Can I Cover a Leather Kitchen Chair With Fabric?

Choosing Fabric

• The fabric that you choose to re-cover your chairs will depend on the end effect that you want to achieve. For a rustic or country look, choose a floral or chintz fabric that's sturdy enough to stand up to wear. For a contemporary look, try plain fabric in vibrant colors. Natural fibers such as linen and cotton look attractive, but may be hard to clean. Mixed fiber fabrics such as polyester/cotton mixes are generally more stain resistant and more practical for kitchen use.

Preparing the Chair

• To get the best finish when you re-cover the chair, it's best to remove the old leather first. Applying the fabric over the leather will work to a certain extent, but the fabric will always be prone to slipping and creasing against the leather and won't look as good. Depending on the chair, the old leather could be attached by nails underneath the seat, staples or glue. Remove nails with the claw end of a hammer and prise staples out with a flat screwdriver. For glue, you may have to resort to cutting the leather away with a craft knife.

Covering the Chair

• If the foam padding is in good condition, you can go straight to re-covering the chair. If the foam needs replacing, either remove the old pad to use as a template or make a paper template and have the foam cut professionally. Otherwise, press the fabric and spread it smoothly over the chair. Fold the edges under the chair, and nail or staple into place, keeping it as taut as possible. Any unevenness can be corrected with additional nails or staples.

Aftercare

• Leather-covered chairs are easy to keep clean and stains can be removed with a damp cloth. Fabric-covered chairs are less resilient. Wipe up stains as quickly as possible, and if necessary, use a stain removal spray. For added protection, especially on light-colored fabrics, treat the finished chair with protective spray such as Scotchgard Fabric and Upholstery Protector, which will prevent stains from seeping into the fabric long enough for a stain to be mopped up.