How to Upholster a Settee

Take pictures of the settee before you do anything. Document how the fabric is applied to the arms especially. This will help you reupholster the settee so that it retains its original look.

Remove the old fabric from the settee. Do this carefully without tearing it, if possible. You can then use this fabric as a pattern for the new fabric when you reupholster the settee. Turn the settee upside down and begin with the sheer fabric that's stapled to the bottom. Move on to the paper strips and welting.

Continue removing the rest of the fabric by pulling out the staples with pliers. Carefully remove any hardware that might be located at the corners of the settee. Save the metal pieces; you can reuse it when you reupholster the settee. Remove the padding, but leave it intact. Save any loose pieces.

Start reupholstering the seat first. Replace any loose padding, then stretch the new fabric tightly across the seat so that it's smooth. Staple it in place.

Cut some long strips of fabric diagonally that extend beyond the bottom of the settee, and sew some cording in the place where the bottom of the seat and the wooden portion beneath it begins. If you prefer, use a staple gun to apply the cording. Staple the fabric to the bottom of the settee.

Sew the new cloth that forms the scroll or fascia in the arm rest's shape. Apply welting (a strip of fabric used to reinforce the upholstery) between the front and the top of the arm rest with staples. Staple on the side of the arm rest and apply the two side seams of the arm rest with invisible upholstery hardware (hardware that will be covered up with the upholstery). Repeat the process for the other arm. Make sure that both arms look symmetrical.

Apply a sheer fabric to the bottom of the settee to hide all of the staples and seams.