Sad to see, but your favourite recliner started looking a little worse for wear. Maybe it’s been stained, or the fabric has worn down over time. You may be looking to replace it completely, but before you do, consider re-upholstering it instead.
Not only is reupholstering a recliner a cost-effective alternative to buying a new one, but it’s also a fun and creative DIY project that can bring new life to your old chair. And the finest part? You don’t even require to learn how to sew to do it!
In this article, I’ll show you how to reupholster a recliner without sewing, giving you step-by-step instructions that will have your recliner look like new in no time. Grab your tools in no time, and get ready to give your recliner an all-new makeover!
Key Takeaways
- Take apart the recliner carefully, starting with the base, backrest, seat, armrests, and footrest.
- Remove the existing fabric with a tack remover and seam ripper, labeling each piece as you go. Use the old fabric as a pattern to cut the new fabric, leaving extra fabric along the seams for tucking.
- Add padding or batting if desired, and then carefully put the new fabric on the recliner, making sure to tuck the fabric in certain areas to ensure a snug fit.
Tools and Materials Needed for the Transformation
Reupholstering a recliner requires specific materials and tools that are essential to the success of your project. Well, the following are the items that are so important that it’s unlikely you’ll be able to complete the task without them.
Tools
- Heavy-duty scissors
- Staple gun
- Staple pins
- Seam ripper
- Tack remover
- Glue sticks
- Hot glue gun
- Straight pins
- Screwdriver
- Measuring tape
- Adjustable wrench
Materials
- New upholstery fabric
- Thread (wax coated)
- Foam padding (if needed)
- Batting (if needed)
- Cover button kit
- Upholstery webbing (if needed)
With these tools and materials, you’ll have everything you need to transform your recliner into a brand-new piece of furniture that looks and feels great. Good luck with your reupholstering project!
Tips for Disassembling & Reupholstering Your Recliner
I don’t know about you, but I think that it’s essential to disassemble the chair correctly and take care of the things to ensure a successful project during the recliner reupholstering process. The following are the tips I think are necessary for disassembling and reupholstering your recliner.
- Take photos – Before you start disassembling your recliner, take photos of the chair from different angles. This will help you remember how to combine all the things back together.
- Remove the old fabric – Start by removing the old fabric from the recliner. Use a seam ripper to get rid of the stitching and a tack remover to take out any tacks or staples.
- Label the pieces – As you remove the fabric, label each piece with a marker. This will enable you to keep a record of which piece goes where.
- Clean the recliner – Once you have removed all the old fabric, give the recliner a good clean. Remove any dirt, debris, or dust from the chair and ensure it’s dry before you start upholstering.
- Cut the new fabric – Use the old fabric pieces as a template and cut the new fabric to the correct size.
- Reupholster the chair correctly – Starting with the seat, use a staple gun to attach the new fabric to the recliner. Toil your way all around the chair, towing the fabric appropriately and stapling it in place.
- Reassemble the chair – Once you have finished upholstering the chair, reassemble the recliner by following the photos you took at the beginning of the process.
Remember to take your time, be patient, and don’t rush the process. Reupholstering your recliner can undoubtedly be a time-taking task, but the end result is worth it. With these tips, you’ll be able to disassemble and reupholster your recliner like a pro!
How to Reupholster A Recliner Without Sewing?
The following is the step-by-step guide I have written to ensure to reupholster your recliner correctly while taking care of all the necessary aspects.
1. Take Apart Your Recliner Carefully.
Hold onto your hats and buckle up because you’re about to embark on a thrilling journey through the hidden treasures of your recliner! Who knows what secrets lie within the depths of that comfy chair? Let me teach you to take your recliner apart and find your forgotten snack or a lost sock.
- Start by positioning the recliner in an upright position. This will make it easier to access the different parts of the chair.
- Begin with the base of the recliner. Depending on the model of your recliner, you may need to remove screws, bolts, or clips that hold the back in place. Carefully remove the back from the base and set it aside.
- Next, flip the recliner upside down, making the bottom face up. Locate the screws that keep the seat in place and take help from a screwdriver to remove them. Once you’ve removed the screws, raise the seat off the base and keep it aside.
- Now it’s time to remove the armrests. Locate the screws or bolts that hold them in place and carefully remove them. Once the armrests are free, set them aside.
- Finally, move on to the footrest. Again, you may need to remove screws or clips that hold the footrest in place, depending on the recliner model. Carefully remove them and set the footrest aside.
[su_note note_color=”#ffe466″]Note: Don’t forget to take pictures of each step you take during taking apart your recliner. Doing this one thing right can surely save you from unwanted stress in the assembly later on.[/su_note]
2. Remove the Existing Fabric to Make the Process Easy.
Once you have taken apart the recliner and split it into its different parts, it’s time to remove the existing fabric from all the pieces. For this, you’ll require a tack remover and a seam ripper to correctly get rid of the old fabric from your recliner.
- Begin by removing any obvious attachments that might include buttons, zippers, or other fasteners.
- Starting at one end of the recliner, use the tack remover and seam ripper to slowly and gently remove the old fabric. Ensure to take time and evade tearing or damaging the fabric.
- As you remove each piece of old fabric, label it to indicate where it was taken from. For example, label the fabric taken from the arm as “arm”.
[su_note note_color=”#ffe466″]Note: Don’t cut/ damage the fabric you just removed once removed since it can be utilized as a guide pattern to cut the new fabric. This will assist you in attaining the ideal fit without having to create a new pattern.[/su_note]
3. Cut and Prepare the New Fabric.
Now, it’s time to start preparing the new fabric to put on the recliner. Well, the major steps that are included in the process are cutting and preparation, but you have to take care of a few other things or details that I have discussed here.
- Unpack your new fabric and lay it down on a clean, straight surface or a table.
- Place the old fabric you removed from the recliner over the new fabric and use it as a pattern to cut out the new fabric.
- When cutting out the new fabric, make sure to leave a little extra fabric along the seams. You can go for 1-inch extra fabric all around the corner or, as I did, look at your recliner and decide how much you should leave; typically, it’s between 1-2 inches.
- If required, you can iron the fabric to give it a clean look. Remember, for this, you should set the iron at an appropriate temperature to not damage the fabric.
Tuck the fabric: When attaching the new upholstery fabric to the recliner’s frame, you will need to tuck the fabric in certain areas to ensure a snug fit. Leaving extra fabric will make it easier to tuck the fabric where it needs to be, so make sure you cut out enough fabric to work with.
4. Add Padding and/or Batting. (Optional)
Suppose some parts or areas of the recliner don’t have must padding in them and are uncomfortable when you sit on them. Well, you can add padding to these areas with the aid of these steps.
- Decide which areas of the recliner need padding or batting. This may include the seat, backrest, armrests, and footrest.
- Cut the padding or batting to size using scissors or a rotary cutter. Make sure to leave extra fabric around the edges for seam allowances.
- Attach the padding or batting to the recliner using a staple gun or adhesive spray. If using a staple gun, start at the center of the area and work your way out, pulling the padding or batting taut as you go. If using adhesive spray, apply the spray evenly to the surface of the recliner and then press the padding or batting onto the surface.
- Buff out any bumps or wrinkles in the padding or batting as you work. This will assure a smooth and comfortable finish.
- Trim any excess padding or batting that extends beyond the edges of the recliner using scissors or a rotary cutter.
- Repeat the process we discussed in this phase for all recliner parts that require padding.
And that’s it! Adding padding or batting to your recliner can help make it more comfortable and durable while also improving its appearance.
5. Carefully Put the Fabric On Your Recliner.
Just a reminder: once you remove the old fabric, cut and prepare the new fabric, and add padding, it’s time to start putting on the new fabric to complete the reupholstering. This is what you have to do to put on the fabric.
- Begin by attaching the new upholstery fabric to the back of the recliner.
- Utilize a staple gun to attach the fabric to the frame of the recliner. Ensure the fabric is free of wrinkles and taut.
- Once the back is complete, move on to the arms of the recliner. Secure the new fabric to the arms using a staple gun.
- Next, work on the recliner’s seat. Pull the fabric tight and staple it to the underside of the seat. Make sure the fabric is smooth and free of wrinkles.
- Finally, work on the footrest of the recliner. Again, pull the fabric tight and staple it to the underside of the footrest. Make sure the fabric is free of wrinkles and smooth.
- If your recliner had any trim or buttons when you removed the fabric, attach them to the new upholstery fabric using a needle and thread.
6. Reassemble Your Recliner’s Parts.
Though Humpty Dumpty may be irreparable, a disassembled recliner can be put back together with ease.
[su_note note_color=”#ffe466″]Note: It’s helpful to have pictures from the disassembling process as a reference for reassembling the recliner. And use the reverse order as you disassembled the recliner in phase 1.[/su_note]
Once you have completed all the steps and the reassembling process, you can sit back, relax and enjoy the newly upholstered recliner!
How to Choose Upholstery Fabric?
Although you can gather all the tools if available at home or purchase them using the attached links from online stores, the hardest part is choosing suitable upholstery fabric for your recliner. Therefore, I have discussed the following tips and tricks to help you better decide what fabric to go with for the transformation.
Start With Determining A Suitable Material Type.
When choosing the material type, consider the durability and how easy it is to clean. Leather, for instance, is an enduring material that’s also easy to clean, however, it can be pricey. Other options include cotton, linen, and polyester blends.
Choose A Pattern That Goes Well With the Design.
When selecting a pattern for your recliner, it can be challenging to choose one that works well with the different removable parts of the recliner, especially with linear patterns like plaid or stripes. Aligning these patterns can be tricky, but there’s no need to worry.
For most recliner reupholstering projects, I suggest opting for plain, paisley, or floral patterns. These patterns do not require you to align the print pattern, making the reupholstering process much simpler and hassle-free.
Get Creative; Break the Simplicity with Patterns.
Even if you choose to go for a plain, simple pattern, you can still add a few extra spices to your recliner. Consider making the arms patterned or using a different colour for other parts of the recliner. Let your creativity run wild!
Don’t Forget to Buy Adequate Size.
It’s best to get at least 12 yards of fabric for most recliners, although they usually take between 8 to 12 yards of fabric. This is because getting extra fabric ensures you have enough to work with and allows for any mistakes or miscalculations.
FAQs
Can You Reupholster Over Existing Fabric?
Yes, you can reupholster over existing fabric. But, it is not suggested as it can cause a bulky and uneven finish. It is best to remove the old fabric and start with a clean slate.
Can I Upholster Chair Without Removing Old Fabric?
Yes, it is possible to upholster a chair without removing the old fabric, but it is not recommended. Removing the old fabric allows you to inspect the chair’s frame for any damage and ensure that the padding and batting are in good condition.
How Much Fabric is Needed to Reupholster a Recliner?
The amount of fabric needed to reupholster a recliner varies depending on the size of the recliner and the fabric’s width. As a general rule of thumb, you will need between 5 to 12 yards of fabric. It is best to measure the recliner and consult the fabric’s width to determine the exact amount needed.
Can a Recliner Be Reupholstered?
Yes, a recliner can be reupholstered. Reupholstering a recliner can provide it with a fresh new look and a new lease on life.
