Introduction
Upholstering chairs is easy – it’s a simple matter of following some basic steps that will allow you to take an ugly, uncomfortable old chair and turn it into something beautiful.
Get foam cut to the size you need.
Whether you want to buy an upholstery foam sheet and cut it yourself, or have a fabric store do the cutting for you, there are a few things to keep in mind. If you buy foam sheets, be sure to use a sharp knife! The foam is pretty thick so a dull blade will struggle to cut through the fabric within. You’ll also want to make sure that they haven’t been exposed to extreme temperatures before using them — this could cause them to become brittle or break easily.
If your fabric store will cut your upholstery foam for free (or even for a small fee), head over there as soon as possible! It’s much easier than trying yourself at home, especially if this is not something that comes naturally for you.
Use a base for a more comfortable seat.
When you are making a chair or sofa with upholstery foam, it is a good idea to use a base. A base can be made from wood, metal or plastic and is used to give the foam support so that it will not sag over time. Bases can also be used to make sure that the seat of your chair is strong enough for sitting on.
The type of base you choose depends on how you want your chair or sofa to look and how comfortable it needs to be when in use. For example, if you want an attractive piece of furniture but do not need much comfort then choosing an open metal frame for your base would work well as it will provide little support but still provide structure and stability for upholstery foam.
For something more comfortable such as a couch or armchair then choosing something like plywood would work better because plywood has more give than metal which means less pressure on joints while sitting down on them (which makes them last longer).
Never use pins or staples on foam.
Pins and staples can damage the foam, causing it to become misshapen. This is especially a problem when you are working with small pieces of foam. Your fabric will not look smooth and the pin holes will show through. The pins themselves are also sharp and can easily poke you if you aren’t careful!
When there is a lot of pressure on a piece, it is important to make sure all parts of the chair get equal support so it doesn’t break or fall apart while being used in everyday life activities like sitting down or standing up again after sitting down. Using pinning methods like this will help ensure this happens properly without damaging any part of your upholstery project!
Stretch covering over the foam.
Stretch the covering over the foam with a brush. Tack down the edges, using a tack hammer. Tack down the back, seat and arms of your chair in the same manner as you tacked down its sides.
Protect foam with a covering.
To protect your foam from moisture, dirt, and stains, you’ll need to put a covering on it. Coverings are materials that are breathable yet durable enough to protect your upholstery foam from wear and tear. You can use fabrics such as cotton or wool; leathers like suede; or even vinyls if you want a more modern look with some extra durability.
Your choice of covering should be based on the type of material used in your furniture upholstery project – though there are some exceptions to this rule: For example, while soft fabrics might make sense when used on chairs or sofas that will be used every day by family members who come home from work covered in dust and grime (literally), they’re not ideal for armchairs that won’t see daily use but still require protection from spills. In this case, it’s better suited for something like suede leather instead because it has a tighter weave than cotton fabrics do – making it harder for liquids like coffee cups filled with hot cocoa (the worst kind) spill onto surfaces below where they may stain clothes when bumped accidentally during dinner parties hosted by friends who drop by unannounced at midnight without calling first (again).
Be careful not to use too much heat.
You can use a heat gun on a low setting to gently warm up your upholstery foam and make it more pliable. The key, though, is not to get the foam too hot. You don’t want it so warm that it melts!
Use this technique with care–you don’t want to set fire to anything or burn yourself in the process. Also be careful not to put too much pressure on your hot glue gun or iron when repairing seams: if you exert too much force, you could tear out chunks of foam with your seam ripper and end up having to start all over again!
Fold fabric to avoid seams along seams to make the project easier and the chair more durable.
Fold fabric to avoid seams along seams to make the project easier and the chair more durable.
The best way to fold upholstery fabric is to fold it lengthwise, then widthwise, and then again into quarters. This will help you reduce seam lines when you’re sewing the pieces together and make it easier for you if there are any mistakes in your cutting pattern. You can also use this method if there are already existing seams on your fabric piece; all that needs done is folding over one side, then folding under another side before repeating things again with another side until all four sides have been folded over each other at least twice (once per side).
Tack down material with an upholstery tack hammer.
You will need to nail or tack your material to the frame of the chair. You can use a tack hammer for this purpose. The tool is flat-headed and should be used only for hammering tacks into fabric and other materials. Tack hammers are not designed for pounding nails into wood, but they do work well when you need to attach upholstery foam or fabric to a wooden frame.
Leave at least one inch of space between tacks around the edges of your chairs.
It’s important to leave at least one inch of space between tacks around the edges of your chair. If you don’t, you risk damaging the frame and foam by putting too much pressure on them. Leaving this extra space will also make it easier for you to drive the tacks into the wood without worrying about hitting anything else. In fact, there are few things worse than hitting a nail with another nail—it can lead to splinters or even cause an entire piece of wood or fabric that has been stapled down to pull away from where it was attached!
If you leave an inch or more between each tack when securing upholstery foam on any furniture piece (especially those made out of expensive materials like hardwoods), then you can rest assured that everything will stay exactly how it should be without causing any damage at all!
Remember to put something soft under your work so you don’t damage the surface underneath with your tacks or tools.
Remember to put something soft under your work so you don’t damage the surface underneath with your tacks or tools. The best thing to use is a towel, but you can also use cardboard or foam. You should avoid using any metal surfaces as they could scratch or dent the wood flooring that you are working on, and this may cause problems later on when it comes time for refinishing or installing new flooring material. You also want to avoid drywall because it will trap heat and moisture inside of the cushion itself which can cause mold growth over time.
Upholstered chairs are a great way to add comfort and style to any room of your home or office, but it can be tricky if you don’t know what you’re doing!
Upholstered chairs are a great way to add comfort and style to any room of your home or office, but it can be tricky if you don’t know what you’re doing!
In this blog we’ll be showing you some helpful tips and tricks for getting the best results when using upholstery foam.
Conclusion
Hopefully these tips will help you with your next upholstery project. If you have any questions or comments, leave them below and we’ll be happy to answer them!