Renovating an old armchair is an enjoyable process, although it is also extremely busy, requiring cleverness and diligence. However, if we like to renovate worn-out furniture with our own hands, it will be an excellent way to stimulate artistic skills and satisfy our aesthetic requirements. Furniture restoration is also about saving money, ecology, and admiration and respect for the design of yesteryear. So how do we replace the upholstery of our favorite, but already deteriorated seat?
Seats upholstered with canvas
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Choosing the fabric
It all starts with finding the right upholstery fabric. Sometimes it is advisable to adopt the principle of stylistic purity and return to the original design, and use a fabric identical or as close to the original as possible. However, this will not always be the best solution, since many of the seats designed, for example, during the communist period, to which we so eagerly return today, had rough and artificial to the touch upholstery. So if we are not in favor of purism in maintenance and are refreshing a piece of furniture for our own use, we can allow ourselves a bit of creativity and use modern patterns and unusual types of fabrics.
Velvet and plush fabrics are very popular. They are pleasant, soft and ideal for armchairs with rounded forms. Some of them are covered with a special coating that makes them easy to clean and prevents liquids from seeping in.
We can also reach for decorative fabrics. Patterned upholstery will emphasize the uniqueness of the furniture and give the interior a distinctive character. If the arrangement is subdued, the expressive colors of the armchair can artistically break the monotony. This is an interesting idea for both modern and loft interiors, as well as classic or rustic.
Sometimes we may be tempted to use eco-leather, which will give elegance to the furniture, and at the same time will be quite a practical solution, while the upholstering process itself will require us a little more experience, and even a custom sewing machine.
Chic velour is also often used. These are very durable and, above all, fashionable fabrics. They have a pleasant texture and interesting, deep colors.
When looking for the most suitable material, you should also consider the grammage. The higher it is, the more durable the fabric is. Very important here is the result of the Martindale test, which determines this level.
Elegant armchairs, upholstered with glossy fabrics, uniform in color
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Upholstering step by step
Before we start upholstering, we need to get rid of the old upholstery and foam, and thusmany nails and staples, which requires strength and patience.
Having before the elements of the structure itself, it is worth installing special straps that will further stabilize the seat and backrest. The straps should be stretched tightly and attached with an upholstery stapler.
Upholstering is a good idea to start by attaching with staples a layer of vigofil, which is a durable upholstery fabric. Next, apply an upholstery sponge, which should be cut out beforehand and glued with a special adhesive for this purpose. Then it is worth applying furniture wadding, so that the upholstery fabric will be properly arranged. The ends of the wadding can be stuffed under the sponge and the whole thing can be sewn together in hardly visible places.
The face fabric may need to be sewn together from several stretches with a sewing machine. This will depend on its shape and our design. After all, a new piece of furniture may be covered with a patchwork fabric. Once we have a properly fitted fabric, it should be sewn under the armchair frame with a stapler.
Upholstered armchair
© Unsplash
Dislodged legs
If our piece offurniture is unstable because the thread of the legs is too loose after cleaning it from the glue, you can put a piece of fabric smeared with glue on the hole and pound it with a hammer, or push the leg inside and cut off the excess fabric. If the leg fails to come out, wooden wedges can also be hammered in next to it.
Elaboration: Liwia Sus
