Restoring an Old Chair – the Process

One of the most rewarding DIY projects can be restoring an old chair. It’s a great way to give a new lease of life to something that’s been neglected, often for decades. It’s also a great way to save money over buying a new one, and you can be sure that your restored chair will be a one-off item, as you can choose the style and colour of finish to make it unique.

Preparation

Before you start, you’ll need to prepare the chair. Firstly, remove any old fabric, staples, tacks and nails. Wipe the frame down with a damp cloth and then dry with a clean dry cloth. If the fabric is in good condition, you can consider re-using it, but it’s best to buy new fabric as it’s likely to be more hard wearing and better suited to the purpose. Make sure you buy enough fabric to cover the chair, as it’ll need at least one metre of fabric for every arm and one and a half metres of fabric for the main part of the seat.

Removing the Old Finish

Once the chair is prepped, you’ll need to remove the old finish. This is best done with a liquid stripper which you can buy from most hardware stores. Put on some protective gloves and apply the stripper according to the instructions. You can use a paintbrush to get into the nooks and crannies. Leave the stripper on for the period of time stated on the instructions and then scrape off the old finish with a paint scraper. You may need to use a fine sandpaper to remove any stubborn bits. Don’t forget to vacuum up any dust and wipe down the frame with a damp cloth.

Painting the Frame

Once the frame is clean and dry, you can choose to paint it any colour you wish. You can use a spray paint to ensure a nice even finish, or you can use a brush and a tin of paint. Allow the paint to dry for a few hours before you move on to the next step.

Upholstering

Upholstering the chair can seem daunting, but it’s actually quite straightforward. Start by laying the fabric out on the floor and place the chair in the middle. Cut the fabric to the right size, allowing an extra couple of centimetres all round to give you some leeway. Use a staple gun to fix the fabric to the frame, starting in the middle of the frame and working outwards. Once the main area is upholstered, repeat the process for any arms and backrests. You can buy a tacking strip to give a neat finish.

Finishing Touches

The final step is to add your finishing touches. You can use decorative tacks or studs to give the chair a more luxurious feel. If you’re not sure how to add these, you can buy a tacking strip with the tacks already attached. You can also add some cushions to the seat for extra comfort – make sure you use fabric that matches the chair.

Once you’ve finished, you can be proud of your restored chair. You’ll have a unique one-off piece that’s sure to be the envy of your friends and family. Plus, you’ll have saved money compared to buying a new chair, and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you did it yourself!