We will show how to upholster a swivel bamboo barrel chair in this how-to guide. There are many steps involved, so make sure you have the time before starting your project!
You can pick from a variety of patterns and fabrics that match any room’s decor. The result is going to be worth it though!
Steps on Reupholstering Swivel Bamboo Barrel Chairs
Step 1. Prepare the chair for painting by sanding, wiping and scraping it down. Follow all safety precautions before handling any chemicals or other products.
Step 2. Buy your supplies: the fabric of choice, a staple gun with staples, upholstery tacks or small nails (or both), tack hammer and/or flat head screwdriver. Remove the old upholstery from your chair by pulling it away from the frame.
Step 3. Lay down a tarp or some other protective covering on your work area to avoid getting any stains on the flooring.
Step 4. Use an upholstery knife to trim off excess fabric and staples that are not needed for this project. Be sure to follow all safety precautions and avoid cutting your fingers. Lay the fabric out over a chair, so that it covers every inch of the seating area.
Step 5. Smooth out any wrinkles in the material with your hands or by using an upholstery roller to make sure there are no creases on top of one another. Be cautious not to fold or crease the fabric in any way as it will cause wrinkles.
Step 6. Use a staple gun to secure the material on all four corners of your chair seat, then continue stapling down one side and across the back before moving onto the other side. Be sure not to place staples close enough together that they create holes in your upholstered fabric.
Step 7. Be sure to leave a few inches on the end, so that you can wrap around the back of your chair behind each leg and secure them with more staples. If your fabric is too short, consider cutting another piece to match its size before attaching both at this point.
Step 8. Remove any excess material you have wrapped around the back of your chair and cut it off.
Step 9. Use a staple gun to secure down any loose ends or wrinkles in the fabric with more staples, making sure they are placed as close together as possible without creating holes through which stuffing can come out.
Step 10. Once you’ve finished securing all visible areas that could cause problems, use a roller brush to flatten out any remaining wrinkles.
Lastly, finish the back of your chair by wrapping both fabric pieces over the top and securing them in place with staples where they meet on the underside of each leg.
How to Care for Upholster Swivel Bamboo Barrel Chairs
Padding: To protect the upholstery from wear, it is important to use a durable fabric that will not show dirt and can be easily cleaned.
Fabric: It is best if you choose something with an interesting texture or pattern for your chair’s upholstery. Be sure to consider how well the fabric will hold up to spills or how it may wear over time.
Seat Cushion: The seat cushions should be firm and provide adequate support for all shapes of bottoms, while still being comfortable enough to sink into on your favourite Saturday night Netflix binge session (or whatever you do), but not so squishy that they leave your butt numb.
Back Cushion: The back cushions should provide support for the lower and upper backs, but shouldn’t be so stiff that they offer no comfort to you or anyone who may want to lean against them.
Thick Foam Pad: You can find thick foam pads at most major retailers. These are the pads that provide a little extra cushion for your rear end to rest on.
Fabric: You’ll need enough fabric to cover both chairs and have some leftover forties. This is where you can get creative with how much (or how little) of the chair is covered in upholstery, but at least the back cushions and seat should be covered.
Staples: You’ll need a staple gun to secure the fabric in place, which you can find at any major retailer or home improvement store.
Scissors: To cut your fabric into strips if needed.
Utility Knife: If you want to get really fancy, you can use this to cut your fabric into strips.
Sewing Machine: You’ll need a sewing machine for any additional upholstery work such as adding trim or making ties for the back cushions. Sewing machines are widely available at major retailers and home improvement stores.
Swivel Rocker Base Replacement
Step 1. A lug wrench or ratchet and socket: You’ll need this to loosen the bolts on your chair.
Step 2. Screwdriver: For removing any screws that are holding in place brackets, springs, or other hardware parts of the chairs.
Step 3. New caster wheels: If you want to get new casters for your rocker base, you’ll need to measure how wide your old caster wheels are and choose the appropriate size.
Step 4. Screws: You’ll use these screws for attaching the new casters if needed.
Step 5. Casters: If you don’t want to replace your current rocker bottom with a swivel rocker base, you’ll need to get some casters.