How to Upholster by Yourself
- 1). Locate the seams on the piece of furniture where the original fabric is stapled down. Tear out each of these staples, using a set of pliers if the staples are too tight to pull by hand. Continue until all staples are removed and you are able to peel back the original upholstery fabric. Save this fabric for later.
- 2). Determine if the cotton batting under the original upholstery fabric is suitable to save. If it is worn out, replace the batting by first ripping it off the furniture piece, using pliers and scissors if it is securely connected to the furniture. Cut pieces of cotton batting from a fabric store to match the size and shape of each panel of batting you removed from the furniture. Lay each piece of new batting onto the side of the furniture it corresponds with and staple it in place with a staple gun, placing staples along the perimeter of the original staple seam.
- 3). Spread out your new upholstery fabric on the ground and lay each panel of the old fabric on top of the new material. Secure the old panels to the new fabric with straight pins so it won't slide. Cut around each old panel, using it as a stencil to cut out new panels of fabric from the new upholstery material. Remove straight pins when finished.
- 4). Lay each new upholstery panel over the side of the furniture it corresponds to. Tuck the edges of the fabric under to conceal rough edges and secure in place with a staple gun, running the staples along the seams where the original staples were. Continue this process until all fabric panels are secured to the furniture.
