How to Reupholster a Lounge

Remove any fabric from your lounge. Do this as gently as possible so you can use this fabric as a template for your new upholstery material. Simply pull the staples away from the frame of your lounge with a flat-head screwdriver, or unscrew your cushions from the chair.

Repair your lounge as needed. This might involve replacing rotted or broken wood pieces, tightening squeaky springs with jute twine or simply painting or staining your piece. If you need to replace the upholstery foam, cut new foam to size and attach it to the lounge with spray adhesive. Pull cotton batting over the foam and staple it in place directly to the chair's frame.

Position a piece of muslin cloth over the area of the lounge you want to recover. This step is only necessary if you were not able to salvage your previous material as a template. Trace out the shape you need directly onto the cloth. Fold it in half vertically and check for symmetry, adjusting as needed. Add 2 inches on all sides. Cut out your pattern.

Lay your muslin or original fabric template over your new upholstery material. Trace around the pieces with a permanent marker on the back side of the fabric. Cut out your new material.

Position the new upholstery material over your lounge. Pull the fabric to the underside of your chair's frame and staple it directly to the wood. Add as many staples as necessary to hold the fabric in place. Pull the fabric tightly so your lounge won't look lumpy or misshapen.

"Walk" your material around corners and curves inch by inch, pulling it taut as you go. If your upholstery fabric is thick, you may need to cut short vertical slits in the material, then fold your pieces over to help it lay flat. Cut away any excess material. Add piping to finish your seams, if desired, attaching it with a hot glue gun.