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Tips To Refinish The Cushions Of An Old Upholstered Chair

If you have not purchased living room furniture for the past 10 or 15 years, then it may be in your best interest to purchase an entirely new set of couches and chairs from a place like North Carolina Furniture & Mattress. The new furniture can provide your home with both comfort and style. The new set may not have as much personality as some of your old furniture pieces, so consider saving one of your old chairs that you are particularly fond of. Make sure to repair or restore the piece though, so it looks as beautiful and feels as comfortable as some of your newer furniture pieces.

Restore Padding

Most pieces of furniture are stuffed with comfortable and dense foam materials that provide comfort. The most common type of foam used to create furniture is made out of polyurethane. Polyurethane is manufactured in a wide variety of densities, and the material is graded to indicate how many years the foam will last. Most polyurethane foams will last between 5 and 15 years before it starts to break down. If your chair is more than 15 years old, then the stuffing or foam needs to be replaced. In most cases, you will see your cushions compressing when it is time for a replacement.

Replacing Cushions

To replace the foam, find the zippers on the exterior of the chair cushions. Unzip them and pull the foam out of the fabric casing. Measure the length and width of the foam and go to your local fabric supply store to purchase new foam. You can purchase inexpensive polyurethane foam or you can look for a better quality material. If you do not want to replace the foam in the chair for many years, then look for a urethane or polyurethane material that is marked as high resilient with a density rating close to 30 or 32. This material will offer good support and it will not deteriorate or compress as quickly.

Cut your piece of foam to the same dimensions as the one you removed from your chair and secure it in the cushion cover. You may need to double up the foam if it does not fill in the cushion as well as it should.

Repair Holes

If the cushion covers on your chair are threadbare and full of holes, then you will need to repair these sections of fabric if you want to continue to use your chair. You can use thread to repair holes if there is still a good deal of fabric left behind. Try to look for a thread color that matches the fabric of your chair, and make sure to purchase polyester heavy-duty thread. This thread is thicker than traditional cotton varieties and it can withstand wear and tear.  

If you cannot find a color that matches your chair, then consider choosing a contrasting color to add texture to the piece. If your chair is brown or black, then choose a red, blue, or green thread for good contrast. When you buy your thread, make sure to purchase either a cotton darner or doll needle. Both of these needles are long and sharp, and they can easily work through upholstery fabrics. Double your thread through your needle and use small stitches to repair upholstery holes.

Add Fabric Patches

If your chair is filled with large holes or openings, then you will need to use fabric patches to make your repairs. Look for brightly colored or patterned fabrics at your local craft supply store. These types of materials will help you to turn your ruined upholstery into a stylish patchwork creation. Consider buying canvas or wool fabrics, because these materials will wear better than cotton.

Cut your fabrics into different sized squares making sure the pieces are at least one or two inches larger than the holes. This will help to protect the openings. Set the squares flat over the upholstery. Use polyester thread and create a blanket stitch around each patch. This type of stitch will make the patches appear more decorative and finished.

If you have an old chair that you want to keep in your home with new furniture pieces, then you should refinish it. Adding new foam to the chair and repairing small holes are two good ways to do this.