How to Make Upholstered Chairs & Sofas for a Dollhouse

Choose a small wood block or several pieces of cardboard to create the seat of the chair or sofa. If using cardboard, cut pieces to equal the same size in length and width. Stack them on top of each other until you reach an adequate seat height. Glue the pieces together using a hot glue gun.

Fold a piece of card stock equally in half lengthwise. Unfold it slightly and stand it up on the surface of a table. Set the block or cardboard seat down on the surface and center it on the fold of the card stock, so the fold is touching the middle back of the seat. Push the card stock tight against the back and fold it around either corner of the seat.

Draw a chair or sofa back and arms on the card stock paper. You should now see the block for the seat, with a chair or sofa back and arms drawn above it, creating the shape of the chair or sofa.

Remove the card stock from the seat. Cut out the shape of the back and arms you just drew.

Place the card stock back and arms piece, which you just cut out, around the seat. You have now created a preliminary structure for your chair or sofa. Make adjustments, if needed. Remove the card stock back and arms piece and set it on a piece of cardboard. Trace it onto the cardboard. Cut the shape out of the cardboard.

Cut enough fabric to cover the cardboard back and arms piece twice.

Spread a thin layer of glue over the cardboard back and arms piece. Lay the fabric over the glue and smooth it down. Cover the entire surface with the fabric. Fold under the raw edges to hide any frayed fabric.

Cut a piece of fabric large enough to cover the seat. Spread a thin layer of glue on the seat. Wrap the fabric around the seat as you would wrap a gift.

Position the seat in the center of the back and arms piece. You are now staring at the completed structure. Glue the seat and the back and arms piece together.

Cut decorative roping or edging to surround the edge of the arms and back of the chair or sofa. Apply a thin layer of hot glue to the edges and attach the roping.

Turn the chair or sofa over. Put four small blobs of hot glue on the bottom, where a chair or sofa leg would normally be placed near each corner. Push a bead into each dollop of glue.

Create a skirt for the bottom, if desired. Measure fabric and cut flaps to fit across the front, back and each side. Fold under the raw edges to hide any fabric fraying. Glue the skirt pieces along the bottom length of the chair or sofa. If desired, glue a string of decorative ribbon or the same roping used before where the skirt meets the body.