Have you been thinking about buying a new sofa and tossing your old one out? Stop! Give your sofa a new life with reupholstery and save a ton of money. Plus, reupholstering is a fun and rewarding do-it-yourself project. Anyone can give their sofa a second life. All you need to get started is a bit of patience, the right tools and this step-by-step guide.
So, whether you’re looking to save money over purchasing a new one, making use of existing materials, or have a sentimental attachment to your sofa, this tutorial is for you. Here’s how to reupholster your sofa at home.
Ingredients And Disclaimers
Materials:
– Paint brush
– Power drill (if removing existing legs)
– Screws (if removing existing legs)
– Needle-nose pliers (if removing existing legs)
– Staple gun
– Wood glue
– 1 ½” thick pad
– Foam
– Upholstery fabric
– Staples
– Scissors
– Wrench (if replacing t-nuts)
– New t-nuts (if replacing t-nuts)
– Hammer (if replacing t-nuts)
– Fabric humidifier
– Cooking spray
– Vacuum
– Hair dryer
Tools:
– Paint tray
– Corner curved pliers
– Corner sewing pins
Steps
Prep, Remove, & Spruce Up The Sofa
1. Lay out your materials and prep your work surface. Take note that, if your sofa’s legs are stapled to the bottom, you’ll need to consider that before removing the existing fabric.
2. Remove the cushions and the skirt valance around the perimeter of the sofa if applicable.
3. Next, pull out any exposed staples with your pliers and then remove the staples from the underside of the sofa. Some staples may be hidden; keep an eye out for that!
4. Apply wood glue and reattach any legs that snapped off. (If this is the case, be extra careful, as not all legs can be fixed.) Use a power drill to screw or pry out the t-nuts; if any are broken, you may need to replace them and then pound the legs back in with a hammer.
5. Wrangle the fabric. Place it over a frame and clip the corners with pins. The frame should ideally be big enough to cover the backing.
6. Using a fabric humidifier, moisten the entire exoskeleton of the sofa, then spray some cooking spray on your staple gun to keep the air from binding.
7. Place a 1 ½” thick pad and foam on top of the frame, leaving a 1 ½” gap around every edge.
8. Start by refastening the corners of your sofa, then push the cushion into a cooking pot to speed up the drying process using a hairdryer.
9. Once the padding is dry, trim off any excess. Now you’re ready to staple!
10. Trim off any loose ends and reinstall the cushions. With that, you’re all finished!
Step 1: Gather Your Materials
First, round up all the tools and materials you’ll be using for the project. For this project, you’ll need:
Fabric: Decide on a fabric that is suitable for your taste and that is durable. You will need to measure your couch to determine how much fabric to purchase. If your sofa is standard, you may need to purchase 10-15 yards, however, this will depend on the size of your sofa.
Staple Gun: This will help you attach the new fabric to the sofa frame.
Staples: Make sure you have plenty of staples that fit your staple gun.
Screwdriver: You may need this to take apart certain pieces of the sofa.
Pliers: Useful for removing old staples or nails.
Scissors: A sharp pair of fabric scissors will make cutting the fabric easier.
Foam or Batting (optional): If your cushions are sagging, you could add new foam or batting for padding.
Once you have your tools and materials ready, it’s time to get started!
Step 2: Take the Sofa Apart
Before you can reupholster your sofa, you’re going to have to take it apart. That might sound like a scary task, but there’s really no need to be afraid. As a general rule, sofas are built on a frame of wood, with the cushioning and fabric nailed or stapled on top. Here’s how it’s done:
Cushions off: Loose cushions can usually be pulled off. Fastened cushions might require a screwdriver.
Remove any parts that can be unscrewed or removed: Some couches have legs or arms that can be removed by unscrewing them so you can detach them from the sofa. Unscrew or remove these parts to make it easier to work on the rest of the sofa.
Pull out the old fabric: Use a pair of pliers to pull out the staples that keep it in place. Try not to damage the sofa frame. Remove the old fabric, along with the fabric from the back and sides if necessary.
While you’re taking apart the sofa, if you can leave the fabric intact, use it as your pattern, for cutting your new fabric.
Step 3: Prepare the Frame and Cushions
When you take the fabric off your sofa, examine the frame and cushions. If the cushions are in good condition, you can reuse them. If not, you can add new foam or batting to improve comfort.
If the frame will need repairs, do them now. Tighten loose screws or parts that wobble.
Step 4: Cut the New Fabric
Time to cut the new piece of fabric. Lay out your old pieces on the new fabric and use them as a template. This will help you cut the new fabric to the shape of your sofa.
Iron the new fabric: Place it on a large, flat surface (a table or floor) so you can easily cut across the fabric.
Draw the outline of the old cloth on the new fabric: Draw the outline on the new fabric using pencil or chalk.
Trim tautly: Snip out the pieces of fabric on the line, leaving a little extra fabric around the edges for ease of stapling onto the frame.
Step 5: Attach the New Fabric to the Sofa
This is when your sofa truly comes back to life! It’s time to put the new fabric onto the frame of the sofa. Patience is the most important thing here!
Begin with the largest sections: Staple the fabric into the largest pieces of the sofa, like the seat and back. Pull the fabric taut to avoid creases.
Staple around the perimeter: Using your staple gun, attach the fabric around the perimeter. Start in the middle and work your way out to the sides, making sure the fabric is smooth and snug all around.
When you come to corners, take your time and fold the fabric neatly, and use more staples to hold it than just one. When you come to curved areas, pull the fabric tight, and staple in small sections to keep it smooth.
Fabric the arms and sides: Once you finish with the large sections, move towards the arms and sides of the sofa and staple the fabric all the way around, taking care to hide any seams or edges.
The final touches: lastly, staple the material to the back of the sofa. If your sofa had a fabric panel to cover the back, you could use this as a guide to place the material in.
Step 6: Reassemble the Sofa
With your fabric in place, it’s time for the re-upholster. If you disassembled any parts of the sofa earlier, now is the time to reattach them, from legs or cushions to feet or hardware and metal bits. Check that everything is secure and sits well.
Step 7: Enjoy Your New Sofa!
You’ve just reupholstered your sofa and done so for the savings. Step back and look at the finished article. You’ve saved yourself some money, you’ve learned a new skill and given your home a fresh new look.
Tips for Success
Be patient: Rework is not a speed contest. Make sure the fabric is pliant, and the staples strongly affixed.
Test on a small piece of furniture: if this is your first time reupholstering, preferably do a small piece of furniture first, like a chair, before undertaking a full sofa.
Find the right fabric: Select a durable fabric that can be used frequently. Look for upholstery fabric that is more durable for your home use.
Final Thoughts
Reupholstering an old sofa might seem like a daunting task, but with a few basic hand tools, a little calm and some patience, it is something that almost anyone can accomplish at home. Aside from being a safe, money-saving and original idea, reupholstering furniture is a way to refresh furniture without having to throw some old pieces away – great for the environment and your wallet. If you cant do it yourself then the our team from the best sofa upholstery in Qatar can help you.
And now that you know how to reupholster your sofa, try it for yourself! You’ll be amazed that all it takes to spruce up your couch is some new fabric.
