How to Reupholster Your Couch

Tip: Use WD-40 Specialist_® Cleaner & Degreaser to clean the areas around and beneath your couch or furniture as you move them during the reupholstery process.

The world is full of outdated or well-worn couches. There’s no need to replace your aging couch, however, when a face-lift will do the trick. Reupholstering your couch is a low-cost way of giving new life to an old piece of furniture. Before you get started on the next project make sure you have all the necessary tools, found here at DoItYourself.com.

 

Choosing Your Fabric

Choosing the right fabric, color, and style can be daunting. When selecting a material, make sure you consider the couch’s location and if children or pets live in your home. Check out this guide from About.com to help you choose the right fabric material and color. Once you know what type of fabric you want, find out how much you will need for your project with this upholstery yardage estimator from InteriorDecorating.com.

 

Off with the Old

When you start removing the old fabric, take the time to examine it and take note on how the fabric is sewn and attached to the couch. According to SFgate, you should remove the pieces you can access without ripping them. The article also recommends that as you remove the pieces, you should label the right side of the fabric with its couch location and number the pieces in order of removal.

 

Let the Reupholstering Begin

Once you’ve removed all of the old fabric, start tracing the outline of each section of the old fabric – including cushions – and start cutting along the outline. After this is done, DoItYourself.com recommends using a staple gun to attach the fabric to the foundation of the couch, starting with the base, the back and the sides. Please note, that you should stretch the fabric out well to secure a neat result with no creases. To upholster the cushion covers, sew the fabric according to the dimensions of the couch’s cushions. As cushions could be different sizes, make sure you slide each cushion cover over each cushion to confirm it fits. To add some additional character to your couch, consider changing the legs or adding nail heads to the upholstery.