Spa Inspired Upholstered Parsons Chair

by Abi Zimmerman

I work as a "creative consultant" for my salon/spa. It sounds fancy - because I totally made up the title for myself - but really just means I get to make cool stuff for their customers and for the salon space. This chair is one of those pieces.

spa inspired upholstered parsons chair, painted furniture, repurposing upcycling, reupholster

Several months ago they asked me to reupholster this chair from their lobby. I don't know anything about upholstery so of course I said, "yes, I can do that."

I'm not gonna lie, that chair sat in my basement for a long, long time. I had no idea what to do with it. Every time I googled "how to upholster a parsons chair" I got confused. Every time I went to the fabric store I came home empty-handed.

Then the salon went through an amazing expansion. I could go on and on about it but all that really matters for this story is the slat wall in the new spa lobby. Guys, check this out.

Gorgeous, right? Can you believe one of the owners created it using upcycled fence pieces from her back yard? I can't get over how much color and texture it adds.

Needless to say, I was inspired. I stormed the fabric store like Kanye during a Taylor Swift acceptance speech and came home with the most perfect material in the exact same color palette. Success! Now on to the upholstery job.

NOTE: This is NOT a tutorial. It's more of a story about how a first-timer tackled an upholstery project with no clue what she was doing. Also, I should let you know that I went into this with basic sewing skills. I've made pillows and curtains and can follow a simple pattern but that's the extent of it. Enough chatter already. Let's do this.

TIP Take tons and tons of photos BEFORE YOU START AND EVERY SINGLE STEP ALONG THE WAY. I cannot emphasize this enough. You're getting ready to completely disassemble this piece of furniture and without photos you'll have no idea how to put it back together. The pics don't have to make sense to anyone else but you. Just take a lot. Then take more.

To read more tips, my trial and error methods, and the finished product in the new spa, check out the blog post at http://www.laughingabi.com/spa-inspired-upholstered-parsons-chair/

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1 question

Tallowwood Home on Mar 23, 2016
Hello Abi! Sitting in my garage in Sydney Australia are 2 chairs in the same condition as your brown one. I was delighted to see that you have re-upholstered. One question, when you say completely disassemble do you mean to the point of legs coming off the frame etc? you have inspired me to tackle my two so any further hints would be appreciated. I agree the wall looks awesome and you have paid tribute with your great fabric selection. Congratulations. Cathy

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Katrina Warren on Oct 23, 2015
Great job, it goes perfectly with the setting of the room!

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Anne Marie on Nov 16, 2015
Lovely. Colours fit in so well with the lobby background.

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