How to Reupholster a Chair With Naugahyde

Check to see if your seat and backrest are attached to the chair frame with screws. If so, remove the screws and take off the seats and backrest. If there are no screws present, run a flat screwdriver or ice pick around the edge of the decorative trim to loosen it. Gently pull off the trim.

Locate the staples holding the upholstery in place. In most cases, the staples should be immediately visible. Use a utility staple remover or claw tool to pull out the staples from the seat bottom. Place the staples into a disposable cup as you work, to prevent possible injury from stepping on a stray staple. Repeat with the backrest.

Use a marker to label each piece of fabric as “Seat” or “Backrest.” Note if the fabric was stapled to the back or the edges of the seat and the backrest. It will be important to staple the new upholstery in the same manner.

Unroll the Naugahyde fabric face down on the work surface. Place the fabric removed from the seat onto the fabric. Place the fabric removed from the front and back of the backrest onto the fabric. Trace out the pieces with a piece of chalk. Use heavy-duty scissors appropriate for cutting vinyl to cut out the new pieces of upholstery.

Cover the seat cushion with a layer of spray adhesive. Wrap a layer of batting around the cushion to add some extra softness to the seat. Wrap the batting to the backside of the seat and secure with staples around the perimeter.

Cut a piece of upholstery foam to the same size as the backrest piece. Seats with a backrest usually contain a wooden piece that attaches to the chair. Pull off the old, deteriorating foam from the wooden backing. Spray the backing with spray adhesive and press the new upholstery foam to the piece.

Cover the seat with the Naugahyde fabric. Pull the fabric around to the back of the seat panel and staple around the perimeter.

Apply the Naugahyde fabric panel to the front of the chair’s backrest. Secure the fabric in place by stapling around the edges of the backrest. Repeat by adding fabric to the back of the backrest and stapling it in place.

Place the seat back onto the chair frame. Screw the seat back in place. If necessary, apply a thin layer of wood glue around the edge of the backrest fame before inserting the upholstered panel.

Hide any visible staples by adding nail head or other decorative trim around the edges of the chair. Cut the trim strips to size using tin snips. Hold in place and hammer small nails into the open holes in the trim. Repeat around all of the edges of the newly upholstered chair.