How can I reupholster Windsor chairs?

Upholster only the Three Central Back Splats and leave the outside spindles. Make "U" shape loose cushion - leaving a little of the seat at the sides and back visible. You will then keep the integrity of the chair.

It will be difficult to upholster the backs since they are not one piece. You may want to consult a professional upholsterer to get their advice.

Hi Lori, you could possibly weave upholstery webbing horizontal through the entire height of the back of the chairs and then adhere foam cut to size with adhesive before adding uholstery that would flow into the upholstered seat. Are you wanting to upholster the legs andall the way to the floor? If so, the webbing might work here too.

How to Upholster a Windsor Chair

https://homesteady.com/how-7980711-upholster-windsor-chair.html

You could use upholstery tacks and put the cushion in the seat area, securing with the tacks (they are decorative). As for the back, I wouldn't add upholstery to those unless it was only the center piece. I think it would look better add a decorative stencil.

You have to get creative. So I would staple the fabric down under the seat on 3 sides. On the spindle side I would tuck the fabric under the pad and glue it down and then glue a trim down to finish the edge.

For the backs...leave the outside spindles. Use cardboard, poster board and make a template of the backs covering the three center spindles and splat. Follow the top curve of the splat to the outside spindles. Cut and trim until it looks good to you. Transfer the template to thin plywood or hardboard and cut two panels. One for the front and one for the back. Mount the panels lining them up evenly. You can glue and screw them together into the spindles. Make sure you predrill. From there you can apply one inch foam and batting to the front and back. The apply the fabric. Once the backs are done you can upholster the seats. Make a template of the seats using paper or thin cardboard. Transfer the template to you fabric adding several inches extra so you can fold it under the seat and staple. Use foam and batting on the seat. Put on the fabric and staple it to the underside of the seat pulling it tight for a smooth cushion. You would need to be a little creative and see what looks good to you.

Here is a link on how to do that:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/windsor-chairs-are-classic-sophisticated-and-durable-windsor-chairs-generally-feature-a-rounded-wooden-back-featuring-several-vertical-thin--756604806122883767/

Are you wanting the chairs upholstered so that none of the spindles show anymore, or so that just the outside two on the back continue to show?

The easiest way to add fabric to these chairs is to sew covered cushions that either tie on or attach with velcro tabs. The foam would first need to be cut to match the curved shape of both the backs and the seat. The covers would then need to be sewn with a sewing machine. IMO fabric glued on to the foam will not hold up. Do you have a sewing machine?

I would make a form and use batting to go around the wood. Then I would use a heavy drapery fabric to reupholster.

Hi Lori, I hope this helps you out,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBNxScaEexc

Windsor chairs were never meant to be upholstered. Period! But you can make slipcovers very easily and then just add a coordinating cushion on the seat. I have various seasonal and holiday covers. Easy to take off, launder and store. And it is far less complicated for a non trained upholsterer like me. I tape any fabric I want to use to the chair and get a custom look by sewing the fabric inside out like a pillow case. Turn outside right and slip onto the chair.

It looks like the center three pieces are on the same plane so you could cover those. Tying on a cushion for the seat would be easiest.

This video may have some good tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8VdL1U2ZN4