Building an Upholstered Chair From the Frame Up
When it was time for furniture in our new front room, I decided to design and build it myself that way, I could get exactly what I wanted in a custom style and color. I was inspired by a chair I saw at a retail store and created this one in its likeness. It was incredibly easy to build and upholster, and is extremely comfortable!
The tutorial for this chair is broken into four parts: Part One is the material, supply and tool list, Part Two is the plan for the wood frame, Part Three is the upholstering instructions and Part Four is the seat cushion.
The seat uses Elasbelt which is an alternative to springs, and provides excellent support for the cushion (and your backside!). The hard edges are covered with edgeroll so that the frame is never felt under the fabric.
The back is constructed out of plywood on top of a solid wood frame with edgeroll on the edges and foam on the back. It is then wrapped with upholstery batting with fabric stapled over the top. The lower edge of the back is wedged into the seat frame with an angled spacer, then screwed to the seat frame in two directions for maximum stability.
This chair is an extremely easy project that is suitable for all skill levels. It is comfortable, stable, and looks as if it were purchased in a high-end furniture store. See the blog post for each section and a complete tutorial!
Frequently asked questions
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