Furniture Care Tips
Owner Ken Adney is a columnist for The Olympian. Not surprisingly, he writes about furniture. His articles include furniture care, redecorating furniture, how to move your prized pieces without damaging them, and more. Here is an article on re-covering ottomans.
How to Recover an Old Ottoman
If you have an old ottoman that has seen better days, do not throw it away. Just because the fabric is worn or not exactly your style does not mean it cannot be used. It is possible to recover an old ottoman and bring it into the future to match your personal preference and style. Once you find out how easy it is to recover an old ottoman you will want to recover more. Chances are you will scour garage sales and flea markets to find other old ottomans that could use a facelift. They really are worth saving since they are very easy to recover, and if you find really good deals you will be able to profit from your finds. Consider trying the following method to recover your old ottoman, and get started today. You will not only breathe new life into a classic old piece of old furniture, but you will also help do your share to keep recyclable and reusable items out of the landfills.
Necessary Supplies to Recover an Ottoman
To recover an old ottoman you will need heavy cotton batting, upholstery fabric, a heavy-duty stapler, fabric scissors, a tape measure, and fiberfill pillow stuffing. Depending on the condition of the legs you will also need sandpaper, color-coordinating latex paint, and a paint brush.
Procedure
If possible, remove the legs from the ottoman before getting started, and set them aside to be sanded and painted if necessary. If the legs are not removable, sand and paint them before covering the ottoman with the new fabric. Otherwise, sand and paint the legs before reattaching them. It is much easier to recover an ottoman if the legs are removed.
The next step is to measure the fabric so an extra four inches will be wrapped beneath the bottom edge on all sides. The batting should be the same size as the fabric that will be used to recover the ottoman. Once the material and batting to recover the old ottoman have been measured, cut the pieces to fit. Keep in mind that it is always better to have a few inches of extra fabric and batting to recover the furniture than a half-inch less than necessary. Measure and cut the material and batting carefully for a perfect fit.
If the ottoman has any depressions, fill them in with fiberfill pillow stuffing for a smooth surface. Center the batting over the wrong side of the new fabric, and place it on a flat solid work area. Pick up the ottoman and center it in the middle of the batting and fabric. Pull up the first side, and staple it in place in at least three places along the bottom edge but not close to the corners. Pull up the other side, and make sure the material is taut before stapling. The last step is to bring up the ends and recover the ottoman as you would neatly wrap a gift. The corners should have neat folds that look exactly the same. Staple the fabric in place underneath the piece while keeping the fabric evenly taut.
The last step is to reattach the legs if they were removed, and the new looking ottoman is ready to use. The finished ottoman should look as good as new, and no one would ever guess that old fabric is hidden beneath and old piece of furniture. After you recover your old ottoman it will provide many more years of use, and if the material ever becomes worn or goes out of style you can easily recover it again.
Feel free to stop by Wall Decor and Home Accents.com for many more helpful articles and ideas provided by senior staff writer Jessica Ackerman. You will discover everything from painting techniques to decorating with unique wall mirrors, wrought iron wall art or candle sconces .
