Many beginners starting out in upholstery often ask, do I need to know how to sew to learn upholstery? The answer is NO! While sewing is a useful and valuable skill to have and can help with some projects, there are still many different projects you can complete without any sewing! You’ll be happy to see all the different projects you can complete without knowing how to sew! Here are a few no-sew upholstery projects:

vintage rocking chair | upholstery project

Dining Room Chairs 

Dining room chairs are an easy beginner project and involve no sewing! We have several videos in our membership that show you how to upholster dining room chairs, including chairs with backs and those without! How to Reupholster a Dining Chair and How to Reupholster A Vintage Dining Room Chair Seat.

If you have higher kitchen stools, you can view this introductory video from our membership for an overview of what is needed to get started and what the project entails: How To Reupholster Kitchen Counter Stools!

no sew dining room chairs
no sew dining room chair

Settee/Benches

While settee/benches can be bigger than a chair, they are still an easy no-sew project that can be completed with little to no upholstery experience!

blue benche - a no sew Upholstery projects

Ottomans

Ottoman’s are another project I recommend for beginners! The skills used here are ones that will be useful in completing a wide range of other upholstery projects AND it doesn’t require any sewing! You can view all the step-by-step instructions on how to reupholster an ottoman here!

Completed project of Reupholstered ottoman

Picture Back Chairs 

Picture back chairs are another fun, no-sew, beginner project. This style of chair doesn’t have arms, which makes reupholstering the seat and back even easier.  We have step-by-step video tutorials on how to reupholster a picture back style chair in our membership area. You can see an overview of the project and the tools and supplies needed here!

As you’ll see mentioned in the above video, the final detail in this upholstery project is attaching and making the double welt cord, which can be substituted for decorative trim or tacks!

no-sew picture back chair

Martha Washington Style Chairs

The Martha Washington style arm chair is another no-sew upholstery project suitable for the beginner!  As a member you will get access to a 10 part, step-by-step video tutorial to help you complete this project.  You can view Upholstering a Martha Washington Arm Chair to see an overview of the project as well as the tools and materials needed.

Parson’s Chairs

Parsons chairs are unique style chairs often seen in dining rooms. These chairs feature clean lines, with no arm rests, which makes it an ideal dining room chair choice. They are also a great upholstery project for the beginner!  Parsons style chairs have a more modern appeal that some of the antique or vintage style chairs.

no-sew parsons style chair
parsons chair - a no-sew upholstery project

Victorian Style Tight Seat Chairs

The ornate and plush Victorian-style chairs can be completed with little to no sewing. Depending on your level of skill and comfort, you can easily sew the single and double welt cord without any sewing experience. However, if you would rather not, then these details can be eliminated altogether! While it might seem intimidating, once you get started I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

This video tutorial introduces How To Reupholster a Tufted Victorian Chair. 

victorian chair | no sew upholstery projects
no sew upholstery chair projects

Many of the armchairs listed here or similar projects at your home, may involve cushions. If you have a project with cushions, sewing will be needed. Don’t fret though! You could always have someone else sew the cushions for you if you don’t feel comfortable attempting it yourself. If you are feeling up to the challenge, here is a great post and video about sewing upholstery cushions!  Sometimes Cushions can be tricky, but with a little practice I have no doubt you will be successful!

For more ideas on beginner project ideas that require little-to-no sewing, check out these introductory project videos!

Antique Dining Room Chair: How to Upholster an Antique Dining Room Chair 

Queen Ann Armchair: How to Reupholster a Queen Anne Arm Chair

Wingback Headboard: How to Build and Upholster a Wingback Headboard

I hope as you read through this post and viewed the projects listed you felt a surge of confidence and assurance that you don’t need to know how to do everything before getting started! There are plenty of ideas and projects out there that you can complete matching your skill level. Here at Kim’s Upholstery, we want to help! Our training experts are ready to help you succeed! 

Kim’s Upholstery is all about helping and equipping others to learn the art of upholstery for pleasure, and if they want, enabling them to create an income for themselves – all on their own schedule!

Join our online membership to view the full video tutorials on all the projects listed in this post and start learning when and where you like!

See you on the inside, Kim