How to Recover Sofa Padding

Couch padding takes the form of cushions, including seat cushions and cushions along the back. Most couches use foam padding, while others use a soft fill material similar to pillows. As people sit on the couch, their weight pushes against the padding and flattens the filling. An improperly padded couch feels lumpy and uncomfortable. Recovering the sofa padding makes the seating comfortable and can give a room a new pop of color.

Seam ripper
Foam padding
Utility knife
New fabric
Chalk
Scissors
Sewing pins
Sewing machine
Zippers

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the existing cushions from the seat and back of the couch. Removable cushion covers feature a zipper, while standard cushions have a cover sewn onto the padding. Unzip the cushions and set the covers aside.
- 2
  Insert the edge of the seam ripper into the cushion cover. Pull along the seam, but keep the fabric intact. Repeat the process on each seam, separating each piece of fabric from the cover. The fabric will serve as a template for the new covers.
- 3
  Set a piece of foam padding on a flat surface. Place the old padding on top of the foam padding.
- 4
  Use a utility knife to trace the outline of the old padding on top of the new padding. Trim off the excess foam, which will leave you with a piece of foam to serve as the new padding. Create additional pieces depending on the size of the couch or the number of cushions.
- 5
  Lay the new fabric down and set the old fabric pieces on top. Trace the edges of the old fabric with a piece of chalk to create the outline on the new fabric. Cut out the fabric with a pair of scissors.
- 6
  Line up the new pieces to create the basic shape of the covers. Turn the pieces inside out. Slip sewing pins through the fabric to mark the seams.
- 7
  Attach the pieces together with a sewing machine. Remove the pins as you work across the fabric. Leave a 6-inch gap open on one side of the cover.
- 8
  Turn the fabric inside out so the patterned side faces out. Use sewing pins to attach the zipper to the new cushion.
- 9
  Use the sewing machine to stitch the zipper to the surrounding fabric. Push the foam padding through each cover and place them back on the sofa.

How to Refinish a Couch

How to Assemble a Sofa Yourself

Couches