Reupholstering Ikea chairs - best fabric?

[jeromedawg]

Hey all,

We have some old Ikea chairs where the current upholstery on them is nasty - it's a faux-suede type material that does not take well to stains OR cleaning. Anyway, planning to reupholster over them - just need to grab a staple gun and some fabric. Wondering what the best fabric is out there that is both stain/waterproof and also doesn't crease but is still comfortable. Low-gloss vinyl?

[Sibley]

Yes, staple gun and fabric. Not sure why the lack of creases is a factor. You get it set properly, staple it tightly, and it doesn't move.

I'm not a fan of vinyl as I stick to it, but it is waterproof. You can also get various other fabrics that are water proof or resistant. You might look at some of the outdoor upholstery fabrics. Make sure whatever you get is upholstery, it's heavier weight and will last longer.

[jc4]

This is not exactly the direction, you were looking, but we bought several sweaters from goodwill several years ago and cut sqaures to swap. You may be able to find something else that works.

[jeromedawg]

Thanks. I'll probably look for a canvas type material for them. Some of the seats have lost their cushioning too (polyurethane foam it looks like from the stickers/labels under the chair). Is there a certain material or foam besides polyurethane that would work best for replacing the material? I'm not sure if it's glued down to the chair or what as I haven't tried removing the current fabric - I'm a bit hesitant to actually.

[better late]

Yes, staple gun and fabric. Not sure why the lack of creases is a factor. You get it set properly, staple it tightly, and it doesn't move.

I'm not a fan of vinyl as I stick to it, but it is waterproof. You can also get various other fabrics that are water proof or resistant. You might look at some of the outdoor upholstery fabrics. Make sure whatever you get is upholstery, it's heavier weight and will last longer.

Agreed outdoor fabrics like Sunbrella would be a good easy care choice.
If you decide to use upholstery fabric (and scotchguard maybe)  know that there is a numerical rating for durability called “rubs” that will be part of the fabric description.

[shelivesthedream]

You could do oilcloth, which is wipe clean and comes in many nice colours but may end up being a bit sticky-feeling in hot weather, or you could buy any kind of curtain fabric and Nikwax/Scotchguard it. This won't be wipe clean per se, but will be water and stain resistant, and if you pick a mid-shaded multitonal pattern most dirt won't show up. Second-hand curtains are widely available and if you only need a single curtain you'll get a bargain as most people will be looking for a pair.

I highly highly HIGHLY recommend buying the book "Make Your House Do The Housework" by Don Aslett before you do this. I got mine second hand for a few quid and it changer my view on how to choose furniture and interior decor to minimise maintenance and cleaning. It will pay dividends in informing your choices.

Upholstery foam is a thing and worth buying IMHO if you want it to last.

+1 that stretching it tight while installing will be the biggest factor by far in avoiding creases.

[thecampguy]

Yes, staple gun and fabric. Not sure why the lack of creases is a factor. You get it set properly, staple it tightly, and it doesn't move.

I'm not a fan of vinyl as I stick to it, but it is waterproof. You can also get various other fabrics that are water proof or resistant. You might look at some of the outdoor upholstery fabrics. Make sure whatever you get is upholstery, it's heavier weight and will last longer.

Agreed outdoor fabrics like Sunbrella would be a good easy care choice.
If you decide to use upholstery fabric (and scotchguard maybe)  know that there is a numerical rating for durability called “rubs” that will be part of the fabric description.

if you go for something that isn't outdoor fabric, and opt for a natural fiber, make sure you pre-shrink it so it doesn't sag or get slouchy. I also highly recommend non-patterned fabrics. If you do go with a pattern, pick something that doesn't have straight lines. lines in your fabric pattern tend to show inexperience. Unless you spent a lot of time ensuring they are straight.

Throw a thin layer of cotton batting over your foam seat to round out any edges. It'll will look professional. Have fun!

[Greystache]

I am in the process of doing this right now. I bought some dining room chairs on Offer Up that need to be refinished. The chair seats are currently covered in fabric and I am replacing the fabric with black, low gloss vinyl. I went to a local upholstery supply store and got enough vinyl to cover six seats for $35. I did discover that working with vinyl is harder than it looks. I got good results on the first one, but it took longer than I thought (a couple youtube videos and an hour later). I expect the next five will go a little smoother now that I have climbed the learning curve a little.