How to Tuft Furniture

Remove the fabric from a piece of furniture. Remove each piece carefully so that you can use the pieces as a pattern and you will know how to reassemble it when you are finished.

Lay the old pieces of fabric on top of new fabric. Trace around each fabric piece. Cut out the shapes in the new fabric.

Cut a piece of foam in the same shape as a portion of the furniture piece. Mark the locations where you want to place your buttons. Use a ruler to keep the buttons placed in a uniform pattern.

Use a craft knife to cut small holes where you want to place your buttons. Cover the foam in batting. Add the piece of fabric that matches the shape of the foam on top of the foam and batting.

Thread your button. Use upholstery thread and buttons that are in the same fabric as the rest of your furniture piece. Cut a 16-inch long piece of twine and string it through the loop in the button.

Sew a button to one of the locations you marked. Start from the front and secure your button. Pull the strings at the back taut to the level of tautness you prefer and tie a knot in the strings.

Continue to sew your buttons to the fabric. Tighten the strings in the back to make the fabric taut.

Reassemble your furniture. Staple the pieces back together to the furniture piece and reinsert any screws that kept the fabric in place.