Most of the staples or nails will be on the side or underside of the footstool. If you can’t find them, flip the stool upside down to get started. If you’re having trouble pulling out staples or nails, use needle nose pliers to pry them the rest of the way out.
The padding inside of footstools is usually just foam. If the foam inside your footstool looks cracked or is crumbling, it’s time to replace it.
Paint your footstool white if you’re going for a modern look. Or, stick to rich, deep-colored wood stains if you want the classic, traditional look. If you are going to paint or stain your footstool, wait until it’s completely dry before moving onto the next step.
Professional reupholsterers also use batting underneath their fabric for extra support. If you’d like to use batting, cut a piece as big as the fabric you’d like to use and line them up. Then, you can treat it like one piece of fabric. [8] X Research source The fabric that you choose is up to you! In general, thick, cotton fabric does very well on footstools, and it’s easy for beginners to work with. Leather is another popular option for footstools; however, leather is stiff and can be harder to work with.
If the fabric is only printed on 1 side, spread it out facedown.
If you’re working with a circular footstool, divide the footstool into 4 sections and staple the center of each one.
Be sure to pull your fabric taut the entire time you staple. Otherwise, you could have loose, lumpy-looking fabric. [12] X Research source If you’re working with a circular footstool, gently fold any excess fabric up underneath the footstool and staple it into place. You don’t have to worry about corners, so your footstool is good to go!
If you have any excess fabric hanging down in the corners, trim it off with scissors. Corners can be tough, even for experienced upholsterers. Just make sure that the fabric stays smooth and taut, and your footstool will look amazing.
