How to Reupholster an Armchair Yourself?

Is the fabric of your favorite armchair damaged, but you don't want to part with it? Are you changing your decor, but don't want to buy all new furniture? Did you find a rare piece at a flea market, but it needs a refresh? There are several reasons to reupholster an armchair. Here is our advice on how to do it yourself!

Gather the necessary materials

To reupholster an armchair, you will need:

• Tacks (small nails used in upholstery);
• An upholstery hammer, used to drive in or remove tacks;
• Brushed aluminum upholstery nails;
• Pincers;
• The new fabric, preferably thick to withstand wear;
• A pair of sewing scissors.

Step 1: Remove the old fabric

Start by removing the gimp (the fabric strip under the armchair) by pulling it off or using the upholstery hammer to remove the staples or nails holding it in place. Do the same for the backrest, the seat, and the armrests.

Some armchairs have decorative nails instead of gimp. You will need to remove them one by one using the upholstery hammer (the claw side).

Remove all staples, nails, and tacks.

Step 2: Cut the new fabric

After measuring the backrest, seat, and armrests, cut the new fabric with the scissors, preparing a piece for each part of the armchair.

Add 20 cm for the backrest and seat, and about 10 cm for the armrests. Follow the grain of the fabric carefully and ensure that patterns are aligned between the backrest and the seat, especially if it is a striped fabric.

Step 3: Cover the different parts of the armchair

Start with the seat. Center the fabric on the seat, letting it hang over the sides, the back, and the front of the armchair. Temporarily fix the fabric in place with the tacks and the upholstery hammer.

Continue with the armrests. At the base of the armrests, fold the fabric onto the seat to form a right angle. Temporarily fix the fabric in place. Open the fabric with the scissors, then fold it around the armrests.

Finish with the backrest. Pull the fabric from the top of the front backrest, fix it, then pull it downwards and fix it again, adjusting the top. Do the same on the sides, fix the curves of the backrest, then proceed in the same way for the back.

Step 4: Fix the fabric with the upholstery nails

The nails must be placed at the edge of the fabric and the wood. They should touch without overlapping. Move along, replacing each tack with a nail. Do this all around the seat, backrest, and armrests.

Your armchair is now reupholstered!