DIY: Upholster a Leather Couch

Flip the couch upside down and set it on the working surface with its legs in the air. Remove the legs by unscrewing them. Pull the staples holding the leather down on the underside of the couch by using the staple puller. Rip the seams holding the leather together if necessary to get the leather off the couch. Using scissors, cut the leather as a last resort.

Spread out the removed leather and measure its area to determine the amount of leather or fabric that must be applied. Add a full yard to the measurement to determine the amount of reupholstery fabric necessary. Cut out this amount of leather or fabric, matching it to the shape of the removed fabric roughly.

Spread the leather completely over the couch. Tuck it in around the seat area and push it as deeply into the cracks as possible. Staple the leather to the wooden couch frame deep in the cracks using the carpentry stapler. Stretch the leather tightly and continue to fasten it around the seat with staples.

Stretch the leather down over the front of the couch and pull it underneath, stapling it tightly every 4 inches underneath the couch, about 4 inches from the front edge. Repeat for the arms and back of the couch, tucking the leather at the corners underneath the side leather and pulling it tightly to make clean, neat corners. Staple all the leather underneath the couch, placing the staples about 4 inches from the edge and about 4 inches apart. Cut off all excess leather using the scissors.