How can I reduce the width of this armchair?

Catarina Santos
by Catarina Santos

I got this armchair for free and my idea was to reupholster it. Now I realised that it is too big for my living room. It has 125 cm width due mainly to the arms that are too bulky. The seat is only 52 cm width. It is an Ikea model and so it disassembles in 4 pieces. It is really comfortable and the structure is in great conditions. Do you know some way to add different arms to the seat and back structure that doesn't envolve difficult wood construction? Or a simple way to slim the existing arms? Thanks in advance!

  5 answers
  • I have done few projects like this and I don't think you can reduce these ones. The arms are a box structure and the bulk is on the inside of the frame. You can remove them and make narrower arms, but in my opinion the chair will no longer be comfortable. You can make new sides using a solid piece of wood covered in foam and fabric bolted to the excisting holes.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Nov 19, 2019

    Hi Catarina,


    What a beautiful chair!

    Looking at it and the only way I can figure to do this would be to remove both arms and attach new arms-you would have to find some that would work for you. With some luck you can attach the cushy-padding on top of the existing arms to the new to keep the softness feeling that goes with this piece of furniture. Best to you.

  • FrugalFamilyTimes.com FrugalFamilyTimes.com on Nov 19, 2019

    That’s a heck of a lot of work to do on a free chair! Maybe keep looking for a right sized chair?

  • Robyn Garner Robyn Garner on Nov 19, 2019

    I'd sell the chair for cheap and buy a new "project chair".

  • William William on Nov 19, 2019

    I agree. It's way too much work for a free chair. Sell it on Facebook Marketplace and use the money for a chair that fits. Craigslist is too shady.