How do I upscale & brighten a chair?

Diane
by Diane

I’d like to brighten up 4 chairs. Ideas?

  10 answers
  • I love the chairs as is. Do you want to recover the seat? That is super simple to do.

    • See 1 previous
    • You have many awesome suggestions here. Start with the seat, turn the chair over and unscrew in each corner. I always at least add quilt batting (or replace he entire cushion material if need be), to make it super soft to sit on. Then decide how you want to refinish. Strip and restain or paint.

  • Debi53 Debi53 on May 27, 2019

    Use liquid sandpaper/de-glosser to break up the shiny finish, then good quality primer, and paint. Recover the seats--very easy DIY if you have a staple gun. Choose a bright funky color and a festive print, or go the other directions and use white or gray paint and a subdued fabric for the seats. The great thing is, you get to choose!

  • Trudy Trudy on May 28, 2019

    I would use chalk paint then seal with wax. Then recover the seats in your favorite fabric.

    • See 1 previous
    • Trudy Trudy on May 29, 2019

      I didn't need to sand when using chalk paint. J just found out Kylon has a clear finish for chalk paint n it's easy vs using min wax. CK out utube also.

  • Linda Hornig Linda Hornig on May 28, 2019

    if you like the wood finish, you may be surprised by how much different the chairs can look with just a change of fabric- find one you love and see how that works for you. Then you can decide if you want to leave the finish as it is, strip the finish down to natural wood, or paint it.

  • Darlene Williman Darlene Williman on May 28, 2019

    I agree with the above except for Trudy. I don't like wax as it accumulates grime to easily but that is me. I would clean the wood with Murphy's wood soap and see if that brightens the color of the wood some. I have used it on many wooden items (including a kitchen wall) and it is amazing what a difference it can make. If it still isn't to your liking sand it and paint it then redo the seat cover. The seat is attached to the chair underneath with screws and comes off really easy to you can take off the old material (if you want) and put on new. That too makes a world of difference in how the chair will look and doesn't take as long as the wood will. Good Luck

    • Diane Diane on May 29, 2019

      Thank you! What finish would you use on the wood?

  • Naomi Anctil Cline Naomi Anctil Cline on May 28, 2019

    Sand and chalk paint the wood. If you are not interested in keeping or replacing the fabric seat I would paint that too. There are videos online about chalk painting fabric.


    • See 1 previous
    • Naomi Anctil Cline Naomi Anctil Cline on May 29, 2019

      My sil painted a couch for her photo studio.The paint gets into the fabric fibers, not just a coat on top. It feels almost like leather. Not sure how it would wear but what have you got to lose? If it wears just paint it again or cover with a new fabric.

  • Robyn Garner Robyn Garner on May 28, 2019

    Absolutely recover the seat! It is totally Grandma right now. If you like the upholstery or it has sentimental value to you, you can save what you remove and use one of the medallions to create a framed piece of art.


    The chair style is pretty formal so I don't think I'd go the funky route unless you've got the entire set. If you like dark wood, you can stop at reholstering. For me, PAINT, PAINT, PAINT! The style choice is yours: rustic, reclaimed, chalk paint, colored waxes. Do your own thang, baby! 😎

  • Emily Emily on May 28, 2019

    I had one chair very similar in design to yours and this is what I did to it. Painted it, reupholstered the seat, and made a pillow to use with it. The fabrics I used were samples from an interior decorator friend. I got the chair for free and probably used paint I had and the fabrics were also free so my cost was $0!

  • Emily Emily on May 28, 2019

    This is what I did to a similar chair. I painted it, reupholstered it and recovered the seat. The fabrics were from an interior decorator friends' samples. I found the chair for free and probably used paint I had, so my cost was $0

  • William William on May 28, 2019

    I agree with upholstering the seat first. Then decide if you like the wood look or to paint.