How to Reupholster Antique Chairs (Step-by-Step Tutorial)
Hi, friends! I’m excited to be back to my regular blog schedule (post Prime Day) this week. I found a pair of stunning antique chairs and knew I needed them for our house. I fell in love with the hand carved Greek key detail and it was game over for me. They’re surprisingly comfortable and we’ve been enjoying the chairs in our entryway for a few months now. However, reupholstery has been on my to-do list for awhile now. I finally made time to give these chairs the attention they deserve and I’m quite pleased with the end result. Click through for a fun furniture makeover and a DIY on how to reupholster antique chairs (a step-by-step tutorial)… no power tools needed!
I’ve loved having a seat (or two) in our entryway since moving into our house. Whether a bench or a chair, it’s nice to have a place to drop your bag, sit to put shoes on, or simply have an extra vignette to style. It just makes a good drop zone! It also fits our floor plan quite perfectly, so I was thrilled to stumble upon this antique pair of chairs on Marketplace.
Lucky Facebook Marketplace Find (Before)
I was scrolling Facebook Marketplace a few months ago and stumbled upon the most beautiful antique chairs. The only problem? They were four hours south of me. Luckily, a family friend was attending college in the city where the chairs were located and agreed to grab them for me. A few weeks later, Emmett brought them home. The existing upholstery didn’t look bad, but in person- it was brittle, smelly, and pretty stained.
The seller enthusiastically shared their history with me. She said these wood frame chairs came from Norway, where her husband’s grandparents were born. They came to New York City with his family and were passed down, until they eventually inherited them. I’m not sure if the existing fabric was original, or not? Regardless, I assured her I’d take great care of them. While the chairs were in good shape, they did require a couple repairs and reupholstery, because the old fabric was in rough condition. At some point, old furniture always requires attention.
Supplies
I had everything I needed to complete this project, excluding the fabric & trim. I used the following supplies for this one…
- Staple gun
- 1/2″ staples
- Upholstery weight fabric (linking my exact fabric: Brunschwig & Fils Le Zebra)
- Trim (linking my exact trim: Twisted Cord)
- Scissors
- Sharpie marker
- Upholstery cushion wrap
- Fabric fusion permanent glue
- Spray adhesive
Animal Print Fabric Options
Click directly on each fabric below to be redirected.
For the new fabric, I wanted animal print. I know, I know… as if I need more animal print chairs, ha. To be fair, I have my old ones listed on marketplace, so if you’re local and want them- send me a note! After a quick trip to the fabric store, I decided between these two options…
I estimated I’d need one yard of fabric per chair, but ended up getting an extra yard (just in case).
Remove Existing Fabric & Trim
While the trim was in relatively good condition and probably could have been reused, I was looking for a different color. The first step was to remove the trim. It was glued down, so I just gave it a tug, and it came right off.
The existing upholstery was pretty brittle, and I wanted to reuse the fabric for my templates, so I was careful not to tear it as I removed the staples. With a staple remover and pliers, I pulled each one out, releasing the fabric.
As I pulled up the fabric, I noticed the vintage chair frame beneath it was covered in crushed wool. I would definitely need to add an extra layer of upholstery foam or wrap…
Cover (or Replace) Upholstery Foam or Wrap
Because these old chairs have seen a lot of use, I needed to add a layer of upholstery poly. Using the fabric I just removed as a template, I cut poly for the seat cushion, as well as the back cushions.
The original seats were in better shape than the back, but still needed a layer of upholstery wrap. I didn’t worry about tacking the seat cushion down with staples, but instead- used a spray adhesive. I knew the fabric would hold it in place, so staples weren’t necessary for this step.
Cut Fabric Templates
Once I had the new upholstery fabric cut, I moved onto the animal print fabric for the seat cushion.
Using the existing seat fabric as a template and sharp scissors, I cut it to size. I was also careful to trim any excess fabric, inspecting the fabric edge. Since this upholstery doesn’t fit within the frame, the edge needed to be really clean, as it is only concealed with a small piece of trim.
Upholster the Chair with New Fabric
This is where the chair project becomes fun and you can actually see the vision coming together! I secured the fabric in place using the staple gun, pulling it tight as I went. For the best result, I worked from the middle of the seat base toward the edges.
For the upholstered parts of the chair back, I used spray adhesive to secure the upholstery poly to the fabric, so I could staple the entire piece at once. I also rested the chair on its back as I stapled it into place, so I wasn’t working against gravity.
Add Trim Details
The final step was to add the trim detail. I feel like this traditional touch feels special and was an important original component of this chair… so despite the poll I shared on Instagram (the majority voted against trim), I knew I wanted to incorporate it. I just used a fabric fusion permanent glue pen and pins to set it, until it had completely dried.
Look how beautiful the back of the chair looks, lined with trim. Didn’t it turn out gorgeous? I’m really happy I added it. I feel like it gave the chair a timeless, finished, and tailored aesthetic.
Before & After
I’m really pleased with the end result. To be fair, I’ve only finished one chair and still need to work on the second. It took a long time and was far more work than I anticipated, but it was well worth the effort. Now… to find the motivation to knock out that second chair!
FAQ
My fabric came from a local designer warehouse, but I linked it in the above collage for you! Since I have a trade account there- it was around $50 a yard for me. You can also create a trade account with Decorator’s Best, which is where all of the designer fabrics linked above are from. Obviously you have to be a trade member to apply (designer, architect, builder, etc).
I actually don’t think so! I will oil the wood to keep it in good hydrated condition, but I love the patina and flaws. These chairs are OLD antiques and it shows. I think their imperfections are part of the charm.
Related
Looking for more upholstery projects? I’ve tackled quite a few over the years! I’ll link some of my favorites for you below…
- DIY Upholstered Bed Project
- 10 Things to Consider When Ordering Upholstery
- Upholstered Breakfast Nook Reveal
- My Animal Print Chairs – A Quick Makeover
- How to Make a Basic Ottoman Look Custom and High-End
- A Brass Chiavari Chair Upholstery Makeover
- How to Upholster a Bench
- How to Upholster the Seat of a Chair
- Banquette (or Headboard) DIY Back Cushion
- Breuer Chair Upholstery DIY
- Budget Storage Banquette / Bench DIY
I hope you liked this reupholstery project! Furniture makeovers are among my favorite home projects to tackle. Give me an antique or vintage piece to revive any day. With new life, these pieces add so much charm & character to any room. These have turned into my new favorite accent chairs. Let me know if you have any questions in the comment section below. Are you also an animal print lover when it comes to fabric? Would you try this DIY project?