How to Recover a Rocking Chair

When you find a rocking chair with a shape you love but is upholstered in damaged or unsightly fabric, you can recover it fairly easily. Recovering most rocking chairs requires only basic craft skills and equipment no more advanced than a screwdriver and a staple gun. For chairs with removable seats and backs, the project takes an afternoon. Some rocking chairs are outfitted in upholstery that is nailed directly to the rocking chair frame. That is a more advanced project, requiring professional attention.

Screwdriver
Hammer or staple remover
Foam
Bread knife
Cotton or synthetic batting
Upholstery fabric
Staple gun
Staples

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the seat. Turn over the chair and unscrew the seat from the rocking chair frame.
- 2
  Remove the upholstery. Use the back of the hammer, a flat-head screwdriver or a staple remover to pull all of the staples out of the bottom of the chair.
- 3
  Replace the foam. Cut a piece of foam to size with a bread knife to replace the existing material if it is damaged.
- 4
  Attach the foam to the seat with spray adhesive.
- 5
  Wrap the foam with cotton or synthetic batting. Staple the batting to the bottom of the chair to secure it. Place staples opposite one another first, making sure the batting is tight, then proceed to staple around the entire edge of the batting.
- 6
  Cover the batting with upholstery fabric. Staple the upholstery fabric to the seat in the same manner as you did the batting, checking to be sure it looks tight and secure from the front then proceeding to staple around the entire edge.
- 7
  Attach the recovered seat cushion to the rocking chair with screws.

How to Build a PC Gaming Chair

How to Select the Proper Cane for a Chair

Chairs