How to Upholster a Bench With Buttons

Steps

• 1

  Remove the fabric from the underside of your bench, if any is present. Use the staple remover to pry out the staples or tacks holding the fabric in place.

• 2

  Detach the bench seat from the frame by unscrewing the seat using the screwdriver or power drill. Use the chalk to mark the front edge, both on the bottom of the seat and the frame. You may also wish to take reference photos as you take the bench apart.

• 3

  Use the staple remover to pull out the staples or tacks holding the upholstery fabric onto the chair. Use caution not to tear the upholstery fabric, since it will serve as your pattern for the new fabric.

• 4

  Locate the wire or twine on the underside of the bench cushion that secures the buttons to the top of the bench. Carefully remove the buttons, either by cutting or untying the old wire or twine.

• 5

  Separate the bench components from the upholstery fabric. These components, which may contain foam, batting, muslin and a wooden backing, should not be taken apart, but removed from the outer fabric in one piece. Using the chalk, mark the front on both the inside components and the outer upholstery fabric.

• 6

  Cut out the new bench cover by using the old fabric piece as a pattern. If the bench cushion was tufted, meaning that the buttons were pulled deep into the foam to create a puffy effect, be sure to stretch out any fabric folds on the original upholstery before cutting, so your new upholstery will be large enough to also tuft.

• 7

  Mark the location for the buttons on the right side of the new fabric piece, using the chalk and the old fabric as a template.

• 8

  Lay the new upholstery fabric right side down on your work surface, and center the cushion components on top, with the top of the cushion facing down.

• 9

  Staple the upholstery fabric to the wooden backing of the cushion, placing staples about 2 inches apart. Be sure the fabric has the same looseness as the original upholstery, so that the tufting will be similar.

• 10

  Cut the thin twine into 18-inch lengths, a length of twine for each button. Thread your upholstery needle and insert the needle from the underside of the bench, through the batting and upholstery fabric, in the same location as one of the original buttons.

  Thread the button onto the twine from the back and go back through the other hole. Insert the needle into the bench, close to the spot the thread was just pulled through. Pull on the ends of the twine until the button is tufted to the desired amount. Thread the twine through the center of the washer and secure the twine by wrapping and tying it around the washer. Repeat for all buttons.

• 11

  Staple fabric to the underside of the bench, if desired, and reattach the bench to the frame using the screws and screwdriver or power drill.