Whether it's an attic dweller or a roadside find, an old chair can get a new life in just a few simple steps.
old chair
electric drill or screwdriver
sticky spray
stapler
Old chef knife to cut foam.
pliers
Durable fabric 6" wider and longer than existing chair cushion
heavy duty interface
120 grit sandpaper
primer
semi-gloss water-based paint
paint brush
optional:2" of foam slightly larger than existing chair cushion
1. Turn the chair upside down and remove the screws that hold the chair cushion to the frame. Put the screws aside.
2. Remove the original upholstery and staples from the cushion. You may need to use a flat blade screwdriver and pliers to remove the staples.
3. Decide if you need to replace the foam. If the foam looks and feels good, continue to step five. If the foam is crumbly, hard, and flattened, continue to step four.
4. Remove as much foam as possible from the cushion base. You should be able to remove most of it with your hands. Use an old chef's knife to cut through the foam until you have a smooth wooden base. Cut a piece of foam the size of the base of the cushion. Working on top of the cushion base, use a spray adhesive to glue the new piece of foam to the base of the old cushion.
5. Cut a piece of fabric allowing 6" overhang on all sides of the chair seat. Lay the fabric wrong side out on your work surface. Center the cushion (foam side down) on the fabric.
6. Pull the edges of the fabric over the foam toward the bottom of the wooden chair seat, and use the staple gun to fasten the fabric in place at the corners and at the midpoint of each edge. Use your fingers and, starting at one corner, fold the fabric back to make a clean edge; staple in place. If you find that you misjudged the placement of the fabric, you can bulk up in the corners and it won't show in the finished piece. Repeat for each corner. Add additional staples to secure the rest of the fabric. Trim any excess fabric from the bottom of the cushion.
7. Cut a piece of heavy duty interface slightly smaller than the cushion base. Use spray adhesive to stick the heavy-duty interface to the bottom of the chair cushion to hide staples and fabric edges.
8. Lightly sand the chair frame with sandpaper. Clean the chair with a damp cloth. Apply the primer and let dry. Paint the chair with two coats of the desired color. Let the paint dry. Turn the chair right side up and attach the cushion to the frame by replacing the screws.
