A footstool is a type of furniture that tops the list when it comes to versatility in living room decor and can be used as extra seating, or sometimes, even as an occasional impromptu table. If yours is starting to look old and run-down, consider reupholstering with a piece of gorgeous fabric and the help of our simple guide to how to upholster a footstool with buttons.
If you have an old footstool that has some damage and sagging fabric, then you might consider reupholstering it. Reupholstering a footstool may be overwhelming, but it is actually considerably easy. Here are some easy ways on how to upholster a footstool with buttons:
Gather Your Materials
Reupholstering your old footstool requires some special tools and materials, but what you need depends on how much work your footstool needs. Items you may are as follows:
- A flathead screwdriver to remove staples from your old fabric
- New fabric for your footstool
- A staple gun to help you reattach the fabric
- Heavy-duty glue gun
- 220 grit sand paper
- Paint, sealing wax or varnish
- Fabric scissors
- Sewing machine
- Button covering kit
Upholstering Process
As mentioned earlier, reupholstering might seem too daunting. However, with our guide on how to upholster a footstool with buttons, you are sure to finish the project with less sweat than you expect. Here are the steps:
- To start this makeover, remove all existing piping and residual staples from your old footstool.
- Use your 220 grit sandpaper to sand the entire footstool. Sanding will ensure that the paint will stick well and prevent pre-mature wearing out. Next, paint the legs with white as your base color. Once the paint is dry, add a coat of your chosen color. Then seal with clear wax for added durability. Some people prefer a rustic look; thus, you can coat the legs with varnish instead.
- Prepare your fabric and button covering kit. You can purchase a button covering kit at your local craft store. Place the fabric on top of your stool and cut around the same measurement, leaving about four inches for seam allowance.
- To make the process easier, you can leave the old fabric and the tufted areas where they are placed originally. They can serve as a guide where to place the new buttons later on. Pull out your glue gun and drop a good size of glue on the tufted hole. Then use any blunt end to push the fabric down to create a hole. Keep going until you reach the middle and outer tufts, using the original tufts as a guide. The glue will perfectly hold over time, as long as you avoid putting your footstool on very hot areas.
- Using a staple gun and 3/8 staples, secure the fabric to the footstool all the way around- just above where the fabric meets the wood. Create little pleats where the tufts are. This will give you enough room for the buttons later on. When you finish stapling down your fabric, trim very close to the edge using sharp fabric scissors.
- To cover the staples, you can add a double welt trim. Use your sewing machine to do so. If you don’t have one handy, you can buy a pre-made trim instead. Just make sure it complements your chosen fabric. Use hot glue to secure the trim all the way around the footstool.
- The last step is to add the buttons. Take out your button covering kit to make customized ones. This kit should include everything you need to make the buttons. The instructions are normally very easy to follow, and the entire process would only take about 15 minutes to complete.
- Once the buttons are done, it’s time to add them to your footstool. Since you’re also going to use a glue gun for this step, consider adding strings at the back of each button so that the hot glue will have something to hold on to. Hot glue each button in place and hold down for about a minute to secure them in place. You have now completed the process on how to upholster a footstool with buttons.
Conclusion
Footstools were originally designed to help children get to a chair and sit comfortably; nowadays, they are found in most decor styles and serve as a functional piece of furniture used by all family members. Since they are generally small, they can be recovered often at a minimal cost. If you know how to upholster a footstool with buttons, you’ll be more confident about the successful outcome of this project. Know more about footstools.