How to Conceal Staples When Reupholstering a Couch

Hide staples along a curved edge by stapling welting over the edge of the first piece of fabric. For example, if you upholstered the front of the seat back, wrapped the fabric over the frame, then stapled the fabric to the curved wood, this technique works for the back of the seat.

Line up the welting so the cord side is above the edge of the fabric. Staple through the welting directly over the first layer of staples. Start and stop the welting at the bottom center or where the ends can be hidden. If you will butt the end of the welting, start stapling 1 inch from the end and stop stapling 1 inch from the beginning point. Rip the seam of the fabric open. Cut the cord to butt against the start cord. Fold 1/4 inch of the fabric under, then wrap the fabric over the cord joint. Finish stapling.

Staple flex grip along the curve of the wood back just under the welting. Press the grip closer together with your fingers. Insert the back fabric between the jaws of the flex grip, starting in the center top. Tuck the fabric into the flex grip with an awl. Hammer the flex grip together using a mallet. Move from the center toward the sides.

Cut tack strips for straight runs. Insert the fabric in the strip. Turn the strip under so the tacks are against the wood and the straight edge lines up with the side welting. Hammer in the strips with a mallet.

Add glued double welting over exposed staples where fabric is inset into the wood. Hot glue the welting, starting at the bottom center. One cord should overlap the fabric, and the second cord should overlap the wood. Rip the fabric seams 1 inch from the start and 1 inch from the end. Follow the technique for hiding the joint used with single welting.

Place fabric upside down with the top edge facing down to hide staples on furniture such as ottomans. Position a strip of rigid cardboard along the line you wish to create. Staple the cardboard to the wood. Pull the fabric down over the cardboard to create the smooth line. Staples also can be hidden by folding fabric over the top of a staple line when the fabric moves from one plane to another. This might occur at an arm where fabric from a side back later is covered by arm fabric folded and stretched to create a smooth and clean line.