How to Upholster Different Types of Chairs: Armchairs, Dining Chairs, etc

 Chair upholstery is the process of attaching padding, cushioning and fabric or leather textile covers to a furniture frame. The final product not only determines the visual identity of the piece, but also impacts its function. Join Spoonflower Ambassador Jewel Marlowe from Jeweled Interiors as she walks you through the entire restoration and upholstering process of a drop-seat chair using Spoonflower’s Performance Velvet fabric.

Upholstery is a centuries old profession

Upholstery is a centuries old profession. At the very beginnings, upholders nailed animal skins to wood frames and filled them with horse hair and other animal hair or plant fibers for comfort and aesthetics. In the great London furniture-making partnerships of the 18th century, cabinet-makers were often paired with upholders (Vile and Cobb, Ince and Mayhew, Chippendale and Rannie).

Modern upholstery can be made out of any type of fabric

Modern upholstery can be made out of any type of fabric, from natural materials such as cotton and wool to man made fibres like polypropylene or olefin. To support the structure of a piece, jute webbing is often used. Various types of springs can be found in furniture: coil, zigzag and Dacron.

A great opportunity to get creative and experiment with your own style

Reupholstering is a fun way to give new life to an old chair, sofa or other furniture item. It is also a great opportunity to get creative and experiment with your own style! Before you start your project, there are some important things to consider.

First, ask yourself: Is this piece worth reupholstering? Is it sentimental or a family heirloom that needs to be brought back to life? Does it have a good quality wooden frame?

Choose your fabric carefully

The frame of your furniture is an investment. It should be sturdy and solid with no wobbling or creaking. The quality of the wood will affect the overall comfort level and lifespan of the piece.

Choose your fabric carefully. Consider how the colour will wear, what other items it will be placed with and how much usage the chair gets. It’s a good idea to order swatches and bring them home to see how they look in the light of your space.

Different types of fabrics have different textures

Remember that different types of fabrics have different textures. Wool is durable, stain and dirt repellant but can be itchy. Felted wool, on the other hand, is soft and resists pilling. Silk is a luxurious option but can be fragile and doesn’t offer the same durability as other fabrics.

Finally, you’ll want to consider how much effort and time you can devote to the project. Reupholstering is a large undertaking and can be difficult for those without experience or knowledge of furniture construction. If you feel overwhelmed by the task, a professional upholsterer is a great option.

Conclusion

Once you’ve considered all these factors, it is time to begin your Chair upholstery Abu Dhabi transformation. Carefully remove the existing fabric and make notes or take pictures to reference later. Before you start working, lay out your new fabric and trace or measure the shapes of the pieces you removed from the furniture onto it. This will serve as your pattern for cutting out the pieces for your cover.