When it comes to upholstery, you may be ready to throw in the towel and simply invest in a new piece, be it a dining room chair, sofa cushion or recliner. But there is a greener solution that means keeping your favorite pieces on the cheap. We spoke to local upholstery experts about how to best tackle specific upholstery projects from sofas and chairs to curtains and more.
“There are a number of DIY methods for small tears and rips; the problem lies in how you want the job to look and whether you want it to last,” says Moe Pilgrim of Rich’s Custom Upholstery in Seattle.
Jonathan Delgado of Artistic Jorge Upholstery agrees, “A lot of repairs can be fixed in a short amount of time,” he says. You can often reupholster something yourself.
A DIY project is possible if your item isn’t an antique or a valuable piece that costs a lot to repair, says Delgado. In other words, if it’s a good piece to practice on, give it a go.
The right tools
To begin, a staple gun goes a long way.
“When couch cushions tear or your chairs rip, unless you have a sewing ability or are handy enough to take the seats apart and recover them, use a simple staple gun,” Pilgrim says. “The other options are fabric tape or glue — it depends on the material.”
Keep curtains in good shape
“For tears in curtains or drapes, consider using iron-on fabric patches or fabric glue for a quick fix,” says Zina Shikhanova upholsterer and curtain expert with ZCurtains. “If the tear is near a seam, sewing it may provide a more durable solution.”
Another option: using a repair kit. Shikhanova likes the blackout curtain repair stickers from Angel’s Linings.
“It’s very easy to use — peel and stick to pin a hole on the fabric,” she says.
Take care of minor repairs immediately
“Small tears, loose buttons and popped seams require prompt attention,” says Skylar Emtage of Queen Anne Upholstery & Refinishing. She recommends using industry-specific needles to reattach loose buttons, preventing loss or further damage.
“Popped seams can be hand-stitched with curved needles and thread from local fabric stores or with assistance from your local cleaners or tailor,” Emtage says.
Avoid delicate fabrics like silk or satin for high-traffic furniture. They may not withstand regular wear and tear.
“Durable fabrics like cotton, linen and synthetic blends are more suitable. Synthetic materials last longer, but aren’t as pleasant to the touch,” Shikhanova says.
Consider using fire-retardant fabrics.
Reinforce your chairs
Repairing a tear in dining room chairs involves stitching with a heavy-duty thread or using a fabric patch, says Shikhanova.
“Consider reinforcing the area with an extra layer of fabric on the underside for added strength,” she says.
Seat seams matter
“When fixing a tear on a chair, make sure your seams are nice and tight,” says Delgado. Kitchen and dining room chairs get a lot of traffic, so ensure that your seams are reinforced.
“For burst seams, grab a curved needle and sew together the two sides of the fabric making a hidden stitch — no one will notice the seam was fixed,” says South Upholstery’s Gustavo Rodriguez.
Check for removable upholstered seats
Repairing tears in dining room chairs is simple if your upholstered seats are removable, says Henryk Wrozynski of Queen Anne Upholstery & Refinishing.
“Reupholstering them is straightforward, making it an ideal DIY project,” he says.
Identify the rip’s cause
When fixing a tear on a sofa, figuring out its cause is key.
“Often, the foam has to be replaced,” Delgado advises. When fixing a tear on a chair, he says to make sure the insides (springs, webbing straps, foam) aren’t damaged.
“Most of the time, the tears on material are caused by the density of the foam not being in good shape anymore and causing the material to overstretch,” he says. “Sometimes the best fix is just to make a whole new cover rather than repairing.”
It’s best to look for a durable material.
“If the seams rip you’ll likely have to remove the entire cover and be able to stitch it correctly,” he says. “Doing it correctly the first time might take a little more time, but it ensures your lifetime on the couch and material.”
Time and skill
Arm chair rips are tricky, Rodriguez says, but could be covered with arm cups.
“If the sofa is (placed) against the wall, you can always remove the outside back fabric to fix another part of the sofa,” he says. “Put another similar fabric in the back part.”
Use a liquid leather kit to repair a leather sofa, Shikhanova recommends.
“If there are too many problems with your favorite sofa, buy a removable cover,” she says.
Stains? Check the cleaning code
Delgado says to check the cleaning code for your fabric to avoid permanent damage. You can search for your fabric’s cleaning code online and follow the instructions from there. For example, cleaning code “S” stands for solvent. For this type of fabric, you should use mild, water-free solvents and cleaners.
Shikhanova says to check the Martindale Index, an abrasion resistance measurement, for upholstery projects.
“You can find it on the fabric label; it shows how durable your fabric is,” she says.
For stains, Corey Shea of Queen Anne Upholstery & Refinishing says to test cleaning products in inconspicuous areas.
“You can combat fading by treating windows for UV protection and explore fade-resistant fabrics like those from Sunbrella for furniture exposed to ample sunlight,” Shea says.
Not all fabrics work well for DIY upholstery
Be sure to avoid fabrics with a lower number of rubs (Wyzenbeek Rubs) or a fabric that isn’t flexible.
“You need a fabric that is easy to work with,” Rodriguez says. “They always help to give a better finish to your project.”
While small wrap-over items can be enjoyable projects, comprehensive reupholstery is a refined skill developed over years, says Kristin Prendergast of Queen Anne Upholstery & Refinishing.
“Upholsterers typically accumulate at least five years of experience before achieving professional-level expertise,” she says.
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