Change loose cushions or the expression of the full couch with an inexpensive fabric that is easy to utilize and even easier to find. One or two canvas dropcloths will be big, sturdy and wide enough for new upholstery, and they won’t break the bank. With enough patience — and a fantastic staple gun — it is possible to re-upholster your couch easily by removing the old upholstery and reupholstering in reverse order. The dropcloth fabric is wide enough you won’t have to piece together stuff for a broad couch back or long cushions.
Assess the couch to ascertain the amount of upholstery material to purchase. A single dropcloth could cover a compact love seat. You will probably need two or more for a full couch with cushions. Dropcloths are so inexpensive — and big — your fabric purchase won’t make a dent in your budget.
Remove the existing upholstery by prying up tacks or staples together with the border of a flat screwdriver and pulling them out using needle-nose pliers. Separate sewn pieces with a seam ripper. Photograph or make notes of every step of this aged fabric removal.
Label and number each piece as you remove it so you can identify it later and reupholster the couch in the reverse order of stripping it. Take care to maintain the old upholstery pieces since they would be your patterns to your new ones.
Examine the foam to be certain it may be re-used. Foam is sturdy and fairly pricey, so you’ll want to keep the current foam whenever at all possible. It typically is. But replace the batting, unless it is in excellent condition.
Cut new parts of upholstery fabric and batting by placing the old pieces on the dropcloth as patterns and tracing them using marker or pinning them in place. Cut every piece about an inch larger all the way around compared to the old piece.
Put the new batting in place, if you’re replacing it, and also begin to staple the new upholstery pieces to the frame in the reverse order in the way you removed the cloth. Stretch the cloth taut as you staple, but alternate sides to keep the tension even, and do not get overly zealous that you split the pieces at the staples.
Sew canvas material across the piping string — follow the package instructions to generate professional-looking piping or welting — and staple, glue or stitch the piping in the identical way the old piping has been attached. Your couch may not use piping — fewer steps for you.
Finally, tack the upholstered back panel to the frame, covering all of the raw edges of the back and seat upholstery, and secure it using decorative upholstery tacks, tapped in at fixed intervals.
Sew arm guards and loose cushion covers on your sewing machine, utilizing the old ones as patterns. You may re-use zippers, if the cushions have removable covers. Place the arm guards and pillows on the sofa.