If you’re curious how to reupholster a sofa with attached cushions, we have simplified it into three easy steps. This project is doable at home, even without much knowledge in sofa restoration. However, keep in mind that not all sofas are alike, so gauge your abilities and the couch’s complexities.

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Reupholstery is only among the things you can do to make an old sofa look modern. It’s a decision you must think of carefully because it might be better to get a new one if the couch is too disintegrated. Nonetheless, you can save time and keep your sentimental furniture if you know how to reupholster it despite the fixed cushions.

How To Reupholster A Sofa With Attached Cushions At Home

Step 1. Remove the current material

Inspect how the current upholstery material is attached to the sofa. An easy way to do this is to tilt the couch forward to access its underside and remove the staples that secure the material in the base. Use a staple puller or screwdriver for this attachment style.

What if there are no staples on the upholstery? You may need to find the seam and rip it off to take out the sofa’s material. If you don’t mind having the old upholstery in pieces, a faster way to remove it is by cutting each section with scissors.

Note that you have to be careful not to ruin the other parts of the sofa, especially if you are reupholstering an antique couch. It’s also best that you note each upholstery piece’s placement to guide you when installing the new material. You can even use the removed material as a pattern for measuring and cutting the new upholstery.

Step 2. Prepare the new upholstery

Determine the type and amount of upholstery that is needed for the couch. When selecting the new upholstery, you can use the same material you removed or change altogether. Use the removed fabric and measure it to get the yardage of new fabric, but allocate at least a yard more as allowance.

For example, if you reupholster a leather couch, there are different types of leather to choose from. You can also switch to fabric if it’s more fitting for your current home situation. Once you have the material, cut it according to the sofa’s measurements and start installing.

Those who don’t have the removed upholstery intact should instead measure the sofa to get the correct upholstery dimensions. Use extra material when cutting because you’ll tuck the new upholstery in the cracks of the couch. It’s also better to have some allowance for potential corrections if needed.

Step 3. Position the new material and attach it to the sofa

Drape the upholstery over the sofa and tuck the edges between the cracks and crevices of the furniture. They include the space between the seat cushions and backrest and the seat cushions and armrests. Make sure that you are stretching the material as you secure it in place to get a snug fit and avoid wrinkles after installation.

Then, staple the upholstery into the sofa frame deeply, so the staples are hidden. If you notice areas that need plumpness, feel free to add some padding underneath before covering them. Then, continue working and covering all the sofa parts and cut the excess material if there is any.

Adjust the installation procedure according to the style and shape of the sofa. For example, if you are reupholstering a sectional sofa, you’ll usually reupholster their cushions separately because you can take them out. On the contrary, sofas with attached cushions mean you’ll cover the cushions directly.

How Do You Restuff A Couch Cushion That Is Attached?

Fixing sagging sofa cushions is as easy as removing them and adding or replacing their filler. However, sofas with attached cushions will require a different method:

Life one cushion at a time to help you see how they are sewn in place
Cut the stitches on the seams to open them
Remove the stuffing or foam completely
Use the removed foam to measure and cut the replacement material
Flatten the foam a bit to make it easier to insert into the empty cushion
Push the foam onto the edges and corners of the sofa cushion to ensure that there are no gaps
Pin and sew the seam using the same color thread as the cushion to make it unnoticeable
Reposition and fluff up the cushion back in place, and repeat for the others that also need restuffing

Can You Reupholster A Couch Without Removing Old Fabric?

It’s possible to reupholster a couch directly without removing the current fabric. However, it’s only possible if the old upholstery won’t show beneath the new one. You also want to ensure that the inner structure of the couch is still intact and has no damages or mold before covering it with another upholstery.

Conclusion

Do not worry if your couch has non-removable cushions. To recap this tutorial on how to reupholster a sofa with attached cushions, you only need to remove the current material accordingly, drape and tuck the new one onto the couch, and staple the upholstery directly over the cushions. We hope you also remembered how to restuff a sofa with an attached cushion if you need to rejuvenate the sofa further.

And that’s it. Feel free to check out what to do with an old sofa if reupholstery isn’t applicable.