How to Upholster Chairs With Plastic

If you have pets or children then you know how difficult it can be to keep your upholstery clean. The 1970s was the big era for vinyl upholstered furniture but today there aren't too many choices unless you take your furniture to a professional. However you can do it yourself at home. Fabric stores offer a variety of colors and textures to choose from.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic or vinyl fabric
• Sewing pins
• Electric sewing scissors
• Staple gun

Instructions

Remove the Old Fabric

1. Start by flipping your chair upside down and removing the old fabric by using a flat head screwdriver or other flat tool that will reach under the existing staples. Keep the old fabric, which will be used as a template for the new fabric.

2. Lay the new fabric out on a flat surface face down. Place the old fabric face down on top. Pin the old to the new with sewing pins. Use an electric pair of sewing scissors to cut around the old piece of fabric to form your new upholstery piece.

3. Remove the pins and then position the new piece of fabric onto the chair and pin it into place with the sewing pins. Use the staple gun to secure the plastic fabric onto the chair at several points until it doesn't move around.

4. Pull and staple the plastic onto the bottom of the chair frame. When you get to curves, simply gather or fold the plastic so that it lays flat and then staple it into place.

Tips & Warnings

• For a more decorative touch, use brass upholstery tacs to line the entire bottom of the chair as well as around the arms and chair back.

References

• Upholstery basics