Gather your supplies
- Coffee table
- 9mm MDF
- Medium-density foam
- Fabric and wadding
- Upholstery buttons
You’ll also need
Sandpaper; primer; spray paint; circular saw; brown paper; pencil; drill; spray adhesive; scissors; staple gun; upholstery needle; strong thread; screws
Here’s how
STEP 1 Lightly sand timber table, apply primer, then 2 coats of spray paint.
STEP 2 Cut MDF to size of table top using circular saw. This will be the base of the new padded seat.
STEP 3 Cut brown paper to size of table top, then draw a grid in pencil, marking the locations of buttons on seat.
STEP 4 Position grid on MDF and make holes in paper to mark button locations on seat base. Drill a small hole at each mark.
STEP 5 Cut foam to size. Spray MDF seat base with adhesive and position foam on top. Cut wadding to go over foam and fold under the base.
STEP 6 Snip off excess wadding at corners. Staple wadding to base.
STEP 7 Cut fabric piece large enough to go over padded seat. Fold under long sides first and, working from the centre, staple to base, stopping before you reach the ends. Fold under short sides, tuck and cut fabric to form neat corners, then staple in place.
STEP 8 Position paper grid on padded seat and mark through holes onto fabric. Thread upholstery needle and, from underneath, push needle through base, foam and wadding, and out through marked fabric hole.
STEP 9 Thread a button and take needle through seat again, pulling taut so foam depresses. Keeping thread taut, tie off and staple to base.
STEP 10 Flip over coffee table and position on seat base, then screw together.
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