How to Reupholster Metal Bar Stools

Make a bar stool look shiny and new with brand new upholstery.

The bar is the hub of the party, and the bar stools are a favorite seat. Your bar stools may be beer stained and looking a bit ragged from the endless abuse they are subjected to. Replacing the fabric on your metal bar stools is a quick and easy project. Choose a fabric that will wipe clean easily like vinyl or oil cloth. You can have your bar stools looking brand new almost as quickly as your significant other can make you a martini.

Things You'll Need

• Screw driver
• Fabric
• Scissors
• Batting (optional)
• Staple gun

Instructions

1. Turn a stool over. Unscrew the screws that attach the seat pad to the seat. Lift the stool and set it upright on its feet. Lift the seat pad from the legs.

2. Remove the pins that are holding the current upholstery in place. Slide the tip of a flat head screwdriver under the pin and pry it from the seat. Repeat for all of the pins.

3. Remove the old fabric and examine the batting and seat pad. If the batting and seat pad are in good shape, leave them on the seat. Otherwise take them off.

4. Place the old seat pad on a piece of cardboard and trace around it with a pencil. Cut out the cardboard to create a template for the new padding.

5. Place the cardboard template on top of the new foam padding. Trace the outline of the template on the foam. Cut the padding with an electric carving knife or utility knife. Repeat this process for all of the other stool pads.

6. Spread out the new fabric and batting and lay it face down on a table. Trim both so they are four inches bigger than the foam pad all the way around. Set the foam padding on top of the fabric and batting. Place the seat face down on top of the padding.

7. Fold the fabric up and over the seat pad all the way around. Smooth the sides to eliminate any wrinkles. Hold the fabric firmly in place on the bottom of the seat. Secure with staples via a staple gun all the way around the seat. Trim any excess fabric so it looks neat and doesn't cover the holes used to reattach the seat pad to the stool.

8. Reattach the newly covered seat pad to the metal stool.

Tips & Warnings

• Spray paint can give the stools a brand new look as well. If the metal on the stools is looking a little worn, clean it well and then coat with three to four coats of spray paint for metal. Metal spray paint is available in a variety of finishes including chrome and iron.

References

• Kessel Upholstering: Dining Seat