TIPS AND TRICKS TO REPURPOSE A CHAIR
Chairs are my favorite pieces of furniture to flip!
They are generally super cheap to purchase, and they are simple to paint and recover with fabric. I will admit that the shape of the chair, such as the back and the legs, make them a bit more time consuming to paint, but it is really not a big deal. For me, the finished product makes it worth some extra time.
I picked this chair up at a yard sale for free. I had bought a couple of other items and the lady hosting the sale asked if I wanted this ugly chair and I said “yes”, which I think surprised her! That brown plaid was hideous!
But not for long…
Tips and tricks to repurpose a chair
My first step with this chair was to unscrew and remove the seat, and tear the fabric from the seat. Feel free to be aggressive with this, since the fabric is usually stapled on very well:
Next up you can paint or stain your chair. If you stain you will need to sand well or strip the existing paint or stain off the chair. If you want to use chalk paint you can simply paint over what is already there. Chalk paint is quick and easy and I love using it!
In general, I like to sand a bit at this point. You can leave your chair as is, or sand to give it a more vintage look. I used a 60 grit paper:
Next up we need to reassemble the chair’s seat. I bought a chair pad from Joann’s:
I laid the chair’s seat on the pad, drew around it with a pencil and then I cut it out with heavy-duty scissors:
Next, I took the chair’s seat and the pad, and I cut out fabric approximately 3-1/2″ larger. Once again I used my gingham curtain for the fabric:
Next, I stapled the fabric over the pad and onto the chair’s seat. I always pull the fabric slightly taut to get rid of any bunching fabric:
Now you can screw the seat back onto the chair and you are done!
If you are new to flipping furniture, a chair is a perfect place to start. They are generally easy to re-do, and I am always able to find them very affordably.
You can always message me with questions about flipping furniture!
If you want to try this project here are links to some of the materials you will be using. (Affiliate links included in this post for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosures).:
Have a lovely day, friends!
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I am linking up at these wonderful parties!
So cute! I love the buffalo plaid!
I love that update. So much better! Pinned. Thanks for sharing at our link party.
A great way to make something look absolutely designer! Thank you for sharing this at Fiesta Friday 🙂
Great tutorial! I’ve redone many a chair in my day:) Love your white chair and checked seat cover. Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm! xo Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home
Have had an old chair out In shed for couple years at least deciding what I want to do with it. Have to decide on paint color and what fabric to use on seat.
When we lived in CA we bought an antique Irish table/chairs in oak. Having never done it before I quickly stripped old fabric off chairs to recover with fabric going with our décor. Chairs turned out pretty cute, was happy. Good practice.
I love how your chair looks now, pretty darned cute. Could put that chair anywhere for any season. Great inspiration.
Happyweek
very helpful article on how to repurpose a chair. I actually have some chairs I will have to repurpose. I like how you have used sandpaper to give the chairs a vintage look yet leave them looking elegant. definitely going to try that.
So cute I love the black and white check! Such a simple project but what a difference! ❤️