How to Upholster Wood Dining Chairs with Easy Tufting

DIY Furniture· DIY Projects· Furniture· Home Decor

20 Nov

Have you ever gazed at your wood dining chairs and felt the urge to infuse a bit more personality into them? Upholster wood dining chairs with easy tufting may be just the magic touch they need! Now, don’t fret if you’re new to the DIY scene; upholstering is less intimidating than it sounds and can be incredibly fulfilling.

Imagine taking a seat on chairs that boast both comfort and your unique flair. With the right tools, some patience, and a bit of creativity, you can transform those sturdy wood dining staples into beautiful pieces that reflect your taste and style. Ready to forge ahead on this rewarding venture? Here’s to making those dining chairs not just a place to sit, but a testament to your handiwork and aesthetic zeal!

image of a wood dining room table with cream fabric chairs — Source

I envisioned my table having a few upholstery chairs like this inspirational photo above from Pottery Barn. My dining room was too dark with all the wood tones in such a small dining room area. As you can see in the photo below, my dining room had the start of the charter but the table was lacking the comfort that I desired.

dining room with wood dining table and chairs

I kept telling myself that I could upholster 2 of the existing wood chairs and paint the rest. Painting the dining table was the easy part, the upholstery, not so much. I went back and forth on my decision to DIY upholstered wood dining chairs, because what if I failed, and ruined 2 of my chairs?

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I decided I would forget the whole DIY upholstery and bought some chairs similar to those above from Wayfair. After I purchased them, brought them home, put them together and they sat looking so pretty in my dining room.

Now, I had the dilemma of having 10 dining room chairs because my table had 8 and now I just added 2 more and had no room for 10 chairs. What was I thinking?

Guess what happened, I changed my mind and decided I did not need the extra chairs and I would use what I had. Look at it, I did it, they turned out pretty good for my first attempt! Now let’s show you how I did it!

image of a tufted upholstered dining chair

Full Disclosure – If you have never taken on an upholstery DIY project, I would not attempt this one as your first one. This was a challenge for me and I have done many upholstery projects.

How to calculate fabric for your upholstered chair project

I found this great post from the online fabric store, Calculating Fabric Yardage for your Project. They also share some upholstery charts with images of furniture styles with the yards needed for that type of furniture. It is a great resource that will help you determine how much fabric you will need for your upholstery project.

My chair took slightly over 1 yard of fabric. This will vary based on the width of the fabric you choose.

an image of an upholstered dining chair with cream fabric and tufting.

How to Upholster Wood Chairs

Step 1 – Make a Hardboard Backing

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Start by making a cardboard template from the shape of your chair backing. I placed cardboard over the chair back and traced the outside edges to get me started. Cut out the cardboard template an inch inside the template lines. You want your cardboard template to fit just on the inside of your chair frame.

Place the cardboard template on a 1/8-inch hardboard and use a jigsaw to cut out the shape. My chair backs had a curve to them so I needed the thinner hardboard so it would curve with the chair. If you have a straight-back chair, use thicker hardwood for the back. If you are lucky enough to have a solid back chair, omit this step.

Step 2 – Cut out foam cushions and fabric

Now you are ready to cut out the foam cushions and fabric. Cut the foam to the exact size of your template. Place the hardboard back and chair seat base on the foam and trace. Cut the foam shapes using an electric knife. I find using an electric knife is much easier than using hand scissors.

I used a 2-inch foam, I prefer to use a 2-inch as it is thicker and looks more luxurious than the 1-inch foam cushions. When cutting out the upholstery fabric, measure the width, and add the depth of the foam seat cushion and chair back cushion. Also, add an extra 2 to 3 inches. You want to make sure you have enough fabric to wrap around and the tufting also adds to the fabric needs.

Example: My chair back measures 20w x 24h. I added 4 extra inches for foam and 3 extra for wrap and tufting. I cut a 27w x 31h piece of fabric for the front.

Step 3 – Attaching the Hardboard to the Chair Back

wood board being added to the back of a wood chair

Attach the hardboard template to the back of the chair using the appropriately sized wood screws for the thickness of your wood template and chair.

Step 4 – Attaching the Foam to the Chair

foam cushion being marked for tufting the fabric

Using a spray adhesive, attach the foam to the seat base and the hardboard on the chair’s back. I recommend that you take the foam outside and spray it. Quickly bring it inside and adhere it to the chair base.

Step 5 – Create the tufting layout

Remember I stated that my chair back was curved, so I needed to tuft the chair in order to keep the fabric flat against the chair back. If you have a flat back chair you can omit the tufting.

The easiest way to lay out the tufting marks was to find the center horizontally and vertically. I measured and marked the tufting spots from the center lines(5 inches). I thought my chairs would look best with 5 rows. Your chair may be a different size so you will need to determine your measurements on your chair.

Using scissors, cut an “X” over each tufting mark. The x is done so you can feel where to place your screw when tufting since you place batting and fabric over your marks.

Once you are done marking and cutting the holes for tufting, place both the batting and fabric over the foam.

UPDATE: I recommend that you treat the new fabric before adding it to your chairs. I used a fabric repellant on the drop cloth on my chairs after they were done. Now, I have a small rust spot on the back where the fabric tack must have been wet from the fabric spray. So AVOID the whole thing by treating the fabric of your choice before you upholster. I am just trying to save you the work of replacing the fabric later like I need to do. UGH!

Step 6 – Begin the Tufting Process

in progress picture of how to tuft a wood dining chair

I use these 3/4-inch washers and 1-inch wood screws to do my tufting. Yes, you heard that right, washers and screws to do tufting! If you would like more detailed instructions on this tufting process, stop over to read my DIY tufted coffee table bench. I have the complete instructions on how to do tufting the simple way with a screwdriver on that post.

I use power tools for tufting for a couple of reasons. First I find it much easier than having to use the needle and thread method. Second, if your tufting thread breaks later on, it is not easy to fix the tufting. Using this power tool tufting method is a great way to save you time and headaches long term.

back of dining chair before the fabric is placed on the back

Since I did not have a solid back, I had to add a few wood pieces to the middle tufting row so those screws were secure. All but 3 screws went directly into the chair wood, so there is no going back now!

Step 7 – Staple Fabric to the Back Side of the Chair

attaching the fabric to the back of wood dining chair

Now you are ready to staple the front upholstery to the back of the chair. Please refer to this Tufted Coffee Table Bench, on how to carefully adjust the tufting on the front before stapling the fabric in place on the back. This is an important step.

Step 8– Attaching the fabric to the back of the chair

adding the fabric to the back of wood chair

Place the fabric edge inside out at the top of the chair, in the opposite direction. Place a thin cardboard strip on top of the fabric or use an upholstery tack strip. See below if you want to make your own cardboard strip. Staple the cardboard and fabric in place. The cardboard creates a clean edge when flipping over.

If you do not do this step, you will notice the staple line. Trust me, use the cardboard strip to create a clean line.

I made my cardboard strip or you can purchase an upholstery tack strip. To make a cardboard strip, simply measure the top of your chair and cut a straight line using a straight-edge ruler.

Step 9 – Attach Flex-Grip to the Side of the Chair

image of the correct way to attach fabric gripper to upholstered chair back

Staple flex-grip (tack strips) onto the side of the chair. The direction of the flex-grip is important, it needs to be placed on the open side facing out to the edges. See the picture above, because I placed it incorrectly the first time and had to remove it and do it again. Learn from my mistakes.

Step 10 – Securing Fabric to the Back of the Chair

placing batting to the back of upholstered chair

Place the batting on the back side of the chair, pull down the flipped-over fabric, and begin to secure the fabric into the flex-grip. The fabric is stretched around the metal teeth and slowly begin to push it closed.

trimming fabric on back of upholstered fabric chair

Before completely closing the flex grip, trim off the excess fabric and tuck it into the flex-grip.

using an envelope opener to tuck in loose fabric

Tip: I used an envelope opener to tuck the fabric into the flex grip before and after trimming the extra fabric.

using a hammer to tap down fabric gripper

Gently tap the flex-grip closed.

Step 11 – Finish the bottom Seat Frame

image on how to fold fabric before stapling in place

Finish the bottom edge by folding the extra fabric around and under the seat frame. I folded the fabric under itself to make a clean edge around the wood frame.

showing fabric stapled in place on bottom of an upholstered chair

Again, I folded the fabric to create a clean edge before stapling the fabric to the underside chairback.

Step 12– Making the Button Covers

image of button covers being glued into the tufted points of the chair

Using a button cover kit, make buttons and glue over the washers using E6000. Again, click here for detailed tufting instructions. The benefit of gluing on the button covers, if one pops off, you just glue it back in place. With traditional tufting, if a button comes off, the tufting thread breaks and that is not as easy as gluing on a button cover.

image of the before and after of a wood dining chair

Here is a DIY card to make it easy for the steps to be in one place and you can print the card to have with you as you take on your upholstery project.

Upholstered Wood Dining Chairs

Active Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour

Difficulty: advanced

Turn a plain wood chair into an upholstered beauty.

Materials

Upholstery Fabric
Foam Core
Batting
Board Backing
Screws
Washers
Flex-grip
Button Cover Kit
Cardboard Strip or Upholstery Tack Strip
E6000
Spray Adhesive

Tools

Scissors
Hammer
Drill
Staple Gun
Saw
Marker
Measuring Tape

Instructions

Make a cardboard template for the chair back. Place that template on 1/8 inch hardboard and use a jigsaw to cut out the shape. My chair backs had a curve to them so I needed the thinner hardboard so it would curve with the chair. If you have a straight back chair, use a thicker hardwood for the back. If you are lucky enough to have a solid back chair, omit this step.
Cut out the foam. Place the hardboard back and chair seat on foam and trace. Cut the foam shapes using an electric knife or scissors.
Attach the hardboard to the back of the chair using the appropriately sized screws for the thickness of your wood and chair.
Using spray adhesive, attach the foam to the hardboard on the chair back.
Layout the marks for tufting. If you have a flat back chair you can omit the tufting.
Begin the tufting process.
Staple front upholstery to the back of the chair. Carefully adjust the tufting on the front before securing the back. This is an important step.
Place back fabric on top of the chair and place a thin cardboard strip on top of the fabric. Staple the cardboard and fabric in place. The cardboard creates a clean edge when flipping over.
Staple flex-gripon to sides of chairs. The direction of the flex-grip is important, it needs to be placed on the open side facing out to the edges.
Place batting on the back, pull down fabric and begin to secure the back fabric in flex grip.
Trim off excess fabric and tuck into the flex-grip.
Gently close the flex-grip with a hammer.
Finish bottom edge by folding the fabric under itself to make a clean edge around the chair back.
Using a button cover kit, make buttons and glue over the washers using E6000
Upholster the seat cushion.

Notes

See blog post for details on tufting with power tools.

Would I do it again? Yes, if I already had the chairs. It was a difficult process so I would recommend tufting something else like this DIY~ Tufted Coffee Table Bench(Opens in a new browser tab) first.

I am so pleased with the finished chair and how these tufted dining chairs turned out, they are not perfect as this was my first attempt with upholstering wood dining chairs.

Make sure to stop over and see how I painted the old finish on my dining table with this Dining Table Makeover. You also might want to read up on 5 easy tips for picking the perfect accent chair.

Have you taken on a DIY project like this?

DeDe Bailey

DeDe Bailey is the artistic mastermind behind Designed Décor and The Puzzle Table. With a rich background in home décor retail, she has transformed her website into a platform driven by a profound passion for helping individuals craft spaces they adore. As a self-taught furniture painting artist and thrift decorator, she loves sharing her knowledge and empowering others to beautify their homes through furniture painting and thrifting. When she isn’t sharing her wisdom on the Designed Décor blog, DeDe is occupied with showcasing her ingenious jigsaw puzzle table design and expanding her short-term rental located in NE Ohio.

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