DIY Reupholstered Chair Makeover ✨

I had this old chair sitting around, and honestly, it had seen much better days. The foam was so old it basically turned into dust every time I touched it. Instead of tossing it, I thought, why not try to refresh it and make it feel brand new? That’s how I ended up on my very first full-blown reupholstering project!

Stripping the Chair Down

The first step was to strip the chair completely. I removed the old batting and material, leaving only the wooden frame. The chair has wooden legs, which were chipped and covered in worn varnish. Before tackling the upholstery, I decided to refinish the wood:

Filled holes and imperfections with wood filler Sanded everything down smoothly,

Painted the legs a fresh, clean white

That alone made such a difference.

Starting the Reupholstering Journey

Since this was my first time, I did a lot of online research and gathered the supplies I needed. Here’s the process I followed:

Base Layer – I started with black upholstery dust cover fabric (sometimes called cambric). This gives the chair a professional, finished look.

Foam – I cut new foam to size for both the seat and backrest. This was the most important part since the old foam was completely gone.

Batting Layer – Over the foam, I added a thin cotton batting to smooth everything out and give it a softer feel.

Stapling the Fabric – This part was definitely the hardest.

Stretching the fabric just right without getting wrinkles took some trial and error. I ended up with a few too many wrinkles I wasn’t thrilled about, but overall, it came together.

Finishing Touches

Once the fabric was on, I wanted to cover up some of the visible staples. I added decorative brass upholstery tacks around the edges, which not only hid the staples but also gave the chair a more polished, stylish look.

The Final Result

Is it perfect? Definitely not. Since this was my first project, there are flaws I can spot right away. But the chair feels fresh, clean, and completely transformed compared to where it started. Even though I wouldn’t sell it, I’m proud of how it turned out and so glad I tried something new.