DIY Furniture Reupholstery

Take pictures of the furniture piece from every angle, including the underside and cushions, if the piece has them. This step is optional, but it is very helpful for later construction.

Remove the fabric from the piece with the pliers and flat-head screwdriver, starting at the underside where staples may be exposed. Pull off any piping and set it aside. Cut into the fabric with the seam ripper if there is no obvious place to start, but stay as close to the seams as possible because you will be using these pieces as patterns later. Rip apart any seams, once you've pulled any fabric off, using your seam ripper.

Pry off the seat of the chair, if you are reupholstering a dining room chair. Pry off any staples. Take more photos as you go, if you are using a camera. Set aside all fabric pieces in the order you took them off. Write down where each piece came from.

Remove old or stained stuffing and replace any you take away with cotton batting. Staple down the batting in only a few areas close to the edges; the fabric you later cover it with will hold down the stuffing.

Spread out the fabric pieces in the order you took them off, from left to right. One by one, starting at the left, take each piece of fabric and lay it on the back side of your new fabric. Trace around the piece and then cut out. Set aside the new pieces in the same order as the old pieces.

Wrap a long strip of the new fabric around the old piping and glue down to make new piping. Cut off any excess fabric.

Reattach the fabric to the chair in the order the pieces initially came off using your stapler and staples, as well as glue where necessary; consult your notes and photographs for this purpose. Stretch the fabric tightly as you staple it, but not so tightly that it strains at the staples. Staple in hidden or covered places where possible. Lay down piping where piping had previously been, stapling underneath the piping to hide the staples.