Home Decor Sewing & Design Guides

I'm going to show you how to give your dining chairs a fresh look by reupholstering the seat cushion. Many dining chairs have a cushion that can be easily detached, which makes reupholstering a simple project. When choosing a fabric for you chair, keep in mind that it doesn't necessarily have to be a heavy upholstery fabric like this. You can also use a medium weight drapery fabric, especially if the chair isn't going to be heavily used. And you can always reupholster it any time you want.

Foam can easily be cut with a serrated knife or electric knife, like the kind for cutting turkey. If you want to cut foam professionally, it's worth investing in a foam cutter like the ACU 350 foam cutter which has two blades to produce a fine, reliable cut. Here are some tips for cutting foam.

Old spools like this one are fairly common at antique shops and tag sales. I found this one at the Brimfield flea market last year. It says "Bethlehem Strand", and probably held wire rope made at the now defunct Bethlehem Steel in Pennsylvania. I'm going to give it new life by turning it into a rustic ottoman. The top will be removable so it can double as a coffee table.

Dining room chairs are one of the most common pieces of furniture to reupholster. Many of us own that one chair, sofa, or bench seat that has been through it all, and needs a makeover. The first step is choosing an upholstery fabric and figuring out how much you need. The first time I reupholstered anything was a set of dining room chairs from the early 1900's. Talk about old, but honestly, it was easier than I thought and they came out great considering it was my first time.

As with all businesses and industries, there are many terms used in interior decorating that you may be unfamiliar with. One very common term you will see is "railroading". But what, exactly, does it mean?

All-purpose thread is fine for many upholstery projects, but when you want extra strength, we suggest bonded nylon thread. Coats & Clark Extra Strong Upholstery Thread is thicker and much more durable than the All-Purpose Polyester Thread. The 3-ply 100% nylon thread is weather, UV, abrasion, and mildew resistant, making it perfect for outdoor projects. A size 18 needle is recommended, although you could also use size 16 in a pinch. For best results, increase the stitch length.

Marine Vinyl and standard vinyl are really the same thing, except marine-grade vinyl has two extra features. It has additional UV protection to prevent the color from fading in sunlight. And it also has antibacterial and antifungal additives to make it mildew resistant. Marine vinyl is great for any outdoor application or anywhere else it would be exposed to direct sunlight or moisture. Uses include outdoor seating, awnings, and boat cushions, but you can also use it indoors.

Cotton upholstery batting is 100% cotton that is soft and fluffy to give comfort and support to a sofa or chair. This batting can be used for upholstery, padding, and backings on furniture. It's about 2 inches thick and can easily wrap around edges. It conforms to contours without separation and is easy to cut with scissors or a knife. This upholstery batting is also available in organic cotton.

Velvet upholstery fabric is a symbol of luxury and comfort that has adorned homes and commercial spaces for generations. Known for its plush texture and rich appearance, the best velvet for upholstery brings elegance and sophistication to furniture pieces like chairs, sofas, benches, and headboards. Whether you're a designer seeking the best velvet upholstery fabric or a homeowner looking to refresh your living space, understanding the types of velvet upholstery fabric is key to making the right choice. In this guide, we'll explore the various options available in velvet fabric for upholstery, from classic cotton velvet to highly durable micro velvet. Each type offers unique characteristics that cater to different needs and aesthetics.

Rebond foam is made from recycled shredded scrap foam with a liquid polyurethane added to bond the scraps together while being compressed into a block. It's a dense, open cell foam that provides a firm, solid support base and holds its shape well without sacrificing longevity. Rebond foam is popular for a wide range of applications because it's resilient, lightweight, mildew resistant, and sound absorbent. This versatile foam has remarkable density and ILD (Indentation Load Deflection). The density of rebond foam depends on a few factors, including thickness, but is generally 6 to 8 pounds.

There are many different kinds of foam with different purposes. When looking for an upholstery foam, you'll find several densities, sizes, and thicknesses from 1 inch to 6 inches. So what's the difference difference between high density and medium density upholstery foam? It's common to think that a foam's density would relate to how firm it feels, but that's actually not the case. Density correlates to the foam's durability.

Upholstery denim varies from medium weight to heavy weight and has a strong tear resistance. Bull denim is 100% cotton and is typically used for slipcovers, casual window treatments, upholstery, and apparel. Unlike typical jeans denim, bull denim is dyed after it is woven, making it a solid, uniform color. Jeans denim is woven with a colored yarn (usually indigo) going in one direction and white yarn going in the other. The difference between regular bull denim and topsider bull denim is the weight.

There are many ways to sew a zipper but this method is great for home décor projects like cushions or pillows with zippers. This technique creates flaps over the zipper to make it less visible. Our YKK upholstery zippers are available in many lengths and have durable brass teeth. See How to Make Box Cushions with a Zipper for the full tutorial on making box cushions.

Giving your office chair a makeover is an easy way to bring personality to your work space. Of course there are many different styles of office chairs, but the chair I used here is pretty typical. The separate back and bottom cushions make it a simple project with no sewing required. I also chose to spray paint the plastic backings, but this is optional.

Are you overwhelmed with the seemingly endless array of upholstery fabric choices available for your furniture? Fear not, we're here to help you navigate the selection process with ease and confidence! Shop upholstery fabric See more articles

Trying to decide what sort of cushion to make for your DIY project? We have tutorials for many different kinds of cushions for all different skill levels. Cushion tutorials in the collection: Box cushion with zipper French mattress cushion Basic knife edge cushion Box cushion with piping Outdoor cushion / dog bed Dining chair cushion Stadium cushion Floor cushion Pouf ottoman cushion

To finish up with this awesome chair we bought at the Brimfield Flea Market, we decided to make a cushion to compliment the basic cushion that we made a few weeks back. We loved the way the cushion added a little sophistication to the completed chair without making it look too formal. And best of all, it is hardly more difficult than its basic counterpart (a few more pieces of fabric and a couple of extra steps, but you CAN do it! ) Here's how you can make your own.

Box cushions are commonly found on couches or armchairs, and are used in many other applications like window seats, benches, outdoor seating or even dog beds. They are a simple upholstery project that you can easily customize. In this tutorial, I'll be giving a mid-century modern chair a new look by replacing the cushions. For a simpler way to make cushions with a Velcro closure see our dog bed / outdoor cushion tutorial.

When redoing a chair we bought at the Brimfield Flea Market, I wanted to make a really simple cushion for the back rest of the seat. I knew I wanted to use this gorgeous floral upholstery fabric and I was going to make a box cushion for the bottom of the seat, but I was really unsure what I was going to do for the back. My best description of this style is a knife edge cushion but I really could not find anywhere on the internet that had this exact style that I came up with, even though I have seen this style before on furniture in stores. I am naming it the basic cushion, because you only need to cut one piece of fabric to make it. You can make yours with a zipper, or you can leave an opening in that space and use an invisible stitch to sew it closed.

French Mattress Cushions are making a comeback and we are HERE for it. Whether your home looks like a farm house or an eclectic paradise, this style cushion is for you. I have been seeing this style all over my news feeds and I knew I needed to make a tutorial for you all because we love the look and we know you do too. So, today I am going to show you how to make a French mattress style cushion. NOTE: You can make any regular into a box cushion too if you have pre-made cushions that you want to give a face lift.

Upholstered headboards with nail head trim have a timeless quality that can go with many styles from contemporary to traditional. But they can be really expensive in stores, and if you have the DIY bug, you probably have looked at one and thought you could make one yourself. So, if you want this high end look for you bedroom, I'll show you how to make an upholstered headboard for a fraction of the price of retailers. I am making mine for a queen sized bed but you can make your headboard in many shapes and sizes and customize it in your own way.

Rubber webbing is used in furniture under cushions to provide a bit of bounce and comfort. It's often used instead of coil springs in chairs with low profiles, making it very common in mid-century chairs in particular. To restore your chair, you'll need Pirelli rubber webbing and rubber webbing clips, which we offer here at OnlineFabricStore. I will be showing you an easy method that you can do with a lot of tools you already have at home. Using this chair we got at the Brimfield Flea Market, I'll be showing you how to install rubber webbing with metal clips.

The first of many. Our much anticipated Brimfield Flea Market Finds. This footstool was a diamond in the rough with a super fake looking vinyl cover, but I loved the classic modern mid century look. I also was able to pick it up for $15, which is a total steal in the world of antique furniture. In terms of reupholstery, this piece is just about as basic as it gets, which was perfect for my first full renovation project.