Step 2: Removing Old Fabric

The second basic step of upholstery is to remove all existing fabric and making a note of the order in which you remove that fabric.  Everything taken off will have to be put back on in the opposite order.

1.   Find out how much fabric you will need.  

2. Remove old fabric from furniture noting the order in which you remove panels of fabric.

3.  Replace new fabric in the opposite order you removed the old panels.

What you will need:

• Flat head screwdriver
• Needle-nosed pliers
• Sharpie
• Camera

Take Pictures

Before you begin take detailed pictures of the furniture you are upholstering.  Every piece of furniture was uniquely constructed so taking pictures will show you how to put it back together, later.

What to Remove First

Typically, you will start by removing the back panel first.  Write the number “1” in very large print in the middle of the removed panel of fabric.   

Keep ALL the pieces you remove!!  

You will need them as a pattern to cut out new fabric and to show you what order to put the new fabric on.

Trace Your Steps

Inspect the inside of your piece now that the back panel is removed.  Take pictures of how the fabric is stapled onto your furniture so that you can refer them as a guide later on.  Make notes to yourself if you are worried you might forget a small detail.

On the wood frame of the chair, you will find layers of fabric stapled. Whichever layer is on the top will show you which panel to remove next.  With your permanent marker write “2” on the second panel you remove.  Find the next panel and label it “3” and continue this process until your piece is naked.

Here is a picture of all the fabric I removed from my wingback chair.   Notice I wrote directly on each panel I removed and scribbled notes in spots to remind me how it was originally fixed to the chair.  Some people will even record a video while taking particularly confusing pieces off of their furniture for replay when they are putting it back together later.  Upholstery is just a big puzzle of fabric layers so trace your steps and you will do just fine.

(Note: my wingback chair comes apart into two sections, back and base, for easy transportation.  Most wingback chairs will be fixed back to base so the order in which you take off the fabric will be very different from how mine was configured.)

Removing the Fabric Is the Simplest Part

If you are starting with the back panel of your piece find the seam around the edge.  Slide your flathead screwdriver under the seam and begin to pry it away from the frame of the piece you are working on. The fabric will most likely be fastened on with upholstery staples, tack strip, or flexible tack strip.

Upholstery Staples

Pry staples out with your screwdriver.  Sometimes one foot of a staple will hold in place.  If this happens, simply pull the staple out with your needle nose pliers.

Tack Strip

Tack strip is typically a cardboard strip with nails down the length that hold down fabric on the edge of a piece in a crisp straight line.  Flexible tack strip is metal and can make crisp edges on a curve.  Remove by prying back with your screwdriver a little at a time.

Flexible Tack Strip

Flexible tack strip will be nailed or stapled into the frame of your furniture and then small teeth will have bitten into the fabric and clamped closed.  Pull open those teeth.  Remove the entangled fabric, gently, then remove the nails/staples that fasten the flexible tack strip to the frame to expose the clean frame.