DIY CHAIR MAKEOVER: BEFORE AND AFTER

See how easy it is to give wooden side chairs a facelift with paint and fabric with this DIY chair makeover. The before-and-after will shock you!

Let’s talk GREEN – such a beautiful, earthy, versatile color! Whether it’s a rich shade of olive or a light and airy sea-glass color, green is one of my favorite colors in the spectrum. When I came across these vintage lyre-back chairs for a whopping $3.00, I immediately decided that they would get a green and botanical-inspired makeover. 

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DIY CHAIR MAKEOVER: THE “BEFORE“

I couldn’t pass up these chairs for $3.00 – they were in great condition with only surface scratches and outdated fabric. The lyre-back style was unique, as well!  

MY SOURCE LIST FOR THIS PROJECT

• Zinsser BIN 1-2-3 Primer, tinted gray 
• Sherwin Williams Pro-Classic paint, in “Green Tartan”
• 1” Purdy Paintbrush or other small synthetic brush for primer and paint
• Purdy Nylox Synthetic Brush, for topcoat
• Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish (or the sprayable version)
• Fabric, like this Parrot Jungle fabric
• Upholstery staple remover
• Stapler
• Chair foam and batting, if needed

THE MAKEOVER PROCESS

Painting chairs can be a bit more time consuming since you have to use a smaller brush and watch for paint/topcoat drips. A paint sprayer and sprayable Polycrylic Topcoat would be a good time-saving option for a project like this if you have them available!

1. Clean and Sand 

As with any painted furniture makeover, paint will adhere to wood the best when the wood has been cleaned, lightly sanded, and primed. 

I disassembled the seat and cleaned the wood with a damp cloth. Sometimes, a degreaser is necessary if the piece is very dirty or has been cleaned a lot with oil-based cleaners (you can tell by the feel).  

A light sanding of 180-220 grit sandpaper is all it takes to scuff up the surface but be sure to wipe away any sanding dust, so it doesn’t mix with your primer/paint.

2. Prime 

For these chairs, I used one coat of Zinsser Bullseye water-based primer, tinted gray since I would be covering it with a darker color. Be sure to use a small brush and check for drips. If you do have drips after the chair has dried, you can lightly sand it down.

PRIMING TIP: I like to lightly sand each coat of primer to get rid of any unevenness or hint of brush strokes – remember to always wipe away sanding dust each time you sand!

3. Time to Paint!

The fun part – adding color! “Green Tartan” by Sherwin Williams is one of my favorite shades of green and it matched the fabric I had on hand perfectly. I applied it with a small paintbrush in smooth, even strokes. Two coats completely covered these chairs.

PAINTING TIPS: This paint leveled nicely but you can always try adding Floetrol if brush strokes are an issue. Also, if getting in those cracks and crevices is leaving you frustrated with a ton of drip marks, try a small synthetic brush that you’d paint on canvas with and use less paint.  Even if it takes you an extra coat of paint, it’s better than having sloppy drip marks on the details!

4. Seal with a Topcoat 

I chose to use a topcoat to seal the chair for extra protection. After all, chairs can take a beating from walls, tables, and shoes. I used 2 thin coats of Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish in a satin sheen.  Using a Purdy Nylox brush or other soft-bristle synthetic brush will give you a smooth finish.

SEALER TIP: Again, this product comes in a sprayable version, which would save on time and cut down on drips!

5. Reupholster the Seats

This no-sew method is quick and easy – just remove the staples with a staple-remover or pliers, strip away the old layers, and replace it with new layers in the same order. Sometimes, the foam and batting will be salvageable and sometimes you’ll need to replace these.

To do this, cut the foam to fit the seat (about ½ inch longer and wider than the platform to ensure no wood edges will poke out). 

Cut the batting so that each edge is several inches longer than the platform, so it will wrap around it fully and can be secured to the bottom of the platform. 

Wrap the batting around the foam and wooden platform, flip the whole thing upside down so that the wood is on top, then staple the batting in place. Don’t be afraid to use a lot of staples here – I staple every couple of inches.

Then repeat this with your fabric. Cut a section of your fabric that is long/wide enough to extend over and around the platform, and staple in place. Fold the corners in to prevent any unsightly bunching of the material.

That’s it!  

DIY CHAIR MAKEOVER: THE “AFTER”

These chairs now have a boho, earthy vibe that I can dig! And who doesn’t love tropical birds?

If you enjoyed this “before-and-after” chair makeover, take a peek at this typewriter desk transformation and this easy plant stand makeover with chalk spray paint.

Tell me about your favorite shade of GREEN and how you like to decorate with it in the comments below!

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