The patio chairs are the comfy addition in the patio and fire pit area for some relaxing and family time. However, with time these chairs can get worn out, or at least the upholster starts tearing apart. When the upholstery or cover fabric of the patio chairs starts tearing, your first intention would be to replace it with a newer one. Some may even consider repairing it from a professional repairman.
But both ways are costly. So, what to do?
We have a surprise solution for you that will make you happy.
Yes, today we will discuss the tips and steps on how to recover patio chairs including their color and upholstery so it looks like new. Plus, we will show you the ways to give the patio and fire pit area a vintage or contemporary look as you recover the chairs.
Tips On How To Recover Patio Chairs
The comfortable fire pit chairs including those in the patio spots bring both comfort and aesthetic at home. But when they start showing signs of aging, the look seriously becomes an eyesore. A torn-out or discolored patio chair is unexpected in the garden, lawn, or patio area.
Hence, you need to recover it or repair the upholstery so it looks better, if not new at least.
But before you begin to recover the chair and think about painting it, you must gather the supplies. The supply list may include the following-
- Non-smearing marker
- Paper
- Standard scissors
- Outdoor fabric
- Pencil
- Flat-head screwdriver and pliers
- Staple gun
Step 1: Observe the Seat
First, begin with observing the chair seat. Does it have big holes or the entire upholstery has been torn apart in several points? If there’re multiple holes, you will need to replace the entire cover. And for the small hole (if it is one or two only), you can be creative to cover it. You may choose artworks or other artistic ideas to cover it.
Step 2: Trace and Remove the Chair Seat
Whether it is a canopy beach chair or standard patio chair, you need to trace or figure out the seat structure properly. For this, remove the chair cover or base from the chair carefully. Make sure you don’t force the padding to come out. Gently move it to remove it from the chair.
Next, take a piece of paper and the non-smearing marker. Use the marker to point out the seat structure on the paper. The paper can be an old newspaper or anything you have readily available at home. It doesn’t need to be one.
Also, the drawn structure doesn’t need to be 100% accurate. It will just work as rough assistance for you to know the upholstery’s actual structure. So, don’t waste too much time tracing the precise look of the seat here.
Step 3: Cut the Fabric and Create the Pattern
When you have marked the structure of the upholstery on the paper using the marker, you will then need to prepare the actual pattern. For this, first cut out the drawn pattern from the paper. Then, place it over the chosen outdoor fabric.
You can choose the fabric from various designs. You can buy it online or get it from the nearby patio and upholstery fabric stores too. Also, note that you will need more fabric than the actual size of the seat. It is because some parts of the fabric edges will be used for stitching and wrapping so that it doesn’t get damaged soon.
The rule is to leave three inches all around the fabric. It will help you staple the fabric with the seat, or in stitching, if you are ready for it. We recommend you to go for the stapling since it is easy. Stitching will certainly give a better look, but it is painstaking and time-consuming as well. So, we leave the ball in your court.
An alternative way:
If you aren’t sure how much fabric you will need, you can opt to purchase it later. First, cut out the probable structure of the seat and take it with you to the fabric store. Then, you can quickly choose the right pattern. It will reduce the chance of any wastage of the fabric.
Step 4: Cutting the New Fabric
As the fabric and the actual pattern are ready, you can start cutting the fabric now. You can use the standard scissors for it. You should place the fabric over a flat surface to cut it properly. Otherwise, it runs the risk of uneven cuts around the edges. Also, make sure your fingers are safe as you hold the fabric edges to cut it.
If you have to cut the fabric for the outdoor chairs for a bad back, even the uneven edges will do since its purpose is to provide you comfort not aesthetic. You can place the previously drawn pattern over the fabric and use the pencil to draw it on the material.
When you cut it, make sure you have left around 2” to 3” extra fabric all around the edges. It is necessary for easy sewing or stapling of the fabric inside the patio chair seat.
Step 5: Adding the Old Fabric
When the new fabric cutting is ready, you can start putting it over the patio chair to recover it. We have already mentioned you remove the old and worn-out fabric. If you haven’t done it yet, use the flat head screwdriver to remove its stapling and then, take it off from the seat.
Now, turn the seat upside down. The seat will have a centered face towards the new fabric as you do it. Pull the edges of the new fabric and staple it using the stapler. You need to staple it in every 2” to 3” for a better attachment. It will also ensure that the fabric isn’t floating from the edges and creating an eyesore for all.
As you staple be careful about any dimples, creases, and unevenness of the fabric. Also, the seat must look flat and smooth with the new fabric. When you are done with the stapling of the entire fabric, turn around the seat. Inspect the new upholstery covering and see how pleasing it looks.
Final Words
Patio chairs aren’t pretty cheap. Similarly, its seat cover or upholstery is expensive too. Hence, knowing how to recover patio chairs will actually help you bypass such costing. We have described five easy steps here to recover the old patio chairs to revive them.
You can choose from a variety of fabrics to meet the home exterior décor. Also, this simple DIY work will give you confidence and satisfaction as well, during your leisure time.
Henry Jurk is an experienced architect with over 20 years of expertise in paving. He shares his knowledge and provides solutions through his blog posts at OkPatio.com. If you have any questions about patios, gardens, and outdoor spaces, you can find the correct answers from Henry. You can contact him via email at ar.henryjurk@gmail.com or through the website’s contact page.
