Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 2: Remove the old upholstery
• Method 2 of 2: Stretch a new fabric
• Tips
• Warnings

Padding furniture is a great way to add a piece of your soul to mass furniture or breathe new life into an old sofa or armchair. The process can be tricky, but it's worth a try anyway, especially if you like to do something with your own hands. This article will show you how to properly pull the sofa and enjoy it.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Remove the old upholstery

1. 1 Find the right sofa. Oddly enough, most furniture is made to be pulled over, like most cars are made to be repaired by owners endlessly. If the upholstery on an old sofa is frayed, this does not mean that the sofa is worth throwing away - it can turn out to be a real treasure.
2. 2 Choose a sofa that suits your taste. If you don't like anything, choose a sofa that suits your shape - the upholstery hauling will completely transform it.
3. 3 Take a picture of the sofa before the banner. Take a photo of the sofa before removing all the upholstery from it, and remember to photograph it as you remove the old upholstery.Save a photo of both the front and back, as well as the places that seem to you the most difficult to stretch.
   • Sofas are simple, but removing the old fabric and replacing it with a new one can take a long time, so by the end you may have forgotten what the sofa should look like. Photos will help you refresh your memory.
4. 4 Disassemble the sofa carefully in the order described below. Remove the old fabric carefully so as not to damage the lining or padding - you will still need them. Disassemble the sofa in the following order:
   • Turn the sofa upside down, or place it back on the floor with its back. Remove dust, remove the cloth from the bottom.
   • Return the sofa to its normal position, detach the back of the sofa, then the armrests. Finally, remove the bottom board.
   • If the old upholstery hasn't stretched, you can use it as a template for making a new one. Save the fabric until the very end - it might come in handy.
5. 5 Inspect the sofa cushions for damage. Pay attention to whether the entire packing is intact. If in some places the padding needs to be replaced, buy dense high-quality foam rubber that will serve you for many years. Cheap foam rubber quickly crumples and deforms.
   • High-quality foam rubber can be quite expensive, since its cost is tied to the price of the refined products from which it is made. But do not skimp on foam rubber: cheap stuffing will look good when you assemble the sofa, but it will be extremely uncomfortable to sit on such a sofa.

Method 2 of 2: Stretch a new fabric

1. 1 Use the photos you've taken before. Pictures will help you sew and put on new upholstery if you forget what the sofa looked like before disassembly, or if you need professional help.
2. 2 Cut the fabric. Spread the fabric out on a wide, flat surface (on the floor or on a large table) and cut it to size. Use the old upholstery as a template: lay the old fabric on top of the new fabric, making sure to use new upholstery sparingly.
   • In the stitched corners, step back 1-1.5 centimeters from the edge.
   • In the places grabbed by the staples, step back 5-8 centimeters from the edge - the margin will allow you to gently pull the fabric over the pillow.
3. 3 Sew the fabric. Old, sturdy sewing machines will do more for this than today's lightweight plastic sewing machines. Use the zipper foot to sew on hemmed edges. Give preference to sturdy threads and reliable needles. When sewing, back off one centimeter from the edge of the fabric.
4. 4 Use a heavy duty stapler to attach new fabric to your sofa. If you don't have one at home, you can buy one at almost any hardware store.
5. 5 Start stretching the fabric. First upholster and secure the base, then the armrests, then the back - everything in that order. Whichever side you start to pull the fabric, make sure that it fits snugly, because otherwise it will stretch over time.
   • Stretch the fabric over the pillows. If the pillows are a little too large or a little small, you can screw the armrests and backrest slightly looser or slightly tighter to compensate for their size.
6. 6 Rejoice at the results of your labors. Perhaps the most enjoyable part of this whole process is showing off your new couch in front of someone.
7. 7 If you need more detailed instructions, you can find them here: How to pull a sofa

Tips

• Use a thick canvas. They sit on sofas, jump, sleep, spill drinks on them, move them, and so on. Choose thick fabrics that are difficult to wear.
• Look for fabric on sale.
• Often times, stretching a sofa means replacing the padding. If you are buying an old sofa with the intention of pulling it over, choose a sofa that does not require replacement of foam or other padded material. Foam and other materials used in sofa padding can be expensive and you won't be able to save money.
• Try to choose a sofa that does not require too much upholstery for you to sew.
• Miser pays twice. Don't skimp on materials.
• Furniture is a special product. Even professional furniture makers learn from their mistakes. Some things only start to work out after a few unsuccessful attempts, and pulling a sofa, unfortunately, often implies such failures.
• If you want to change the color of the wood your sofa is made from, hardwoods can be painted in lighter or darker tones. Before you start painting, remove as much of the fabric as possible from the sofa.
• Set aside sewing at the very end, as the fabric and cushion thickness may change during the upholstery replacement process. In addition, the new fabric is easy to stain with wood paint. If you intend to sew on your own, use the old upholstery as a reference, as its size and shape are exactly the same as the size and shape of the sofa elements.

Warnings

• Very old and antique sofas can be stuffed with flammable materials or materials that burn at very high temperatures.