How to Repair Furniture Cushions

The Disassembly

• 1). Take apart your furniture cushions. For pillow-style cushions, rip apart the cover along the seams with scissors or a seam ripper.
  
  
• 2). For dining chair cushions, pull off the staples or tacks with needle-nose pliers to remove the fabric and foam.
  
  
• 3). Inspect the foam and batting. Are they in good condition? If they have lost some of their firmness or are stain-ridden, replace them with new ones. This will be a long-term investment in your furniture-makeover project.
  
  

Cutting New Parts

• 1). Use the old furniture cushion covers as a pattern for your new covers. Also use the old foam as a model for the new foam.
  
  
• 2). Spread the fabric out on a surface. Fold it over to double it if you're covering more than one dining chair or if your furniture cushion has two sides.
  
  
• 3). Mark the outline of the old cover with straight pins or permanent marker, at least 1 inch out from the edge of the old fabric. This way when you go to cut your piece, you can cut within the mark to avoid having the permanent marker on your cushion cover. Cut the fabric pieces out and set them aside.
  
  
• 4). Trace the outline of the old foam or batting with a permanent marker onto the new foam or batting if you have to replace it.
  
  
• 5). Cut the foam with an electric carving knife and set them aside.
  
  

Sew Your New Cushions

• 1). Follow the pattern of the old cover and match up the cushion cover parts with right sides facing each other. Pin the cushion cover fabric together with straight pins.
  
  
• 2). Sew the seams together on each cover using the sewing machine. Leave one side open to insert the foam later.
  
  
• 3). Trim the fabric at the corners between the seam and the edge of the fabric to make the corners flat.
  
  
• 4). Turn the covers inside out and give them a light press at the seams.
  
  
• 5). Feed the foam and/or batting into the cushion cover and then close the opening by folding in the edges, pinning them together and stitching them closed.
  
  

Cover Your Dining Chairs

• 1). Turn the fabric cover face down and center the foam and/or batting onto the fabric. Place the seat board face down onto the batting.
  
  
• 2). Pull the center of one side of the fabric cover over and onto the seat board. Staple it into the board. Pull the center of the opposite side's fabric edge over the seat board and staple that into the seat board as well. Repeat this process on the other two opposing sides.
  
  
• 3). Staple the rest of the edges of the cover into the seat board, working your way out from the center staples to each corner. Fold or pull the fabric at the corner taut to make them flat and smooth.
  
  
• 4). Trim away any excess fabric beyond the staple line that reaches more than 1 to 2 inches.
  
  
• 5). Place the chair cushion back onto the chair frame and screw it into place using the original hardware.