How to Upholster a Lounge

Remove the lounge cushions. If the cushions have zippered covers, remove the covers and reserve. Otherwise, remove any existing fabric from the chair and its cushions by cutting away the material with a sharp blade. Pry staples from the lounge chair's frame with a screwdriver.

Repair the lounge as needed. Before you start upholstering, you want the bones of the lounge to be at their best. Tie any loose springs with jute twine to preserve their tautness. Replace broken wood pieces and sand away scuffs. If you are painting or staining the lounge, do this before adding new fabric. Allow it to dry completely before upholstering.

Cover the lounge with new upholstery fabric. Work in sections over the chair, tracing the shape of the section directly onto the fabric. For example, start at the inside back of the chair and trace this area, then move to the seat and outside back of the lounge. It is OK if the pattern pieces are not exact; excess can be cut away after upholstering.

Cut out your traced shapes. Position the fabric in place on their respective areas of the chair. Pull taut around the edge of the cushion. Staple to the lounge's frame, moving slowly over curved areas and corners and folding as you go.

Cover removable lounge cushions by creating a slipcover for the cushion. Wrap the fabric around the cushion, print-side in. Pin along the sides, leaving one side of the cushion unpinned. Sew along the pinned lines, remove pins and turn right-side out. Slide the cushion into the fabric and sew the remaining side closed with needle and thread. Replace the cushion on the lounge.