Recover Old Furniture

homealone · #1 09-07-2008, 01:39 PM

If your furniture coverings are worn out or you are just tired of looking at it. You can easily recover it to make it look new.
To start pick a fabric which you believe will be comfortable and yet will look good in your home, this is the difficult part.

After you have chosen your fabric gather up your scissors, the fabric and your hot glue gun. Remove cushions as they will be done seperately.
Next cut the fabric of your choice to fit your furniture.
Then start covering, make sure that each section is one piece, if you dont it may not look as good. Cut as you go along to make it fit.
Once it has dried, your good to go.

Another way to cover your furniture is to make slip covers for it. Using sheets are the easiest and the cheapest way to make them.

Start by removing the cushions from the furniture and measuring them. Be sure to allow some material to be tucked in around the arms.

Create a decorative skirt around the base of the furniture, start just below the cushions and make sure the fabric almost touches the floor. Next wrap the material around the furniture like you would if it were a present. Secure it with some staples where they wont easily be seen.

Next sew up the covers for your cushions. If you have extra coordinating material somewhere you may want to make a few throw pillows.

If any old parts of your furniture are showing simpy use some of the new material to cover it and secure it into place with a few safety pins. Safety pins will make it easy to change the material when ever you want to.

missmanors · #2 09-07-2008, 10:06 PM

When you recover furniture, it's often a good idea to begin by using newspaper as a "pattern", cutting it instead of cutting your material, to be sure of the correct size and pattern that you need for each piece. This way you won't incorrectly cut your fabric and possibly need to buy more. You can always tape several newspaper sheets together so that it's large enough even for a couch back, etc.

homealone · #3 09-08-2008, 05:23 AM

Great idea, thanks for pointing that out Missmannors. Its alot cheaper to ruin a few newpapers rather than your material.

patricia · #4 09-08-2008, 04:11 PM

what a creative and cheap way to fix an eyesore!...you all are so creative, i love it!

i will be doing this one, so i will let you know how it comes out!

thanks a million

missmanors · #5 09-09-2008, 07:07 PM

Yes, Pat please let us know the results!! We'd love to hear about your experience from start to finish. So glad you are going to try this one.

homealone · #6 09-11-2008, 04:47 AM

Using a couple of matching sheets I had laying around, I have just covered my couch! I cant believe it, it looks like a brand new couch now. It was so quick and easy I cant believe I didnt do this earlier. I did take Missmannors advice and first tape together some newspaper to make a pattern, and that was the hardest part (not that it was really hard to do). In just a very short time I was done and my hubby to be was surprised. He thought I went and bought a new couch...

.

patricia · #7 09-11-2008, 05:56 AM

whhooohooo!! congrats!

You are making me jealous!! loll..
i am so chicken to start something like this..i am no suzy homemaker, i wish i was, and i want to start, but am nervous.

Just what do you use the glue gun for???? i saw in the post that you use the glue gun for something, but i don't get it???? so before i begin this adventure, please explain to me...slowly....how to start, and finish...llolllll..please

House on the Prairie · #8 09-11-2008, 09:56 PM

I did something similar with a garage sale find last month. We found an old wingback chair with good bones, but covered in a ghastly green fabric. I took remnants of old suitcoats and suitpants, and used that as the fabric to recover the chair. Now we've got the perfect accent piece for our living room--complete with pockets for the remotes.

I'm not saying the process of recovering it went completely smoothly--the padding took a bit of navigating and I had to use a glue gun in more areas than I'll admit publicly--but for the most part, using the staple gun was cathartic and the results came out just shy of professionally. And I'm not afraid to have my mother-in-law sit on it, which is the true test of success!

If you try this project, here's a few things to keep in mind:

1. It's much, much, much easier with two people (one to pull taut, one to staple/glue and hold).
2. Fewer patterns make a larger statement (mine came out a little patchworky).
3. Try to use the original padding, if it's in good shape. I know you may want a fresh start when you're recovering, but firm foam padding is surprisingly expensive. I used a layer of batting around the areas that would receive the most wear. Made me feel like I was more securely sealing in anything that might escape from the chair's past (especially since it wasn't a familiar chair to begin with).

Hope this gives you more ideas--good luck with your furniture re-invention!

flippinout · #9 09-11-2008, 10:20 PM

What a great idea, and to even have a place to store remotes is great.

Yes, having two people is much easier and the results would definitely be better because everything would be taut.

Thank you for sharing your success story.

homealone · #10 09-12-2008, 04:47 AM

Patricia, in answer to your question about the hot glue gun. You take a hot glue gun and glue the material that you have chosen to put on your old furniture. Start by glueing one part and allow it to dry enough so that it can be tugged on. This will give you a starting point for covering the furniture.Then as you get the material into place (where it looks good- neat and straight) glue it to hold it in place. Continue all around until the entire piece has been covered. Allow it to dry (about an hour or so) and there you go an almost new piece of furniture.