Upholstering and Tufting a Coffee Table
So, my twin girls are starting to pull up on anything they can get their hands on -- so...that means baby proofing. I decided to "pad" our coffee table in an effort to avoid a few bumps and bruises.
Here is what worked for me:
Supplies Needed:
- batting ($10 from Amazon)
- foam ($35 with a 50% off coupon) (I used 3" foam.)
- material ($7 -- found it on the discount rack!)
- spray adhesive ($7)
- button cover kit ($5) (see the picture below; note really thick material won't work with these covers)
- yarn ($1.50)
- buttons (use old ones around the house or cheap big ones you can find; you won't see them in the final project)
Tools:
- scissors
- drill
- tape measure
- wire coat hanger
- staple gun and staples
- straight razor
- wire cutters
Step One: MARKING AND DRILLING THE TUFTING HOLES
Measure out on your coffee table where you want to place your "tufts" and drill holes. I used a 5/16 bit to make the holes. You want the holes to be big enough to allow a wire hanger through it with ease, but small enough to tie off the strings from each tuft (see step 4).
Step Two: FOAM
Use spray adhesive to adhere the foam to the top of the table. I used 3" foam. I also allowed the foam to hang just slightly over each edge (like less than 1/2"). This will help for a more rounded edge look.
Poke holes in the foam to line up with the pre-drilled holes. I flipped the table on its side and pushed a screwdriver through the pre-drilled holes from the bottom of the table.
Once you poke the holes, I used a straight razor to make an X in the foam through each hole (go down up an inch or so). I did this so that the "tuft" will pull though and go deeper in to the foam easier -- also, it will help it to make a more diamond tuft shape.
Step Three: BATTING AND MATERIAL
Next lay the batting and material over the foam. I find the batting makes for a softer look and a softer overall feel. It also smoothes out the foam if you can't find a piece of foam to cover your entire surface in one sheet (which I couldn't as you can see from the pictures above). DON'T STAPLE THE MATERIAL OR BATTING TO THE COFFEE TABLE YET. You'll need the material to stay loose as you tuft so you can continually pull the material tight for each tuft.
Step Four: TUFTING
I started with the center most tufts and then moved to the outermost ones (starting from the middle and working my way out of the two outer rows). It's important to work your way out from the middle because you will need to pull the material tight for each.
Make each fabric covered button for your tufts (or buy ones you like to use instead). Pull yard though the button backing allowing for two strings of yarn to hang from the back of the button (see pic below).
Use wire cutters to cut a wire hanger and straighten it out. Bend the hanger at the tip over to make a sort of hook.
Tip the coffee table on its side (or lie underneath it) and push the hanger though the center most pre- drilled hole with the hook being the end that foam through the table, foam, batting, and material. Once the hanger makes it to the material, I used scissors to cut a small hold to allow for the hanger to push through (make sure your material is well centered on top the coffee table before you begin and that the ends with ultimately make under the coffee table for full coverage).
Once the hanger hook is through, tie the end of the yard secured to the button to the hook. Then, pull the hanger back through the hole. Push the tufted button down into the foam to the depth you want and then pull the yarn strings hanging though the table through an old button. Pull tight! Tie the yarn in a double knot under the table securing the tufted button at the depth you want.
Repeat for each tuft. Remember to continually pull the fabric tight for each tuft.
Step 5: STAPLING THE MATERIAL TO THE TABLE
Pull the material tight around the each end of the table and secure it to the bottom of the table or bottom off the top of the table in my case. I used an industrial stapler.
Pick on side to start with and then move the side across next. Pull tight and staple. Repeat for the other sides. Mind the corners and fold neatly. You can do it kind of like a Christmas present.
Cut off the excess material. I used a straight razor.
Here is what worked for me:
Supplies Needed:
- batting ($10 from Amazon)
- foam ($35 with a 50% off coupon) (I used 3" foam.)
- material ($7 -- found it on the discount rack!)
- spray adhesive ($7)
- button cover kit ($5) (see the picture below; note really thick material won't work with these covers)
- yarn ($1.50)
- buttons (use old ones around the house or cheap big ones you can find; you won't see them in the final project)
Tools:
- scissors
- drill
- tape measure
- wire coat hanger
- staple gun and staples
- straight razor
- wire cutters
Step One: MARKING AND DRILLING THE TUFTING HOLES
Measure out on your coffee table where you want to place your "tufts" and drill holes. I used a 5/16 bit to make the holes. You want the holes to be big enough to allow a wire hanger through it with ease, but small enough to tie off the strings from each tuft (see step 4).
Use spray adhesive to adhere the foam to the top of the table. I used 3" foam. I also allowed the foam to hang just slightly over each edge (like less than 1/2"). This will help for a more rounded edge look.
Poke holes in the foam to line up with the pre-drilled holes. I flipped the table on its side and pushed a screwdriver through the pre-drilled holes from the bottom of the table.
Once you poke the holes, I used a straight razor to make an X in the foam through each hole (go down up an inch or so). I did this so that the "tuft" will pull though and go deeper in to the foam easier -- also, it will help it to make a more diamond tuft shape.
Step Three: BATTING AND MATERIAL
Next lay the batting and material over the foam. I find the batting makes for a softer look and a softer overall feel. It also smoothes out the foam if you can't find a piece of foam to cover your entire surface in one sheet (which I couldn't as you can see from the pictures above). DON'T STAPLE THE MATERIAL OR BATTING TO THE COFFEE TABLE YET. You'll need the material to stay loose as you tuft so you can continually pull the material tight for each tuft.
Step Four: TUFTING
I started with the center most tufts and then moved to the outermost ones (starting from the middle and working my way out of the two outer rows). It's important to work your way out from the middle because you will need to pull the material tight for each.
Make each fabric covered button for your tufts (or buy ones you like to use instead). Pull yard though the button backing allowing for two strings of yarn to hang from the back of the button (see pic below).
Use wire cutters to cut a wire hanger and straighten it out. Bend the hanger at the tip over to make a sort of hook.
Tip the coffee table on its side (or lie underneath it) and push the hanger though the center most pre- drilled hole with the hook being the end that foam through the table, foam, batting, and material. Once the hanger makes it to the material, I used scissors to cut a small hold to allow for the hanger to push through (make sure your material is well centered on top the coffee table before you begin and that the ends with ultimately make under the coffee table for full coverage).
Once the hanger hook is through, tie the end of the yard secured to the button to the hook. Then, pull the hanger back through the hole. Push the tufted button down into the foam to the depth you want and then pull the yarn strings hanging though the table through an old button. Pull tight! Tie the yarn in a double knot under the table securing the tufted button at the depth you want.
Repeat for each tuft. Remember to continually pull the fabric tight for each tuft.
Step 5: STAPLING THE MATERIAL TO THE TABLE
Pull the material tight around the each end of the table and secure it to the bottom of the table or bottom off the top of the table in my case. I used an industrial stapler.
Pick on side to start with and then move the side across next. Pull tight and staple. Repeat for the other sides. Mind the corners and fold neatly. You can do it kind of like a Christmas present.
Cut off the excess material. I used a straight razor.
Happy Tufting!
- Kate
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