Ways to renew old chairs with your own hands.

From boring to bright

These examples with a soft seat did not fit into the new dining room of the owners. They were repainted in a rich color and began to look great against the dark gray background of the walls. The makeover took 4 hours, not including paint drying time.

Tools and Materials

To make over 2 chairs you will need:

• furniture stapler with 9.1 cm staples;
• screwdriver or power screwdriver;
• shellac-based aerosol primer (1 can);
• spray paint (1 piece);
• thick fabric (3 meters);
• scissors;
• protective film, glasses, gloves.

Step-by-step instructions

Let’s start transforming:

1. Remove the seat by unscrewing the mounting bolts. You will need a screwdriver or a power drill.

2. Take the items outside and lay them out on film. We prime them and leave them until completely dry, following the instructions.

3. Spray the paint evenly, holding the can at a distance of about 20-25 cm. The paint layer should dry completely.

4. Place the seat on the fabric and trace around it, leaving allowances of about 12 cm. This should be enough to fold the material at the edges and fix it with a stapler.

5. Fix the fabric over the old seats with a furniture stapler. First, fix the front edge, then the back edge, and only then stretch it along the sides. We bend the corners with neat tucks.

6. We screw the finished seats to the updated chairs. The job is done!

From gloomy to romantic

This chair will perfectly fit into the Provence or shabby chic style, as well as into the nursery of a little princess. Furniture decoupage is one of the popular ways to transform boring objects. You can use not only napkins, but also posters, maps and images printed on a color printer.

Tools and materials

For the transformation you will need:

• white spirit or any other liquid for degreasing;
• fine-grain sandpaper;
• primer for wood and cardboard;
• acrylic paint;
• varnish-glue for decoupage;
• napkin;
• sponge, brushes, roller;
• gilding for decoration (at your discretion) discretion).

Step-by-step instructions

1. Thoroughly clean the chair from dirt. If necessary, sand, making the surface rougher for better adhesion. If necessary, tighten the fasteners. Degrease the product.

2. Cover the chair with primer, and after it dries, sand until smooth. Dust must be removed.

3. Apply acrylic paint. A brush works well for corners and joints, and a small roller for the back and seat.

4. Separate the top layer of the napkin, cut out the pattern, apply it to the seat and cover with decoupage varnish.

5. After the varnish-glue has dried, paint the edges with background paint to create a smooth transition.

6. If desired, you can complement the decor with golden artistic paint.

Preserving the color of the wood

This refreshed chair fits perfectly into a modern interior. Initially, it was in good condition, but too dark, and the brown fabric spoiled its entire elegant look. If you like the natural color of wood, then this simple master class is for you: even a beginner can handle it.

Tools and materials

For the alteration you will need:

• fine-grained sandpaper;
• tinted acrylic varnish or oil with wax in the composition;
• screwdriver;
• foam rubber or several layers of padding polyester;
• upholstery fabric;
• furniture stapler;
• scissors.

Step-by-step instructions

Let’s start the makeover:

1. Remove the old upholstery and foam rubber. Carefully remove the old varnish coating using sandpaper. Sand along the wood grain so as not to scratch the surface. If the varnish layer is thick, you can use a special compound – a remover from a hardware store.

If you want to wash a wooden chair, never pour water on it. Use a damp sponge and soap, but do not allow moisture to be absorbed into the wood. Immediately wipe off the water with a paper towel, otherwise the product will “lead” in the future.

2. We cover the product with tinted varnish or oil of any suitable shade. Here, oak-colored varnish was used. These modern products will protect against moisture and dirt and, unlike regular varnish, will not give yellowness: with them, the wood will look more noble, and the chair – more expensive.

3. We work on the seat in the same way as in the previous master class: we cut the material to the shape of the part, leaving allowances, cover the foam rubber and fix it with a stapler, carefully stretching and aligning.

4. The only thing left is to connect the elements. If desired, the lower part of the chair legs can be painted by wrapping the areas that do not need to be painted with masking tape.

Restoration of a Viennese chair

If you have such items at your dacha or in your apartment, do not rush to throw them away. Viennese chairs are an outstanding masterpiece of industrial design. They were invented by the German furniture maker Michael Thonet, who lived in the 19th century. He made a real revolution in the furniture industry, creating laconic and elegant chairs from steam-bent wood. They could be packed in boxes and transported disassembled in 36 pieces, and assembled on site.

One of the most popular models – Model No. 14 – consists of 6 elements. Viennese chairs look organic in any space and are often used by designers in their projects. Such items are easy to find at flea markets and online services, restore and fit into a modern interior.

In our master class, we will show you how to restore a Viennese chair, leaving the texture of the wood. After renovation, such a product looks truly luxurious.

Tools and materials

For restoration you will need:

• screwdriver;
• wood glue;
• 2 sheets of sandpaper (coarse and fine grain);
• wood putty;
• stain;
• varnish.

If the chairs have cracks, the parts must be glued together using wood glue. The elements are clamped with clamps until completely dry and only then begin restoration. The cracked plywood on the seat should also be replaced, using the old part as a template.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Check the product for strength. Disassemble, drip a little wood glue on the joints, assemble. The chair should acquire good rigidity. Carefully sand the parts – it is more convenient to do this when the product is disassembled, but there are options. First, use coarse-grained sandpaper, then fine-grained.

2. We fill small chips and cracks with a special wood putty.

3. After the putty has dried, we sand the product again. The cleaned chair already looks like new, but the wood needs to be protected.

4. We cover the chair with stain: it is better to take a high-quality composition so that there are no smudges.

5. After the stain has dried (follow the instructions), the last step comes: covering with varnish in 2 layers. It gives the product a noble shine and simplifies surface care.

6. The restored Viennese chair is very light, comfortable and has its own rich history.

Chair with painting

Finally, we suggest watching a detailed video about how to remake a Soviet wooden chair at home. The craftswoman shows how to remove the old cover, update the seat, paint and even decorate the product.

Beautiful photos of alterations for inspiration

Take a look at what aesthetic chairs can be made from boring, long-familiar objects. Sometimes, just paint, fabric and a creative approach are enough.

And sometimes you should try and approach the matter with imagination, using and combining different technologies.

Remaking chairs is a great way to update your interior with your own hands and get things with a unique design.