DIY Renovation: Restyled Chairs
In a recent project, a homeowner decided to breathe new life into their dining room chairs with a combination of chalk paint and fabric upholstery. This was the first solo attempt at upholstery for the author, but the results were impressive.
The process began by removing the seat from each chair and giving it a thorough scrubbing. Years of grime accumulated on the chairs were no match for some elbow grease. After removing the old fabric, new padding and a patterned fabric were used.
The chairs, with their solid wood construction and unique carved detailing on the legs and backrest, were painted using foam paintbrushes. A dark brown chalk paint was chosen to complement the fabric, and it took two to three coats to achieve a thorough coverage and rich finish.
To upholster the seat, the fabric was cut larger than the seat by about 3–4 inches on all sides. The fabric was laid flat, and the cushion was placed on top. The fabric was then wrapped around the cushion and stapled tightly on the underside of the seat base using a staple gun, pulling fabric taut as it went. For the corners, the fabric was folded to give an attractive finish before stapling it down.
The finished product of the DIY project was impressive, transforming the worn-out chairs into stylish and comfortable seating for the dining room table. Upholstery fabric like microsuede works well for seat cushions due to its durability and softness. Automotive upholstery spray paint is another option if dealing with vinyl or scratchy seats, but for fabric, chalk paint is great for color and texture customization.
The author shared their experience and the results of the project, inspiring others to take on similar DIY furniture makeovers. This method combines refreshing the chair’s wooden frame with chalk paint while providing a colorful, personal touch to the seat fabric through upholstering and fabric painting. It's ideal for a beginner-friendly, budget-friendly DIY furniture makeover.
In the aftermath of the successful dining room chair makeover, the homeowner considered extending sustainability in their home-and-garden lifestyle by considering eco-friendly fabrics for future upholstery projects. The author, impressed by the transformation, suggested incorporating a similar lifestyle change by experimenting with different home-and-garden projects that prioritize sustainability and personalization.
