Why throw away old furniture when you can reupholster it so that it will look like new? This option will not only save you money, but you’ll also be doing your part to protect the environment. Besides, with the extra savings, you will have some money set aside to buy home décor online to further enhance the look of your home interior.
Knowing how to reupholster can be a very useful skill because once you learn how, you’ll be able to turn all kinds of stuff into good-looking and useful furniture.
Why Reupholster?
There are several reasons you may decide to reupholster an old piece of furniture but often times people do so due to its sentimental value. If you own an old piece that has been with your family for many years, you probably don’t want to get rid of it.
Another reason could be that you own a piece of furniture that perfectly suits a specific area in your home but it looks old and worn. If this is the case, updating its fabric and finish can make it look new again.
Tools You’ll Need
The good news is you don’t need to invest a lot of money for the tools. A manual staple gun can help secure fabric although we don’t really recommend it when working around furniture. Upholstery projects become easier when you have a powered staple gun so you can quickly and easily staple through fabric and wood. You can choose from air powered and electric types.
Electric staple guns are easy to transport and set-up, and they also work quietly. However they lack the performance and power of air-powered staple guns. You’ll have a hard time if you’re working with hardwood and you may end up using a hammer to get the staples into the wood completely. With an air-powered staple gun, on the other hand, you’ll need to use a compressor and portability is going to be an issue. However, if you want sufficient power, efficiency and ease of use, this type of stapler is the way to go.
Aside from your stapler, you’ll also need a pair of scissors, tape measure, pencil and some paper. You might also need a needle and thread.
Getting Started
Now that you have the tools ready, the next step is to pick a new fabric. Make sure that the fabric suits the overall theme of the room and is good quality. Remember that your furniture will be subject to constant wear and tear – you want fabric that can withstand this. A typical sofa will need around 13 yards while a chair would need 7 yards of fabric.
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When you’re ready to get started, measure the dimensions and sections of your furniture.
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Focus on one section at a time and make sure you line up your fabric properly.
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Then secure each section with your staple gun.
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See to it that there are no gaps.
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Fold and tuck the fabric at the edges so it is smooth and tight.
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You can opt to add extra cushioning and batting.
If you still need help on how to reupholster furniture, here’s a video that will guide you step by step.
