August 11, 2026
Do you have dining room or bar stool chairs that are in great shape, but the fabric on the chair seats is worn or in need of an update? It isn’t hard to recover those chair seats. Today, I am going to show you how.
First, pick out new fabric
Fabric stores carry upholstery fabric. Right now, there are more online options than physical stores. Don’t let that stop you. Online stores will send you fabrics samples usually for just a small price.
Second, how much fabric do I need?
Unsure how much fabric to buy? No problem! After you take the old fabric off, measure the size. Be sure to add a couple inches to both directions of the piece.
The last step of recovering your chair, is to trim back the extra fabric, so you need to add that back on to your new fabric. Most fabric is 60 inches wide and is sold by the yard (36 inches long.)
Seems too much?
If this still feels like it’s too much to figure out, the stores are very helpful. They will help you choose a fabric and figure out how much fabric you need.
Next, take the old fabric off
- The chair seat is usually held on the chair by screws.
- The base is generally plywood.
- A foam cushion is “sandwiched” in between.
- Staples usually hold the fabric in place.
Now remove the fabric
It may be held in place by small nails or staples. A pliers or a staple remover tool works well to remove staples. Nails may require a hammer as well.
Time for any clean up
Now is the time to remove any dust and dirt. Do any repairs, painting or touch ups to the chair while the seat is off.
The base and cushion
The chair will have a foam cushion and a plywood base. You can reuse them or buy new materials. Use the existing pieces as a pattern. We bought new plywood to replace the worn bases.
Note: The foam will probably be yellowed. This doesn’t mean it’s bad. It naturally discolors from exposure to air.
The following step is to cut the new fabric
Use the old fabric as your pattern to cut the new fabric. Cut the new fabric slightly larger, since the fabric you are replacing was trimmed down after it was secured in place. Use a fabric scissors for clean cuts.
Next, attach the fabric
- The support board goes first, then place the foam cushion on top, followed by the fabric.
- Turn the seat cushion “sandwich” upside down. Make sure the fabric is centered evenly all the way around the seat. Readjust as needed.
- Start with one of the ends first. Pull the fabric up firmly. Fold it over the wood base to create a neat edge. Use a staple gun to secure it in place.
- Next, staple the opposite side (the back of the seat.) It is important to pull the fabric tightly, make sure there are no wrinkles before stapling.
- Then, repeat for the other two sides.
Two people working together can make quick work of this, as well as, getting a tight fit.
Time to do the corners
You can make neat folds or tuck the corners to finish off your chair seat.
Once you have them the way you want, staple the fabric in place. Be sure to use the same method for each corner.
Almost done!
You will have extra fabric beyond the staples. Neatly trim this fabric close to the staples. This helps reduce bulky fabric. My chair seats have a black fabric that covers over the wood base. We stapled them back on.
Final step
Now the chair seat is ready to be attached to the chair again. Usually they are held on by screws.
The finished chair
Here is the finished chair. We have four dinette chairs and 2 matching counter chairs that all got new fabric. We are pleased with the results!
Whether you want a choice in fabric that will match your decor or just replace a worn seat, this is a do-able project that is very satisfying!
Kelly