Beginner’s reupholstery footstool project

Get to grips with recovering a simple stool, with this easy starter project

Stools or chairs with a drop-in seat are one of the easiest upholstery projects you can tackle and also create a high-impact change, especially if you use a matching paint as well. A small project like this is great for using up leftover paint and repurposing fabric remnants too. Paints can be mixed at B&Q and Leyland to match your fabric for the perfect coordinated look.

Your essential piece of kit for this upcycle is a staple gun. You can use tacks and a hammer to attach the fabric to the seat, but a staple gun is much easier – and you’ll also find it useful for lots of other projects too!

Step 1

Tap out your drop-in seat and put to one side. Clean the stool with sugar soap, then sand all areas to give it a good key for the paint to adhere to. Starting with your stool upside down, paint the surface and allow it to dry, then turn the stool the right way up for the second coat (Image A). Leave to dry again.

Step 2

Remove the old fabric from the seat pad by using a staple/tack remover or pliers to pull out the staples or tacks (Image B). If there are any you can’t remove, just hammer them in flush to the wood and cut away the fabric. Replace the webbing and wadding, if needed. I added some extra doubled-over wadding to pad out the old stuffing on this stool (Image C).

Step 3

Using the seat as a template, cut out a piece of fabric, allowing extra to attach underneath. Lay your fabric right-side down and position the seat frame upside down on top of it, ensuring it is centralised before you start stapling. Put three staples (or use a hammer and tacks) down one long side, in the middle of your piece of fabric (Image D). Repeat on the opposite side, making sure you smooth and stretch the fabric tightly. Do the same at both ends.

Step 4

Create neat corners with a butterfly pleat, by pulling the middle point of your fabric diagonally across the frame corners. Staple in the middle, then fold the sides to meet and staple in place (Images E and F).

Step 5

Cut some muslin, calico or scrap fabric to cover the underside. Tuck the fabric edges under to create a neat finish and staple in place, covering your previous staples (Image G). Pop the seat back in the frame and admire your stool.