How to Reupholster an Ottoman

by admin Home Life

Even the sturdiest and most reliable ottomans can begin to show signs of wear after years of use. The good news is that reupholstering an ottoman is a manageable project, especially for people with no prior experience. In this article, we discuss how to reupholster an ottoman and walk you through all the steps of the process.

How to Reupholster an Ottoman

One way to reupholster your ottoman is to trust professionals with this job. For this, you will need to find a reliable studio or an individual master who works with furniture restoration, choose the reupholstery fabric, and pick up your ottoman when it is ready.

Having a professional restore your furniture can save you time and effort, but it will be more expensive than doing it yourself. Ottoman reupholstery can be a fun, rewarding, and relatively uncomplicated project if you have never done reupholstery before. Here are the steps we recommend taking when reupholstering your ottoman:

Prepare the Right Tools

Tools that you will need for your ottoman reupholstery project include:

  • A heavy-duty staple gun
  • A staple removal or a flathead screwdriver
  • Pliers
  • Scissors
  • Measuring tape or a long ruler 
  • Chalk for fabric marking
  • Screwdriver if your ottoman has legs that will need to be reattached
  • A sewing machine can be needed for some projects that require sewing cushion covers or piping

Start by Removing the Old Upholstery

We recommend starting with this step because it allows you to measure the old fabric and use the measurements when purchasing new fabric. To remove the old upholstery, follow these steps:

  • Snip the thread that holds the fabric. If the fabric is attached to the ottoman by staples, use a special staple remover or a flat screwdriver. If staples break off during the process, use pliers to remove the remaining parts.
  • Once nothing holds the fabric in place, you can peel it off. However, try not to displace the padding underneath it if possible.
  • Mark all the pieces of the fabric to remember what part of the ottoman they belong to.

Replace the Padding if Necessary

If the padding in your ottoman is uneven or gets damaged or displaced when you take off the old upholstery, consider replacing it with new foam padding or smoothing it out by adding new batting on top of the existing padding. Make sure to take the thickness of the new padding into account when buying and cutting your new fabric.

Prepare the New Fabric

  • Carefully measure the old fabric and add several extra inches to each measurement. If you are a complete beginner, consider purchasing extra fabric to account for potential errors. 
  • Choose the new fabric. We recommend going for durable upholstery fabric. Please note that non-upholstery fabrics will wear out very quickly. Generally, the most durable fabrics are heavy-duty vinyl, polyester, and nylon. Also, some sellers offer upholstery fabric called performance fabric. Leather is a durable option, too, but this material requires special tools and will likely be very challenging to work with for a beginner without specialized training.
  • Once you have your new fabric, transfer the measurements onto it, using a ruler and chalk for fabric marking. Use old fabric as a guide. Once you are certain that all measurements are accurate and you have accounted for folds, wrapping, and attachment, cut the fabric.

Attach the New Fabric to Your Ottoman

To attach the new fabric to your ottoman, start with the top and then reupholster the sides of the ottoman. Make sure that the fabric fits tightly on every side of your ottoman when attaching. Also, make neat corners by securing the folds with staples. We recommend using a staple gun to attach the fabric to your ottoman, as it is one of the most beginner-friendly tools.

Add the Finishing Touches

Once the main part of the reupholstery project is complete, carefully trim away the excess fabric on the bottom of your ottoman and reattach the legs or hardware (make sure everything is attached securely.) You can also add decorative elements to your ottoman, such as piping, decorative buttons, or nailhead trim.

Get a Beautiful New Ottoman at A. Rudin

Reupholstering your ottoman can be a satisfying project and a great way to add a personal touch to your favorite piece of furniture. However, a reupholstering project requires time, patience, and the right tools. If you’re short on time and need a new ottoman, do not hesitate to explore our beautiful and high-quality luxury furniture collections on our website.