How to Restuff a Living Room Chair Cushion

Day-to-day use of chairs can cause the cushions to become flattened and uncomfortable. The cushion covers can appear wrinkled and unattractive if the stuffing has lost its resilience, become lumpy or doesn't retain its shape. Cushions are usually stuffed with foam, polyester batting, feathers or a combination of these stuffing materials. Replacing the stuffing in cushions will give more years of comfortable service from living room chairs and is not prohibitive in cost.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Straight edge
• Marker
• High-density foam
• Serrated knife
• Polyester batting
• Masking tape
• Loose foam
• Polyester stuffing
• Feathers
• Quilted down

Instructions

1. 

   Unzip the cushion cover and remove the old solid foam. Measure the cushion cover from front to back and side to side. Measure the depth of the cover.

2. Measure and mark the foam, drawing cutting lines with a marker. Cut the new foam 1/2-inch larger in all directions. Over time the cover fabric can become stretched, so by cutting the foam larger the cushion cover will again fit smoothly. A serrated knife works well for cutting foam. Wrap the foam in a layer of polyester batting, using masking tape to fasten it in place.

3. Slide the new foam into the cushion cover, fold the foam slightly to make working it into the cover easier and not put strain on the zipper. Work the foam into the corners and the side seams of the cover until it lays straight and smooth.

4. Unzip cushions that are stuffed with loose foam or polyester. For cushions that do not have a zipper, gently rip open a seam in the back of the cushion. Do not rip the seam completely open, a few inches will allow access to add stuffing. Add additional stuffing,shaking it to settle and then add more as needed. Restitch the seam by hand.

5. Remove the inner pillow from cushions that are stuffed with feathers and air fluff in the dryer for 30 minutes to one hour. If additional fullness is needed, wrap the inner pillow in a layer of quilted down and hand-stitch closed. Stuff into the cushion cover.

Tips & Warnings

• When loose filling is required, purchase pillows at a discount store and use the filling to stuff the cushions.

References

• Stuffing and foam resource