Shabby Chic Chair Makeover

Charissa
by Charissa
3 Materials
$25
2 Days
Easy
A neighbor was giving away a couple of chairs...and I needed a project (I like to keep busy). I am always looking for quick, simple home decor projects since I am usually working on a computer most of my day.
Here is the original chair. It was a little too dark and dated for my taste. I wanted to give it an updated look...a little on the shabby chic side.
First step, remove the back and seat.
In order to remove the back pad, I had to remove the screw hole plug. I used a small plier (attached to my hammer), and easily took out the plug.
Then I sanded the chairs with fine sandpaper - I didn't want to remove all of the original stain, but I did want to smooth out some of the more worn, dinged up areas of the chair. I picked a standard white paint and proceeded to paint. You can use chalk paint, outdoor paint, etc. I chose an indoor acrylic paint. I selected a heavy, blue velvet fabric and covered both the back and seat.
Then I sanded the chairs with fine sandpaper - I didn't want to remove all of the original stain, but I did want to smooth out some of the more worn, dinged up areas of the chair. I picked a standard white paint and proceeded to paint. You can use chalk paint, outdoor paint, etc. I chose an indoor acrylic paint.
Might be hard to see, but I selected a heavy, blue velvet to cover the seat and back. I made sure to add batting to increase the seating comfort of these soon to be revitalized chairs.
Here is the re-upholstered back.
Once I finished covering the back and the seat, and the chairs were dry, I took to the spindles and added rope. I wanted to give the chairs a "different" look than just changing the colors.


I used a nail gun to secure the first part of the rope, and proceeded to wrap, wrap and wrap the base of the chair. Be patient. You will have to loop the rope around, remove tangles and make tightly wrapped around the spindle. Because they chairs had turnings, I did use hot glue to help keep the rope in place as I wound it around.
Here is one of the finished chairs (Note: I did re-center the back after I took the photo).


Right now they are sitting on my outdoor patio...only because I have no place to put them. Like I stated earlier, I like to keep busy - that also means I have quite a few pieces that I create that will end up in our shed ready for "sale" one day.
Right now they are sitting on my outdoor patio...only because I have no place to put them. Like I stated earlier, I like to keep busy - that also means I have quite a few pieces that I create that will end up in our shed ready for "sale" one day.
Suggested materials:
  • Velvet Fabric (2 yards)   ($8 per yard ($16) at Joann's Fabrics)
  • Chairs   (Free from neighbor)
  • Paint   (Home Depot ($6 sample paints))
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2 of 3 comments
  • Hillela G. Hillela G. on Jul 23, 2017

    Those colors are so chic!!

  • Liz, HomeTalker Liz, HomeTalker on Jul 23, 2017

    I love your idea. I, too, like to revamp old furniture, and love not only your blue velvet choice, but also your unique idea of adding rope to the spindles so they blend well with your wicker trunk/coffee table. So pretty and creative! Thanks so much for your inspiration!

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