Asked on Feb 13, 2019

How to remove buttons from tufted chairs?

Dede
by Dede

My chair belonged to my Kindergarten teacher. I’m so proud to be it’s owner now 😊.I’m desperate for a make over for this special chair. Stumped on those buttons as I’m leaving the whole structure in tact. Thanks for any help.

Chair

Back of chair

  7 answers
  • You just need to pull thw button away from the cushion and cut the thread, both sides will pop out.

  • K. Rupp K. Rupp on Feb 13, 2019

    The source of the tufted buttons are in the back of the cushion. It is hard to tell from the pic, but can you easily remove that back cushion? Or it looks like it might be upholstered to the seat. So if it is upholstered to the seat, you would have to re-upholster it and remove the fabric...... if you are willing to do that with the makeover! Once it gets re-upholstered, you wouldn't put the buttons back in. You can't really just pull the buttons off because it will still look tufted even without the buttons or you will see holes in the fabric where the buttons were. If you want to look at one of my posts, I go into detail on how to remove fabric from an upholstered chair. https://karupp-did.net/fabric-removal/. Good luck! Let me know if you have any other questions.

  • William William on Feb 13, 2019

    Like Anita suggests. Pull the away from the cushion and cut it off with a knife. The front and back buttons should fall out.

  • Khawkey Khawkey on Feb 14, 2019

    you may want to consider keeping it the way it is and PAINTING the fabric. There are alot of examples of repainting fabric here on this site. Good luck, and, as a teacher, I am sure that your kindergarten teacher is happy that you have her chair :-)

    • Dede Dede on Mar 15, 2019

      Cool! Thank you for being a teacher 😊. The chair’s cushions are shot. I’ll post when I’ve completed it’s make over.

  • Renahda Dericco Renahda Dericco on May 03, 2019

    So I have a similar pair of faux bamboo chairs and can’t figure out how to remove the buttons. They are not attached with thread. It’s like metal keeping them together almost like a nail or screw. I tried twisting them but that didn’t work.

    • See 1 previous
    • Diane Held Russo Diane Held Russo on Jan 18, 2020

      Did you ever figure out how to get the buttons off of your chairs? I have the same issue with our dining room chairs....I can get the buttons to twist but it isn't doing anything.

  • Tracie Tracie on May 03, 2019

    Have you tried pressing the cushion down as you pull the buttons to expose the wire then use a wire cutter to cut them off?