r/upholstery

I have this set of vintage IKEA Diana Safari chairs and coffee table by Karin Mobring. I need to get them reupholstered. Any idea what this would cost? I have the fabric already, but not the foam. I saw a local professional in Ontario and was given an obscene number. Please advise as to how much you would feel comfortable spending to get these redone. Thanks so much!

Hi folks. I’m a woodworker, but I’m thinking about tackling the leather on my antique dining chairs. I believe I have all the tools and skills to do it, but I can’t figure out the best way to handle the backs. We like how the leather currently sits, but I’m not sure how to recreate that. How do I finish the edges, and what’s the best way to keep it in place while placing the tacks? I don’t want to use staples where it’s exposed. Contact cement? I thought about adding a dummy frame to the back so I can stretch and staple to that, then tack it and trim off the excess. I know we can’t recreate the years of patina, but I want it to look as clean as possible. We don’t want to cover the beautiful wood. What would the pros do?

(Reposting with a picture of the actual barstools)

I'm thinking of buying these barstools secondhand on FB marketplace, but the vinyl is pretty worn out and I'd prefer a fabric seat anyway. I'm experienced with sewing and have a machine, but I've never tried reupholstery beyond making replacement covers for couch cushions.

I'm willing to spend time researching/learning, but just trying to figure out if this is even a reasonable project to embark on. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!

i’m looking at high density foam couch cushion inserts; i got an old loveseat from the 70s and the cushions sink right through when you sit on them lol. they don’t offer support anymore!

but there are so many options: high density foam, shredded foam, memory foam, seat cushion foam with batting/dacron??? i’ve already measured my cushions so know what size i need to get but have no idea about this aspect. is this a thing people know about??? hellooo?

also, any brand anyone trusts that has good cushion inserts? any brands i should avoid?

i know someone, somewhere in the world has to have cushion knowledge. if you’re out there somewhere, please advise! is this common knowledge? it feels very niche. thank youuuuu

Hi, I've been searching for a diamond tufting class for ottomans and they are really hard to find. I'm in Oregon and will be moving to California. Any suggestions for me to look into? Or someone who may want to do a one day private class? Thanks!

(Image for visibility only)

I'm willing to simply tape it, but thought it might be a better idea to ask folks who know a thing or two about this stuff. Any help will be appreciated, and I was going to say something witty like 'stuff it' but I'll just go away now and await folks coming toward me with big scary scissors;)

Hello everybody!

I have these dining chairs that I am going to be re-upholstering in this lovely blue crushed velvet fabric ( 97% Polyester 3% Spandex)I don’t seen any specific way to remove the insert/fabric part and I don’t want to accidentally destroy the chairs. Does anyone have any recommendations on how to best go about this? I have honestly never done a chair before but am tenacious 🫡
Thanks in advance!

Would appreciate any ideas!!! (I’m new to this.) Can I get something in beige/oatmeal that would look nice for $10/yard?? Or am I going to need to spend $30+/yard? Grateful for any advice, obviously I’m new here!

Hi there. I would like to remove these odd stains from my couch but I’m not eve sure where to start!

I bought some seat cover protectors that were supposed to be fitted but were a bit loose and had a ton of bulk. After redoing a few seams and trimming a ridiculous amount of bulk (i mean like an inch of seam allowance in some places) they fit almost perfectly. Only problem is I have these junctions left over where multiple pieces were joined together that stick out really far. It is a PVC/vinyl material with foam backing so I can't just iron them down and I can't just cut them because there are seams in them. They push the fabric out and keep it from laying into the creases tho so what can I do about these things?

i’m not sure if this is the right place to post this, but this chair I got for my room has quickly worn down in the knee/bottom area. it feels like my thighs are resting on a pole now.

i’m not sure what I can do to fix this— add stuffing? I know nothing about this kind of stuff, so I would really appreciate some advice!

This button on our fabric headboard has come loose and I’m wondering if there’s an easy way to tighten it back up to the headboard without having to remove the backing on the back of the headboard. Any advice or help is appreciated!

One of my clients found an old and very dusty chair covered in fake leather and grime on their attic. I still need to do some blind stitching, (there is a lot of it on the back of the chair), but otherwise I am pretty happy with the result.

I am self taught. I started collecting chairs many years ago, but only started upholstering 6 months ago when I had to spend some time at home. I find it very relaxing to be creative, work with my hands and when everything works out well end up with a decent looking chair. Every time I am shocked by the fabric costs, but I have noticed that the more expensive fabric is easier to work with. (luckily if you work on one chair you can buy leftovers at a discount)

Any thoughts and tips are welcome!

For context; I am completely new to upholstery.

I have come across some dining chairs that need some work, and have pulled apart the cushions to look at what can be salvaged and what I can recycle.

A lot of the springs inside look bent/not the best, so I thought I’d try get some new ones but I can’t find any the same size.
First photo is the spring I pulled out (left) next to the smallest I could source. The second is the condition of the springs I have pulled out so far. The last photo is from a chair I haven’t disassembled yet for reference on the style of chair.

My question is, is it likely someone has cut bigger springs in half to make ones this size? could I cut the bigger ones I have found, bend the end with pliers and use that?
Or, would I be better off using the old springs?

Hi! I work for an event venue with a bunch of office chairs in one of the spaces. These chairs accumulate a lot of miscellaneous dark stains that I have not been able to get out. I’ve tried car upholstery cleaners and most recently K2r spot lifter. The K2r was a mistake bc it ended up leaving white stains that I can’t get out either!
The chairs are made of some sort of synthetic material.
Does anyone have any advice for how to get these stains out once and for all? Thank you!!

It was $12 at the thrift store and I have a soft spot for cool chairs.

Any tips for getting started? Should I put it in the curb for someone more experienced?

I have some things that may work for materials:
- Canvas stapler (not powered)
- Spray adhesive
- Sewing machine
- Thick upholstery foam that was for another project
- Thin upholstery foam that for another project
- Way too much green upholstery chenille leftover from, you guessed it, another project

Currently the padding is very thin, but I am curious if it would be possible to give it thicker padding for a more comfortable seat. The current seat looks like a molded foam but I haven’t gotten in there yet.