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Reupholstering Couches and Replacing the Cushions

Reupholstering a couch can breathe new life into an old or heavily used piece of furniture. Although a professional reupholsterer will remove and replace not only the fabric, but also all of the padding -- and even the springs if they're broken -- you can recover the couch and cushions without much trouble yourself. This will save you hundreds of dollars. It's a major undertaking, though. that requires an investment of time and materials.

Things You'll Need

  • Staple remover
  • Upholstery fabric
  • Colored chalk
  • Muslin -- optional
  • Fabric scissors
  • Heavy-duty staple gun
  • Upholstery staples
  • Upholstery needle
  • Transparent thread
  • Stitch ripper
  • Sewing machine
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the staples securing the fabric to different sections of the couch, using a staple remover. A couch typically has an outer and an inner back, outer and inner sides, a seat pad and cushions, a lower front and arms. Remove the fabric sections carefully so that you don't tear them. These pieces will serve as the cutting patterns for the new fabric.

    • 2

      Spread the new fabric face-down on a clean floor. Use upholstery-quality, stain-resistant fabric that is durable and easy to manage, especially if this is your first reupholstering project. Spread the pieces over the fabric, and trace around their outlines with colored chalk. Drape a piece of muslin on the particular couch section if you damaged the fabric during removal. Trace around its outline, using colored chalk.

    • 3

      Cut around the chalk outlines, using fabric scissors.

    • 4

      Center the new fabric on the padded couch. Tuck the fabric in the crease between the seat and inner back before extending it up and over the outer back. Pull the fabric taut to keep it from wrinkling or sagging.

    • 5

      Staple the fabric along the bottom and the sides of the back of the couch to secure it. Staple through the padding. Place the fabric cutouts for the outer arms over the corresponding sections on the couch. Staple one side, and then pull the fabric taut over to the other side. Secure the remaining sides, in turn, so that each side is free of creases.

    • 6

      Spread the fabric for the lower front of the couch. Staple the opposite sides to the padding, pulling the fabric taut all along so that it is smooth.

    • 7

      Spread the appropriate fabric pieces over the front-arm panels. Affix the fabric directly to the padding by hand, using a needle and transparent upholstery thread.

    • 8

      Remove the fabric from the cushions, using a stitch ripper. Spread these over the new fabric, and cut around each with sharp scissors. Spread the top and bottom cushion fabric, wrong sides out, on a table, and sew three sides together, using a half-inch seam. Turn the cover right-side-out, insert the foam cushion in it and hand sew the fourth side closed. Repeat for each cushion.

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Couches
  1. How to Recover Berkline Couches
  2. Recovering Couches vs. Reupholstering
  3. Alternative to Replacing the Springs in My Couch
  4. What Is the Advantage of a Sectional Couch?
  5. About Reupholstering a Couch
  6. What to Do With Old Couches?
  7. The Easy Way to Reupholster a Couch
  8. How to Upholster the Back of a Couch
  9. Replacing and Covering Couch Cushions
  10. Reupholstering the Arms of a Couch With Tacks
  11. Reupholstering a Tufted-Back Couch
  12. Reupholstering Vs. Replacing a Couch

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