How to Make a Slat Back Wood Back Chair Into a Living Room Accent Chair

Measure the seat and chair backs and cut foam to the size of each. Place the seat foam in the chair seat. Cut the batting approximately one inch larger than the seat, lay it over the foam and seat, wrap it under, smooth it out, and staple it to the underside of the seat.

Lean another piece of foam against the seat back, wrap batting around both, and staple the batting in a few places to hold everything together.

Cut fabric for the seat, allowing for extra to wrap around the padded seat. Place the fabric on the seat, allowing a few inches to come slightly up the seat back. Staple this fabric to the wood slates of the seat back. Wrap the other sides of the seat fabric underneath, and put in a few staples at the four corners of the bottom of the seat. Smooth the fabric before stapling securely.

Cut a rectangular piece of fabric to the size of the seat back, allowing for padding and adding length for a seam allowance at the top, sides and hem. Sew a hem at the bottom of the front (seat) side, and leave the back side edges raw. Place the right sides of the fabric pieces together, aligning the raw edges at the top, and sew across this top and down the sides, leaving a 6-inch slit open at the bottom of each side.

Slip this casing over the padded seat back and tuck the flap of seat fabric neatly under the casing. Secure the side slits by hammering nail heads through both layers of fabric and into the wood sides of the chair. Tuck the back tail under the chair and staple it underneath.

Measure the circumference of the seat (the fabric in the rear does not need to meet, overlap or be hemmed, but allow extra for pleating), and measure from the top of the seat to the floor, adding extra length for a hem at the top and bottom of the skirt; then cut fabric to these dimensions. Hem the top and bottom of the fabric.

Align the upper edge of skirt with the top of the seat, covering the chair legs, and tack the fabric to the sides of the seat for a temporary hold, leaving the fabric loose for pleating.

Secure the skirt at the back of the chair with a few staples. Gather the fabric into four pleats at the front corners of the seat and tack them place with four nail heads. Place one nail head in the center of the seat and one on each side at the seat back.

Measure across the rear of the seat and then from the top of seat to the floor, allowing for a hem on all four sides. Cut the fabric to these dimensions. Hem the fabric on all four sides. Align this back panel to the top of the seat and secure it at the corners and at evenly spaced intervals with nail heads.