How to drag an old chair with your own hands - step by step instructions with a photo. The advantages of self-restoration of the chair, the procedure for updating the chair with your own hands

Do-it-yourself chair restoration is not an easy process, but you can also update furniture at home if you know some of the secrets of work. If the chair is slightly worn out, then to update it, it is enough to change the upholstery. Old furniture most often requires a complete restoration.

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How to restore a chair

Armchairs of the post-Soviet period most often consist of a wooden or metal frame, covered with foam rubber and upholstered in fabric. For the restoration of such furniture, it is required to repair the frame, change the upholstery and filler.

Restoration of old armchairs made in the USSR requires a more careful approach. Soviet armchairs were made from a large number wooden elements. However, they can be painted only on the condition that cheap wood species were used to create the furniture. Oak, beech and other valuable species cannot be covered with paint, otherwise they will lose value.

DIY recovery

In the process of disassembling old furniture, it is important to photograph each stage of work, so that later all the elements can be returned to their place and the parts should be correctly folded together. All good parts that will be used in the updated version are thoroughly washed. Most often, of the internal replacement elements, passes (belts) and foam rubber are required.

Passes are made of dense tarpaulin or elastic rubber fabric. The same material is selected for replacement. Passes are attached to a wooden frame. For fastening, it is better to use nails, because building brackets do not withstand big weight. At the point of attachment, the edges of the belts must be folded in half, so they will not stretch and will last longer.

The properties and parameters of foam rubber are different. There are 5 types of this material:

For the manufacture of upholstered furniture use HR. This type of material has a low degree of rigidity and high wear resistance.

Furniture from the Soviet period requires careful restoration. Do-it-yourself chair restoration begins with a thorough cleaning. All elements are washed in water or cleaned with a dry cloth. Remove dust and dirt from hard-to-reach places with a toothbrush.

For painting Soviet furniture made in the first half of the 20th century, black or dark brown is most often used. Valuable wood species are varnished. It is best to use oil varnishes, because they cover the product with a thick layer, give shine and protect from moisture. Often, to update products, restorers use craquelure varnish with the effect of cracks, scuffs, gilding, etc.

Decorate old furniture hand-painted. This technique was used in antiquity, and it is still in demand today. Anyone who cannot pick up a drawing or does not know how to paint furniture can find a suitable master class on the Internet.

Decor with fabric

Fabric is an important element of restoration work, since it will not be possible to restore a very old chair without updated material. To update furniture, it is better to choose a wear-resistant fabric that is easy to clean.

It is important to consider the pattern and color of the fabric so that they fit into the overall style of the interior. However, it is easier to work with monochromatic material, because the pattern must be constantly monitored so that it does not move.

First, a back is cut out of a single piece of fabric, a seat and armrests are cut out of the rest. The fabric is attached to the chair frame with staples or small nails. The distance between the fasteners is 2-4 cm.

Backrest update

The back of old chairs is most often removable. If it is made of metal, then it is enough to make only a constriction. For a wooden back, you need to prepare a strong frame. Then, with a simple pencil, you should mark the places where the buttons are attached and drill holes in them.

A piece of foam rubber is attached to the back, and then the frame is covered with fabric on both sides. The fabric is fastened with buttons. They should be covered with the same fabric as the back itself.

Restoring armrests

Chair armrests are repaired separately. Pets are often the culprit for damaged armrests. Even if the chair is still fit, you have to regularly restore the peeled armrests with a dog or cat.

If there are small cracks on the wooden armrests, they are removed with wood glue, and then varnished or painted on top. Severely damaged armrests should be completely replaced. The fabric armrests are also being restored. To do this, the fabric is removed and replaced with the purchased one. The foam lining should also be updated if it has become unusable.

An IKEA shelving unit or an old grandmother's lamp can be changed beyond recognition with simple tools at home. The Village begins a story about how to make interior items with your own hands. In the first issue - a reupholstering of the Soviet armchair of the 60s, which was made by Alexander Kuptsov.

These chairs began to be produced in accordance with GOST in the 1960s. Our two, I think, came out somewhere in 1968. In the nineties, we already tried to reupholster chairs with the help of those materials that we could find, but over time, the foam rubber inside turned into rusty mastic, began to spill out on the floor and smear. For this reason, such chairs are usually thrown into the trash. And we decided to save them, disassemble and see what's inside.

The basis is a wooden frame made of pine and birch, rubberized slings on which foam rubber is laid, a backrest on furniture nails made of thin plywood, armrests-legs made of 15 mm plywood, stained and then varnished.

Before buying foam rubber, we thoroughly studied its properties and parameters. We settled on highly elastic HR as the most durable. The most difficult thing was to choose the fabric for the chair, because it is very characteristic, the era is perfectly read on it, not every textile can cope with such a task. We went over a dozen different options, textures, drawings and chose this one. The chair fabric seems to fit perfectly.

materials

For one chair, you will need a piece of fabric 2 by 1.5 meters, 100 mm foam rubber for the seat and 60–80 mm for the back, as well as three meters of 40–50 mm textile slings. Tools: furniture stapler, screwdriver set, pliers, 2.5 cm nails, hammer, scissors.

Instruction

We disassemble the chair

Pulling out the nails

We make a frame from slings

We fix with a stapler

Let's disassemble the chair. We separate the back, unscrew the armrests-legs, unwind the crossbars.

Separate the back and seat. They are connected by furniture staples.

In order not to be mistaken later, be sure to take a picture of the disassembled nodes and fabric attachment points. It is important.

Let's get to the worst part - pulling out the nails and remove the fabric along with foam rubber and old belts.

Frame cleared of foam rubber residues wash with soap and brush, dry.

Getting Started installation of a frame from slings. Measure the pieces a little more to tuck them. Do not forget to solder the sections with a lighter. Tighten the sling as it should so that it does not play.

Over the lines put the fabric, fix with a stapler.

We cut the foam rubber. Remember that the foam rubber does not cover the entire part of the seat and back frame.

Let's get to the fabric. If the fabric is patterned, follow so that the picture does not move out. The backs (front and back) are cut from the first meter, the seat from the second.

Tightening the details, press down the foam rubber. Staple from the center on four sides, tucking the fabric. Don't press hard, otherwise you will pull the chair and it will be uncomfortable to sit. If you press lightly, the fabric will fold and wrinkle when used.

Do-it-yourself chair restoration may be needed when the furniture loses its novelty and beauty. You will definitely have to update the chair if it is your favorite and is often used, since the upholstery of the chair loses its attractive appearance. In some cases, restoration of an old chair is necessary from an aesthetic point of view - when its design does not fit into the interior after repair. Restoration of a boring chair with a cloth will help to solve these problems.

Upholstery of an old chair will not take much time and effort from the worker. But what delight you will experience when you see what came out of the old chair! If you bought a cheap chair with wooden arms, it needs a makeover. Padding the armchair with your own hands will give it novelty and freshness.

How to update an old armchair with your own hands? First you need to stock up on tools and materials. It is recommended to give preference to a special fabric that will be impregnated with a dirt-repellent composition and has increased wear resistance. Select the material you like from a photo or video to imagine what will happen in the end. Do not forget that very old chairs cannot be restored. Such furniture should be handled by professionals, as the seats may not withstand and fall apart. Before we redo one chair in stages, we need:

• a piece of dense fabric;
• 10 cm foam for the seat and 6 cm for the back;
• textile sling;
• stapler for furniture;
• auxiliary tools - wire cutters, scissors.

Necessary for sewing a cover

Chair disassembly

The internal structure of the chair Diagram of the chair Frame of the chair

Before you drag the chair, it must be disassembled. A master class on how to properly remove the cover from the chair is presented below. First, remove the bottom and the fixing wall from the old chair. At the Soviet armchair, they are held on by self-tapping screws or carnations. When the plywood is still usable or can be restored, we work with the utmost care. Under the seat there will be a foam lining that provides elasticity to the chair. It must be carefully removed. Now we twist the fasteners between the elements of the chair. If they are significantly rusted, apply a rust remover.

With the help of the manager, remove the cover and remove the lining from the back. This process can be facilitated by using a screwdriver and pliers. If the home chair and the plywood layer should remain intact as a result, pry off the fasteners not one at a time, but take them out in order. When the fasteners are removed, you can remove the lining and old upholstery. If the conditions of the apartment allow, cover the floor with newspapers so that the old lining does not crumble. We restore the wooden frame separately. Before you redo it, you need to get rid of the old varnish and paint, strengthen loose elements and paint the structure.

Getting Started

Chair upholstery

How to drag an old chair with your own hands step by step? We separate the back from the spring chair, carefully bending the brackets. Now we begin to pull out the screws, get rid of the belts and the fabric with which the products are covered. Rid of the contents of the skin, the structure is thoroughly washed and dried. From the slings we assemble the frame.

Scheme of a cover tie with a cord

Don't forget to cut longer pieces to make them easy to tuck. All cuts are soldered with fire. In order for the sling not to dangle on the legs, it must be well tensioned.

We make cutouts. Don't forget to leave seam allowances. We cut and cut out the details from the main fabric. We replace the synthetic winterizer or foam rubber
We make cuts on allowances in those places where one part is sewn to another We fix the new cover with staples We fix the inner part of the seat with staples
We make holes in the cover for attaching the legs and fasten the legs. Our chair is ready

We drag the fabric over the slings and securely fasten it with a stapler. We cut foam rubber. Do not forget that the length made should not completely cover the frame and back. For those who make a chair with a fabric covered with a pattern, we remind you - make sure that the image does not move out after repair. We update two patterns for the back from the first meter of fabric, and for the seat - from the second.

Tighten the parts in such a way as to press the foam rubber against the tree. Tuck the fabric, passing the stapler from its middle to the ends. It is necessary to restore the chair in such a way as not to transfer the material, otherwise it will be impossible to sit on it. However, we do not sew weakly, because the fabric can be covered with folds at the legs. After you fit all the details of the restored chair, connect the back and seat. Now you know how to remake a piece of furniture without much effort.

if you have old armchair or a chair that looks dated and ugly, perhaps because of the upholstery. So don't throw it away right away, but give the old chair a chance to look beautiful again.

Renovating chairs sounds like a difficult job, but it's actually not that difficult. See for yourself by looking at examples of how an old chair might look like after renovation.

Reupholstering chairs, reupholstery or reupholstering upholstered furniture can be quite laborious and messy and should not be done at home.

And as the old chair acquires new life, then it is worth adding a fresh coat of paint. You can cut a new seat board if the old one is too damaged or doesn't look strong enough. When renovating chairs, first select the fabric you want to use.

Then cut the fabric and lay it in the folds. Fasten it.

This old chair has some great lines, but it doesn't look good enough with the old upholstery.

A new coat of paint and refurbishment of the seat made the old chair look like new. The seat was removed and the dusty cloth was removed. After that, the old chair was painted.

An old chair with a rather pleasant design, but the upholstery was old and dusty and therefore the chair did not look attractive at all.

But the new upholstery, with a beautiful shade of turquoise, looks very nice in combination with dark stained wood. You just need fabric and some free time.
The office chair becomes unusable after a certain time, but if the old chair is comfortable enough that there would be no back problems, then it is worth trying to repair the chair and give it a new look.

You will need cloth, foam, batting, screwdrivers. First you need to disassemble the chair, and then draw out the plastic backing. Separate the fabric and foam from the wooden parts, then measure and cut out the new foam.

If you want to refurbish chairs, you don't necessarily have to think of it as a complex project. An old chair will look like new even if all you do is apply a fresh coat of paint.

Self-upholstery of upholstered furniture is not as simple a task as it might seem at first glance. To make the updated chair look modern, stylish and appropriate, you need to study the technology and strictly follow the instructions.

If the upholstery on the old chair has become unusable, do not rush to throw it away, just drag it with a new fabric.

In order for the restoration to be successful, you need to take into account all the subtleties, only with a thorough approach to business, the updated furniture will look good. This scheme of work can be used to update any upholstered furniture. But if a worn-out sofa or chair has a complex shape, it is better to turn to professionals (Fig. 1).

Preparatory work

For the upholstery of the chair, you will need not only materials and tools, you must also have sufficient sewing skills and perseverance. Shouldn't be ignored preparatory stage otherwise, difficulties may arise at the most inopportune moment.

For a successful stretch you will need:

• screwdriver;
• pliers;
• anti-stapler;
• furniture fabric;
• foam rubber;
• synthetic winterizer;
• strong threads;
• scissors, needles, pins;
• sewing machine;
• stapler with staples.

Figure 1. Diagram of the chair.

If the chair has wood details, you will additionally need sandpaper, stain or furniture varnish.

First of all, you need to photograph the furniture from different angles. This will greatly simplify the assembly process and avoid incidents. After the subject of alteration is imprinted, you can proceed to the next step.

The chair needs to be taken apart. Remove all decorative items and pillows. If you make a surface constriction and leave the wooden parts in a worn form, general impression will be hopelessly damaged.

Next, you need to very carefully remove the old upholstery. It is important not to damage the fabric, as it will act as a pattern. You can use an anti-stapler, a screwdriver and any other tools with a flat edge for these works. After the fabric is removed, you need to measure it and calculate how much fabric will be needed to sew a new upholstery. It is important to take into account the stock of material for folds and tucks.

It is necessary to assess the condition of the soft part of the chair. If the foam shows signs of dirt and wear, it should be replaced. It is better to do it right away so that in a few years the updated chair will not surprise you with a change in shape.

Figure 2. Fabrics such as tapestry, jacquard, gunny, velor, chenille are suitable for upholstery.

After that, you can go to the store for consumables. For work, you need foam rubber 3-5 cm thick, standard or increased rigidity. Such a sealant is used for the manufacture of furniture, and it can be purchased in specialized stores. You will need upholstery material, it is better to choose a fabric labeled "furniture". Tapestry, jacquard, matting, velor, chenille are suitable for finishing upholstered furniture (Fig. 2). When buying, you need to take into account the stock of material. The presence of a pattern on the fabric will increase the consumption by about 1-2 steps of repetition of the elements of the image. And, of course, threads of a suitable shade must be taken durable, designed to work with furniture. Reinforced threads 45-70 LL are suitable (lavsan is an analogue of polyester).

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Intermediate stage of restoration

After all the tools and materials are prepared, you can proceed with the restoration.

The first step is to update the armrests, legs and all wooden elements. They must be carefully processed with sandpaper, covered with stain or varnish and left to dry.

Figure 3. Carefully remove the old upholstery from the chair and detach all parts to further create a new pattern.

Next, you can proceed to the manufacture of new upholstery. The old one, if this has not been done before, needs to be torn open, trying not to damage the fabric. Each detail must be numbered and set aside. After that, you need to mark and cut out the new upholstery (Fig. 3).

It is best to do this on the floor. Marks are applied using a special marker, chalk or simple pencil. Cutting is more convenient with large sharp scissors. After all the details are cut out, you need to process the sections so that the fabric does not bloom. The easiest way is to hem it using the double hem method or lightly singe over an open fire. When choosing the second method, you need to act very carefully, checking the reaction of the material on unnecessary trimming.

After that, you need to sew all the details of the new upholstery on a sewing machine. It is better to “try on” a new cover several times than to redo everything.

After the upholstery is ready, you can proceed to the main part of the work on the restoration of the chair.