner.

9. Look over the your new upholstery. If you see any staples or nails that bother you, you can always remove them and use needle and thread (although this can reverse the process and require a lot of additional time). If necessary, use small strips of the fabric and cover bulky areas where fabric sides meet on the chair.

Tips & Warnings

• The process of upholstering a winged recliner chair may work better with an additional person to help hold the fabric and secure it in place with the nail or staple gun. Make sure that the recliner works smoothly with the fabric, such as when you pop out the footrest or recline in the chair.

• Always be cautious when using nail or staple guns.