Loose or puckered fabric on any chair may seem inaccessible but most upholstered chairs are based in bits covered with separate pieces of fabric. It starts with a hardwood frame. The framework is constructed and finished. Plywood chairs are foamed, upholstered and screwed to the seat frame in the bottom. In case you have loose fabric on just about any seat, all you want to do is reverse a few steps. If you’re handy with a staple gun, you can make that cushion look fresh again.
Set the chair upside down. Look for screws penetrating up through the frame into the bottom of the chair. There should be screws in all four corners and there might be screws in the framework between the corners. Unscrew and remove all of them with a drill/driver. The fabric-covered cushion shed out from the very best.
Set the cushion upside down. You may see where the fabric has been stapled evenly around the outside of the plywood. It will also be pleated at all four corners. Check the tightness of the fabric by pulling on it with your hands, you might even be able to see where it’s loose.
Push back on the center of the pillow hard with your elbow. This compresses the foam in the pillow and allows slack to form in the fabric. Catch the fabric where there is the most slack with the same hand and tug it toward the middle. You might need to correct your elbow so that it is possible to find a good grip on the fabric.
Pull the fabric tight while still keeping downward pressure with your elbow.
Staple the fabric when you can’t get it any tighter. Use a staple gun with 1/4-inch staples. Run the staples in a brief line, nearly touching each other for approximately 1 inch. Slightly turn the pillow, add pressure and pull the fabric tight again.
Staple another row where you have pulled it tightenough. Continue around the outside of the pillow, pulling the fabric tight, stapling and revolving the pillow until the fabric has been completely stretched tight over the pillow.
Flip the pillow upright. Check for consistency. Should you find any pleats or slight folds in the fabric, note the place. Turn the pillow over again. Add pressure and pull the fabric tight in that spot. Run another 1-inch row of staples. Assess and staple again if necessary until the pillow is smooth and even across the top.
Set the cushion back into the seat and drive the screws in tight to finish.