Expert: Mark H. Miller - 1/19/2009

Question
I have 3 pieces of micro-fiber, suede furniture that is in good condition, but I would like to cover them simply to change the color. My problem is that each piece has pillows on the back that are not removable. They are attached and are basically the back of the couch that you lean on. The center pillow on the couch is flat but the two on either side of the center cushion are tilted toward the center pillow.
Could I use batting to make a solid back? If so, how or what would I attach this to? Would I wrap it so it went all the way down the backside of the couch and staple it to the underneath?

Answer
Hi Nicole,

You have several options, one is to cut the cushions loose and change the back to a loose pillow back with zippers in each cushion so that you can add filling if you want to do so at a later date.

The suggestion that you yourself came up with is the best however,  change the back to a tight back and leave the cushions were they are.  To do that is very simple,  you need a batting material called bonded Dacron,  you can buy that on line from various upholstery suppliers such as foamorder.com.  Don't buy bonded Dacron in a fabric store, what they usually have is for quilting and too thin.  Simply place one or two layers over the existing cushions and then the new fabric over that.  To hold it in place any all purpose spray cement will hold the Dacron in place before you wrap the fabric over it, spray right on to the existing cushion fabric and the bonded Dacron and stick them together.   An ordinary hand stapler for stationary will help hold it in place instead of spray cement, just a few staples here and there will do the job.  

You should not wrap the bonded Dacron padding over the cushions and down the back of the sofa, if you do that the fabric will wrinkle in a very short time.  You should only go as far as the top of the back to where the existing outside back, (back of the back) now begins.  And do the outside back of the sofa exactly as it is now.

I hope this information helps,  please don't hesitate to contact me if you need further pointers.

Good luck and have fun.

Mark Miller.