How to Reupholster a Dining Room Armchair

Pry the staples or tacks around the edges of the different sections of the chair using needle-nose pliers. Work carefully to avoid damaging the pieces of fabric, since you will use these as patterns for the new fabric. Set the fabric and tacks or staples aside.

Lay the old upholstery cutouts over pre-washed and ironed new fabric. Using sharp fabric scissors, cut around each pattern and set it aside.

Drape the new fabric for the back of the armchair over the frame. Tuck this fabric into the sides and pull it through to the chair back. Pull the fabric along the upper edge taut and secure it to the back of the frame, inserting staples every four inches.

Grasp the lower edge of this fabric up and over the back of the armchair and staple it to the frame. Extend the sides of the fabric along the back, in turn, and staple each to the wood frame.

Center and lower the fabric over the chair’s seat, brushing it with your hands. Pull the extra fabric along the sides of the seat through the frame. Pull the front of the fabric taut under the frame and insert staples to secure it in place. Repeat the process of securing the back of the fabric, pulling it taut to prevent creases. Also pull the fabric sides taut under the frame and staple to the wood.

Drape the fabric for the arms over the frame. Fold one-third of the fabric closer to the back of the chair toward the front. Pull this fabric taut on each end of the arm and insert staples to secure it to the wood frame.

Form a slit through the middle of the folded fabric section to the end. Wrap the fabric at the back of the arms. Grasp the fabric at the front of the arms, extend it downward and staple it to the frame. Gather the excess fabric or form 4- to 5-inch pleats from the sides toward the center. Staple the pleats to the frame.