Amazing DIY Repair and Reupholster Dining Room Chair Tutorial

Our dining room chairs are almost ten years old, and they were in rough shape. Over the years, the padding and glue that held the chair seat together softened and then ripped. It made you feel like you were sitting on a toilet seat while eating dinner because you sunk in the middle. YUCK! It was very uncomfortable at all. People didn't seem to notice, but we stopped eating in the dining room because of it. So, recently, I took on the project of finding a person to repair the chairs. But, with no success, I had to take on the challenge of how to fix the seats myself.

In college, I worked for The Bombay Company (I don't think they are around any longer). The manager taught me how to upholster dining room chairs like the pros. So, over the years, I have covered several dining room chairs. But, this task was going to be a little more difficult. I will need to dismantle the seats and replace them with proper support completely, so we don't fall into the center. This post is about how I DIY my dining room chairs. I will go through the step by step process of taking the shaker chair apart and how I put it back together. Here we go.

Here are some of the tools I used:

First, I removed the padding, the torn up mesh, the staples that were sticking out, and anything else that would not leave a clean surface. Here is what it looks like after.

This process took a lot longer than I wanted it to speed up the system so, I created quick ways to remove the fabric from the seat.

First, I removed the top layer of fabric that I put on years ago to match my pillows. Then, to remove the spray glue and foam, I used a utility knife and scissors to cut a hole in it. I proceeded to saw around the flat edge of the wood to make it easier to come off. The fabric and foam were spray glued onto the wood, so I needed to pull it off cleanly. Then, there was some detail cleaning up I had to do. Here's a video that will show you how to remove spray glued fabric from wooden seats.

Then, I used these upholster strips that it was woven together and stapled the to the sides. Staple one side, then have someone pull the other side tight and then staple.

This is the result after all the strips are stapled.

Then, I traced the foam to the shape of the seat. I added about 3/4 of an inch to the foam because I wanted to press the foam down when I wrapped it, so I didn't feel the wood near the legs.

This was the fun part. I cut the foam using an electric knife. It was quick and works great. Be sure to stay perpendicular to the group to make sure you get a clean cut.

Then I covered it with batting. First, I started at the center and stapled one staple on each center. Be sure to pull tightly. You can press down on the frame and then pull a little more. Be sure not to make a hole on the cotton batting. Then staple with a staple gun. Then, I moved around the entire frame and pulled the fabric and added more staples.

Then do the corners. Be sure to shape and pull the sides. The sides of these seats go inside the chair frame, so I need to make it super tight.

Then, I added the fabric layer. I did the same steps as for the batting.

Then I cut the excess fabric off the batting and the fabric layer.

You can then put on a thin layer of mesh that will cover the edges if you want. I felt that it was not necessary because the material wasn't noticeable.

And, here are the final products. It took about 8 hours to do all six chairs and had help from my son and husband. It can be done as a weekend project.

I love the pattern. Don't you? We are now ready for the company over the holidays. I can't wait.

What project do you need to get done before company comes over? Please share your comments below.

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