how do you reupholster a settee

10 Tips for Reupholstering a Settee.

• 1. Working with fabric with a pattern. Most times want to center the pattern on your piece which can often mean you will use more fabric than a solid ...
• 2. Working with fabric with a pile. Fabrics such as velvet have what is known as a pile which means it has a direction the material flows. If you run ...
• 3. Which way does your fabric run? Is the pattern railroaded or up the roll? This will be a determining factor on yardage and how the pattern will/can ...
• 4. Don’t use the existing fabric as a template. Depending on the type of fabric and how long it has been on the piece it could have stretched and is ...

Full Answer

How do you reupholster upholstery?

Measure and cut your new fabric. Lay out all the fabric you removed from you furniture, making sure that you know which piece goes where (or where it went originally). Layer your new upholstery fabric out, and trace the old fabric shapes onto the new.

How do you decorate upholstered furniture?

If you want to stain or paint the wood on your furniture, you should do so at this point. Measure and cut your new fabric. Lay out all the fabric you removed from you furniture, making sure that you know which piece goes where (or where it went originally). Layer your new upholstery fabric out, and trace the old fabric shapes onto the new.

How do you attach new upholstery fabric to a couch?

Attach your new fabric to the couch. Using your notes as a guide, attach your new upholstery fabric in the reverse order in which you removed the old fabric—the piece you removed last must be the piece you attach first. Use a staple gun to staple the fabric back to the frame.

Can You reupholster an old couch?

Whether you want to give your vintage sofa a makeover or update an old sofa in your living room that’s now threadbare, reupholstering a couch is an exciting and challenging project that can help you give an old couch a new look. Reupholstering can also save you money while cementing your status as a do-it-yourself upholsterer.

How do you reupholster a couch for beginners?

15:5217:43DIY HOW TO UPHOLSTER A COUCH | FaceliftInteriors - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipJust staple your metal gripper. Down. You see the curve in the back of the sofa there so make sureMoreJust staple your metal gripper. Down. You see the curve in the back of the sofa there so make sure you staple on every one. Here i'm putting the lining fabric to give you a nice tough finish. So i've

Can you reupholster over existing upholstery?

When reupholstering an old piece, Verdi says, you might be able to salvage the old batting if it's been kept in a temperate, dry location (like your parents' house). So long as the old fabric isn't darker than your new fabric, you can even upholster right over it.

Is it worth reupholstering an old sofa?

Yes, It is always worth reupholstering your furniture if your frame isn't broken or damaged. You support local workroom professionals, and save potentially perfect furniture from a landfill. This is a more sustainable approach to furniture than buying new every time your fabric is damaged or worn out.

Is it cheaper to reupholster or buy new?

There isn't much difference in cost between reupholstering and buying new furniture unless you're DIYing the former. Supplying your own materials and reupholstering a piece on your own will cut in half what you'd typically pay a pro.

Can I reupholster a couch myself?

While you can successfully reupholster a sofa without fully removing the old fabric (just attach new fabric over top instead), we don't recommend it to DIYers who want their couch looking as good as new. (Covering the old fabric with the new can look bulky and chunky.)

Do you have to remove old fabric when reupholstering?

You can reupholster over old fabric as long as the new fabric is darker than the original color. If you want to cover the stapled side of the seat neatly, add a dust cover to the underside of the chair.

What is the best fabric to reupholster a couch?

The Best Fabric for Re-Covering a SofaCotton Twill. For an instant update that is cost efficient, cotton twill is an ideal option. ... Velvet. A high-density wool or poly-blend velvet is a sophisticated option that can withstand a lot of wear over the years. ... Leather. ... Latex Backed.

Is it hard to reupholster?

Reupholstering is a great way to bring tired-looking chairs-even tired-looking rooms-back to life. The materials are relatively inexpensive, the tools are simple and it's a project almost anyone can tackle with success.

How do you reupholster a couch without removing old fabric?

I laid my fabric over the back of the couch, tucking fabric into each fold until the fabric was taut. I tucked a lot of fabric, 6″-12″ into the folds. Tucking so much fabric reduces the probability that the fabric will come loose.

How much do upholsterers charge per hour UK?

Reupholstery hourly rates Armchair – £480 - £800 per chair. Sofas – £700 for a 2-seater sofa and £850 for a 3-seater sofa.

How much should it cost to reupholster a sofa?

Reupholstering a couch costs between $600 and $4,000, with an average cost of $1,750. Typically, you'll pay $50 to $70 per yard for fabric and between $40 and $100 per hour for labor.

How much fabric do I need for a 7 sofa?

Allow approximately 12 yards of fabric as a base estimate for a 6-foot-long, 2-cushion sofa. Increase that to 14 yards for a 7-foot sofa. Estimate an additional 1.5 yards of fabric per cushion for a sofa with more than two cushions -- so a 7-foot-long, 6-cushion sofa would require around 20 yards of fabric.

How do you reupholster a couch without removing old fabric?

I laid my fabric over the back of the couch, tucking fabric into each fold until the fabric was taut. I tucked a lot of fabric, 6″-12″ into the folds. Tucking so much fabric reduces the probability that the fabric will come loose.

Is it cheaper to reupholster or slipcover?

Typically, reupholstering a piece of furniture will cost more than having a custom slipcover made because all of the old fabric and padding must be removed from the piece of furniture, which requires more time on the project.

Is it worth having a chair reupholstered?

Reupholstering furniture is a great, environmentally friendly way to keep old furniture out of landfills. However, it is not always the most inexpensive choice. The truth is that reupholstering furniture can often cost as much as replacing it (and sometimes more).

How hard is it to reupholster?

No problem. Just pull a few staples and start over. Reupholstering is a great way to bring tired-looking chairs-even tired-looking rooms-back to life. The materials are relatively inexpensive, the tools are simple and it's a project almost anyone can tackle with success.

can you replace fabric on a sofa?

Let’s get started with a bit of a backstory. Our client contacted me asking if I could replace fabric on an antique exposed wood victorian style sofa. I have done several reupholstery projects over the years but this style of settee was a first for me!

wedding planning

So, I am familiar with this style of furniture just not one this big! Our client wanted her piece reupholstered for her wedding! How exciting to have one of our finished pieces in someone’s wedding

teeny tiny

The tack nails that were used 100 years ago are T.I.N.Y. On this piece, some were tinier than others. And they are sharp! I try to put each tack nail in my empty container instead of letting them go all over the floor.

traditional upholstery layers

Upholstered furniture is done in layers. The layers we use now are different of course. One hundred years ago different supplies were available. Burlap is one of the supplies. It is strong and durable. It was used to hold other layers in tacted and was stitched on with heavy twine through all the layers.

clean the upholstery layers

Cleaning the layers is so important before going on with the reupholstery part of this job. It’s kind of like eating your veggies before having dessert!

repair wood furniture

The metal strips were in good shape except for a few that were loose. The metal straps were nailed on and needed to be secured.

join our journey!

Thanks so much for stopping by for this post on how to reupholster! If you have any questions about this or any other project, feel free to ask in the comments below!

How to adjust the size of a couch cushion?

If the cushions are a little too big or too small, you can adjust the size of the cushion area by loosening or tightening the bottom of the inside arms and inside back. Then attach the outside arms and the outside back. 6. Take pride in your achievements once the couch is finished.

What to do when you don't have a lot of sewing?

Try to find furniture that will not require a lot of sewing on your part.

How to attach a button to a cushion?

Buttons are attached using a long, thick needle that can penetrate through the entire piece (particularly finished cushions comprised of fabric and foam). You can also just attach it firmly to the outside fabric using a normal method. The method whereby you go right through the foam makes a nice indent and ensures the button doesn't get caught on things.

How much stapled edge to pull fabric cover?

On stapled edges add 2-3" more , which will be used to pull the fabric cover onto the sofa.

How to take pictures of a couch?

2. Select a couch that fits your taste. At the very least, find a couch that is of a style that can be molded to something enjoyable by the time it is completed. 3. Take pictures of the couch pre-upholstery. Take pictures of how the couch looks before you tear it apart, and especially all through the process of "destroying it.".

How many spools of fabric for 175 yards?

I go through about 5-7 spools for 175 yds. Though, for the back cushions, I might use 2 rolls for 250 yards. Always get at least 5 spools.

Can you wrap batting in polyester?

You can remove the fabric and wrap the foam with polyester quilting batting from a sewing store. It comes in rolls and in differing thicknesses, but the thicker it is, the larger it will make the cushion, with a tighter fit back into the fabric cover.

What to use when upholstery is too thick?

If your upholstery is too thick to staple in the corners, use canvas tacks rather than staples.

Why is reupholstering so time consuming?

Because reupholstering is such a time-consuming process, try to select a fabric that is relatively neutral and will stand the test of time in terms of style. That way, it will fit with your interior design preferences for more time than a bold or trendy fabric choice would.

How to remove fabric from furniture?

Work slowly and meticulously to remove the fabric from your furniture by pulling out all the staples/tacks/screws that are holding it in place. Use your flat-head screwdriver or butter knife to carefully pull out every staple. Do not cut any of the fabric to remove it, as you will be using the pre-existing fabric as your pattern for the new upholstering fabric.

How to clean old furniture before adding new furniture?

For couches, vacuum out the inside of the frame, and spray fabric cleaner onto the cushions and foam to freshen them up .

What do you need to make a sewing machine?

You will need: A flat-head screwdriver (or a butter knife - this will be for prying) Pliers. A hammer. A staple gun with staples (the length of the necessary staples will depend on how thick the fabric you're using is) Sewing machine with associated supplies.

How to know if furniture is in good shape?

Check the furniture for any squeaks, noises, or imbalances. Move the furniture around a bit - if it wobbles or makes noises when you do, it's not in fantastic shape and probably isn't worth reupholstering.

What do you use to cut fabric?

Use fabric shears for cutting your fabric, in order to make smooth, clean cuts.

How long did it take to get a settee reupholstered?

Class was every Tuesday from 12-3 for 12 weeks, it took 10 weeks for me to get this settee reupholstered! While I know that sounds like a lot, there is a lot of waiting for the instructor as there were 9 other students in the class who also needed his attention.

How to attach fabric to a settee?

Attach the fabric to the back of the settee with staples (using place staples etc.) and pulling taught. Once trimmed it looked like this! I felt like a freakin’ champion at this point!

Does foam fit in a box cushion?

Yes! The foam fits! We made the box cushion (sorry no tutorial for that, easy to find one one on the web) with a 4”edge so that the cushion fits in it snuggly.

How to measure for reupholstery?

Take precise measurements of each piece of fabric on your couch, including the outside couch fabric, the interior fabric, the dust cover on the underside of the couch, and any round, upholstered cording. (If you plan to remove all fabric anyway, taking measurements may be easier if you remove all the fabric at this step, lay them out, and measure the dimensions of each flat piece.) Write down all of these measurements and use them to calculate how much fabric you’ll need to purchase for your reupholstery project.

What Is Reupholstery?

Reupholstery is the practice of recovering your furniture with new material. It typically requires the removal of all the furniture’s fabric to replace it with new fabric. It’s a widely used practice that allows you to revamp a piece of furniture with a frame that isn’t broken or damaged.

What to do after stapling a couch?

After you’re finished stapling the new fabric onto your couch, it’s time to reattach the dust cover that you removed at the beginning of the project. This piece of fabric covers up all of the staples underneath, leaving the couch looking neat and tidy (and covering up any mistakes).

How to make a sofa look seamless?

Many sofas come with decorative cording or trim to cover up staples and add a decorative touch. If that’s the case with your couch, purchase some matching cord and use strong fabric glue to attach it to your sofa. The trim will give your couch a nice finished look while covering up any unsightly evidence of your upholstery. To make it look seamless, it's important to find high-quality fabric glue and follow the instructions on the back of the bottle.

What to do if your couch has tufted cushions?

If your couch had tufted cushions, purchase a tufting kit from your local craft store to add decorative buttons and threading.

How much does it cost to reupholster a couch?

Professional couch reupholstery can cost between $600 and $4,000, which is often just as expensive as it is to buy a whole new couch. The total cost will be determined by the condition of your couch, transportation expenses (if the pro has to come to you), and extra features like tufting, new fabric, and labor. Labor costs between $40 and $100 per hour on average.

How to protect a couch from dust?

Turn your couch upside down and take its legs off. Most couches will have a thin layer of fabric, also known as a dust cover, stapled to the bottom of the couch. Its purpose is to protect and extend the life of your furniture, protecting it from dust and pests or burrowing pets who want to find a cozy spot inside your comfy couch.

How to remove old fabric from a settee?

Remove the old fabric from your settee, using needle-nose pliers to remove any staples holding the fabric to the settee frame. You can always take this fabric with you to the store to guide your replacement purchase.

How to get a settee back?

Recover your settee starting with the back. Use a staple gun to attach the fabric to the underside of the settee frame. Start in the center at the bottom of the back of the settee and work your way out to the corners, pulling the fabric tight as you go. Staple evenly between every 1/2 and 1 inch.

How to measure for a settee?

1. Measure the length, width and height of your upholstered settee so you know how much fabric to buy. You can just as easily use leather as you can cotton or linen, so don’t feel limited in your fabric choices. Add between 10 percent and 15 percent more to these measurements in case of mistakes.

How to keep fabric in place when cutting?

Lay out the new fabric on the floor, place the old fabric on top of it and use straight pins to keep in place. Cut around the old fabric, giving yourself between 3 and 4 inches of room around the old fabric. To preserve as much fabric as possible, lay the pattern 3 or more inches away from one side of the fabric instead of putting the pattern or patterns in the middle of your new fabric.

Can you recover a couch?

Settees, or lounging couches, can easily look worn, even if they remain structurally sound. Recovering an upholstered settee is easy to do and is a low-cost way of giving the settee a fresh look. Choose colors complementary to your overall room décor when you shop for fabric. Depending on the size of your settee, you may even be able to complete the job in an afternoon.