How to Refurbish a Sofa

Measure your sofa. Also, measure the cushions. That's so you'll buy enough fabric to refurbish sofa and cushions.

Buy new fabric. Choose fabric made for covering furniture. This fabric will be more durable and often stain-resistant. Choosing a fabric unsuitable for re-covering furniture can result in time wasted and money lost.

Remove existing fabric. Use a pair of scissors to carefully cut the old fabric from the wood frame located at the bottom of the furniture. Notice the way the fabric is stapled around the frame so that you can mimic this when re-covering the furniture. Once you remove the fabric from the frame, the rest should come off easily.

Re-cover your sofa. You will not need to cover the seat area of the sofa, just the back, arms and sides. Refer to the way the old fabric was positioned. Tuck the extra fabric into the sides of the wood frame. Then, gently pull the extra fabric through the frame and smooth the fabric over the sofa for a snug fit.

Staple your fabric to the wood frame. Refer back to the way the old fabric was stapled, and staple the extra fabric onto the wood frame accordingly.

Trace your old seat cushions and/or pillows onto the fabric and cut the fabric. You can cover your old pillows without cutting off the new fabric, or you can purchase foam stuffing and start from scratch.

If you choose to start from scratch, sew the cushion fabric together one side at a time, leaving an open end to insert foam stuffing. Sew the closing end to complete cushion re-cover. If you choose to re-cover your old pillows, simply sew the fabric around the existing fabric.