Most of us have a chair or sofa at home that needs recovering. However, reupholstery is NOT a good do-it-yourself project! It’s fine if you’re replacing a slip seat on a dining chair. But to tackle anything much larger takes experience, an industrial sewing machine, and an expert eye for detail and pattern matching. It also helps to have lots of brawn to maneuver heavy frames. When you see how much artistry goes into reupholstery, you’ll have a new appreciation for this craft that hasn’t changed much in two centuries. Let’s go undercover and learn why:

1. The first step in reupholstery is to strip off the old fabric and remove padding that cannot be reused.

2. Once stripped, the upholsterer can see the bones of the piece. What springs need to be retied? Do joints need reglueing? Does the frame need reinforcing? The reupholstery process rebuilds the frame from the inside out.

3. Springs below the cushions are retied at eight points to connect all springs and create a supportive base.

4. A bird’s eye view of eight-way hand-tied springs, adjusted in height to crown more in the center of the cushion.

5. If an exposed wood frame or legs need touching-up, this is the time to apply stain or paint.

6. Layers of burlap and jute webbing are applied to cover the springs and create a base for the deck below the seat cushion.

7. The combo of three fabrics chosen for the frame are gathered and ready to cut. Calico designers can help you visualize how our fabrics might look on a chair or sofa frame with our proprietary online tool, C360.

8. The upholsterer makes yards and yards of double-welting to hide the staples that hold the fabric to the frame. The welting will finish off the piece and can be made in a contrasting fabric, if desired.

9. Thick kapok batting has been added to the seat and back of the settee. Preliminary tufting defines the pattern placement across the back. The fabric on the deck of the seat and inside arm has been stapled in place.

Upholsterers are also stylists.

Did you know that upholsterers can remove tufting, buttons or channeling to restyle or update a piece? They can also change the skirt length and style—or remove it to expose legs. They can build up the arms of a chair or sofa—or make a single bench cushion instead of two or three seat cushions. To see some real-life furniture makeovers, click here.

10. Fabric-covered buttons are tied to strings, ready for the long tufting needle.

11. The fabric is pleated to create a diamond-tufting pattern, anchored by the buttons pulled into the indented spaces. The strings are tied off at the back around a piece of batting.

12. Fabric is used as a template to cut the foam for the bench seat cushion. The foam core will be wrapped in polyester batting to soften the edges and add comfort.

13. A striped fabric has been stapled to the outer arms and trimmed. The settee is ready for the finishing touch!

14. Double-welting is applied with hot glue to cover all the staples. Other options to finish off the frame are to apply a trim such as a braid, tape, gimp or a decorative cord (without a lip).

15. A work in progress: welting has been applied around the outside arms and back, inside arms, around the tufted back cushion and across the base. We’re almost done!

Voila! With the seat cushion in place, the finished settee looks fresh and fun—and has been given new life for many, many years to come. Ready for home delivery!

A custom pillow from Calico adds extra comfort for conversation and coffee, book reading or phone scrolling. Reupholstery is a craft that will extend the life of an older frame for decades, making vintage furniture as treasured and valuable as a new piece. Reupholstery is available via the Calico stores—and you can request a quote to re-do your piece here.