How to Reupholster Sofa Furniture

Reupholstered sofa furniture

Sofas can become easily worn due to pets, children and daily use. The upholstery on a sofa is generally very durable, but after time color can fade, and rips can occur. Staining is also a problem for sofa upholstery. Often, stains that are long set cannot be removed. One way to remedy the condition and look of upholstery is to remove old sofa upholstery and reupholster a sofa with new fabric.

Things You'll Need

• Upholstery scissors
• Needle nose pliers
• Tape measure
• Upholstery fabric
• Upholstery pins
• Staple gun
• Cushion foam
• Pre-measured upholstery covers
• Straight edged ruler
• Sewing machine
• Strong thread
• Sewing needle

Instructions

1. Cut upholstery fabric away from sofa. Remove old staples from the frame of the sofa with needle nose pliers. Don't yank too hard at the staple as it is being lifted from the wood frame, for this will prevent wood from splintering.

2. Measure the height, length and width of the sofa with a tape measure, and write down measurements.Go to a fabric supply store to purchase new upholstery fabric. Acquire two yards of upholstery fabric per sofa.Try to get a match to your fabric pattern, or choose a different pattern and brighter color, for an updated look.

3. Use the old fabric from the sofa as a template for new fabric, and cut the fabric to fit the sofa. Pin new fabric in place with upholstery pins. Attach the fabric to the frame of the sofa, by first starting at the back of the sofa, and working up. Staple the fabric in place with a staple gun as you go along into the frame, pulling the fabric tight, so that it doesn't bunch in sections.

4. Bring the fabric over to the front of the sofa, and continue stapling in place. Make sure the fabric is always stretched tight, and do not leave fabric bunched in corners where the cushions will lay, or where fabric is not visibly covered by cushions. Do the arms lastly.

5. Reupholster the cushions next. Check cushions for odor before reupholstering. Do not reupholster cushions if there is mold or mildew damage. Replace with new cushion foam. Purchase cushion foam from a craft or furniture supply store in the same size as previous cushions, so that they fit the sofa exactly.

6. Remove old fabric with the upholstery scissors. Measure cushions and get either pre-measured upholstery covers, or enough upholstery fabric to make your own home-made cushion covers to match the sofa upholstery. One yard per two cushions should suffice.

7. Measure with a straight edged ruler the length, width and height of each cushion, and cut the fabric to fit both sides and corners. Allow 2 inches for the seam. Sew the cushions together with a sewing machine, leaving one end open. Reinforce the seam along the edges of the cushion. This is done by going over the stitching a second time with the sewing machine, along the edges. Insert the cushion into the open end, and sew the open end closed by hand with strong thread and a sewing needle. Reinforce the seam once hand sewn as well.

References

• RepairHome: Learn to Do It Yourself: How to Reupholster Furniture