How to Re-cover Your Desk Chair

Disassemble the seat and back of the office chair using a screwdriver. Collect the screws in a small container and set them aside. Remove the old fabric covering the back and seat with a flat-head screwdriver. Don't toss the old fabric cutouts, but use them as templates for the new fabric.

Iron the new fabric to remove wrinkles or creases. Spread the new fabric, wrong side up, on a clean, hard surface. Spread the old fabric over the new fabric and pin in place. Trace the old fabric onto the new fabric using a colored pencil, and cut around the lines using sharp fabric scissors. Remove the pins and set them aside, along with the old fabric templates.

Lay the new fabric for the back of the chair wrong side up. Center and lower the back of the chair directly over the fabric.

Pull the opposite sides of the new fabric tightly over the center of the back of the chair's cushion. Staple the center of one edge to join the fabric to the back. Insert the second staple into the opposite side. Lift the chair's back and inspect it for creases or folds, and brush with your hand, if necessary. Lay the cushion down and continue inserting staples into the opposite edges of the fabric at its back. Pull the fabric tight while inserting staples.

Spread the fabric for the seat on the hard surface, wrong side up, and center the seat over it. Repeat the process of stapling the fabric to it at the back. Insert tacks into the fabric to define contours or curves along the edge of the seat.

Trim excess fabric on the chair's seat or back. Insert screws through the back and underside of the cushions to join them to the chair's frame.