Learn how to reupholster a simple bench and add buttons. I was so excited to use Crypton fabric for this project. This fabric is stain resistant, odor resistant and moisture resistant. I even stained some of my fabric so you can see it’s magic in action!
This a sponsored post brought to you by JOANN . All opinions are my own.
My husband bought me with this cute little vintage bench a few years ago for our anniversary. I saw it at one of my favorite antique stores, but couldn’t make up my mind. I didn’t buy it and then ended up with some major remorse about not getting it. Since that store is a little over 4 hours away, I didn’t think I would ever get back in time to buy it. But one of my husband’s friends was making a trip that way and he asked them to pick it up. I couldn’t believe it when he surprised me with it!
I love the bench and the velvet was actually in pretty good shape, but you could tell it was a little worn in some spots. When JOANN told me about this opportunity with Crypton fabric I was really excited. And I got even more excited when I learned that Crypton fabrics are stain resistant and odor resistant! I need all the help I can get with stains and odor since we have three dogs and two kids in our house!
Crypton sent me a stain kit to test out their fabric. I tried out some soy sauce and crayon on a patch of fabric. Check out the results! Also, since you can’t smell the fabric through the screen, I’ll just tell you there was no soy sauce smell in the fabric after I wiped it down! My hands smelled like soy sauce, but my fabric didn’t!
As you can see in the photo below, the soy sauce beaded up on the fabric and didn’t get absorbed. It was actually kind of fun to spill on different parts.
Here’s the same spot after I wiped it up. It looks great!
I also tried out some crayon and then used Crypton’s oil based stain remover. Here’s the before:
And the after:
It wan’t hard to scrub and I feel like 99 percent of it came right out.
Now that I’ve showed you all about the fabric, let’s talk about reupholstery!
How to Reupholster a Bench
Supplies:
Crypton Upholstery Fabric (I used the color Wiley Haze)
3 inch foam
Dritz button covers
Dritz Waxed Thread
Large eyed Needle
Heavy Duty staple gun and staples
Fabric scissors
Fabric-Tac glue (for buttons)
Flathead screw driver (to remove old staples)
First, remove all your old upholstery from your bench.
If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to reuse your padding and the wood backing. After I removed all the tacks from my bench and got to the inside, I found it was stuffed with straw! I opted to get some new foam from JOANN instead of using straw, haha. I debated about using a new piece of wood, but decided to save some money and reuse the same piece of wood.
How to Make Upholstery Buttons
Making the buttons is a fairly simple process. You’ll need the Dritz button covers. Instructions and the template are right on the back of the box.
Cut out your template, and then use it to cut out your button covers with your fabric.
Then you’ll work side to side to cover the button and stretch the fabric into the teeth. Once it’s all covered, you’ll place the cover on the back. Make sure the letters on the cover are the right way, that’s how you’ll know you have the right side.
Tip: Since my fabric was so thick, I found it hard to press the backing on all the way, so I secured it with some Fabric-tac glue.
How to Add Buttons to a Bench
Once you have completely removed the old upholstery, you’ll need to measure your new fabric. You’ll want about 6-7 inches extra on each side, so that you can pull it around the new foam and wood and secure it with staples. My foam was 3 inches tall, plus the wood was 1 inch tall. That left me with about 2 extra inches to pull and secure to the bench. For example if your bench is 12 inches wide, you’ll need 12 extra inches (6 on each side).
You’ll also want to make sure your foam is cut the same size as your piece of wood.
Next, you’ll measure out where your buttons will be located and mark it on the foam and the wood. You’ll want to make sure they are evenly spaced and centered.
On your wood where you have made your button mark, you will add an anchor staple. Place a staple right on the mark, and then pull it up a little bit, so you can feed your thread through it.
Next, lay your fabric on your foam and wood board, making sure it’s centered all around. Thread your button using the waxed thread; there are great instructions and pictures of this right on the back of the Dritz box. Lift your fabric to find the mark on the foam, match it up with your hand on the fabric, and then poke your needle through the fabric and through the foam.
Once you have pulled the thread through your anchor staple, you can remove the needle. Push the button down, and pull the thread as tightly as you would like your tuft. Secure the pulled thread with a staple on the edge of you board.
Repeat with all your buttons.
Now that all the buttons are attached, it’s time to staple the fabric to the board. Turn your entire bench over to the back. Beginning on one side, pull the fabric taunt, and then secure with a staple. Keep moving down the side, pulling the fabric and securing with a staple every 2 inches.
Tip: You can fold the edge of your upholstery fabric under itself if you want a cleaner look. I didn’t worry about it since it’s the bottom.
There are lots of different way to finish the corners, but the easiest way to me is to tuck the corner and fold it up, like the picture below. Cut away any excess fabric and secure with staples.
Now your bench is all done! Replace it on the frame and admire all your hard work.
I really love how my bench turned out. The color fits with the room so much better, and I love the buttons. Plus, it is much more comfortable now that its not filled with straw. Haha.
