4 super ways to transform a chair and stool with your own hands

How to restore an old chair using decor

Even the most unsightly and old chair can be radically transformed with the help of decor. And this doesn’t require any special skill; the main thing is to choose the right type of decoration so that it fits into your interior.

Upholstery reupholstery

You can not only replace the upholstery, but make a soft seat instead of a hard one.

To do this, you need to cut out the base from plywood and then follow our recommendations:

1. Using the old pattern or contour of the seat, cut out new upholstery from thick fabric with an allowance of at least 6 cm.
2. Cut new foam to fit the seat.
3. Cut batting or padding polyester with an allowance of 2-3 cm.
4. First lay foam rubber on the plywood, then padding polyester so that it covers the edges of the seat.
5. Lay the fabric and fold the edges so that neat and even folds are formed at the corners.
6. Staple the fabric to the back of the seat. You can use small carnations with wide heads.

PHOTO: uiut.boltai.com Corners need to be fixed in several places

Decor with fabric, ribbons or jute rope

You can restore the second youth of old furniture in a simpler way, for example, by sewing a fabric cover and decorating it with ribbons. This is a great idea for periodically transforming the interior for the season or holiday.

PHOTO: uiut.boltai.com PHOTO: uiut.boltai.com

Jute rope looks especially beautiful in the interior. There are many techniques for wrapping the frame and seat, such as macrame or simply creating patterns on chicken wire.

PHOTO: uiut.boltai.com PHOTO: uiut.boltai.com

Master classes on decorating a chair using decoupage technique

An amazing transformation of old chairs can be done using the decoupage technique. This is a more complex type of decoration than reupholstery, requiring a certain amount of care, but the result will delight you for many years.

Paper

To decorate a chair using decoupage technique we will need:

• fine sandpaper;
• white water-based paint;
• decoupage paper or napkins;
• polyacrylic roller, brush, sponge;
• artistic brushes;
• acrylic paints and varnish or PVA.

Let's get started decorating old furniture.

Illustration Description of work

Clean the surface using sandpaper and remove dust.

Apply 1-2 coats of white water-based paint to the chair.

Use your hands to tear the paper into pictures.

Cover the surface of the chair with acrylic varnish in those places where there will be patterns.

Glue the decoupage paper and smooth out all the folds with your hands.

Decorate the back in the same way.

After drying, coat the entire surface of the napkin with varnish, paying special attention to the edges.

To give the chair a natural antique look, mix white and brown acrylic paints and use a sponge to lightly shade the frame.

Use a sponge to shade some elements of the design with paint.

Cover the surface with varnish.

Such work will create a special spiritual atmosphere in the house.

In the video you can see all the stages in more detail:

Watch this video on YouTube

Textile

While many people have heard about decoupage with paper, only a few know about a radical transformation using fabric. Nevertheless, a chair or stool updated in this way will last for many years.

We will need:

• matter;
• PVA glue or decoupage varnish;
• sharp stationery knife;
• brush.

Master class on updating a chair using decoupage technique using fabric:

1. Remove the backrest and seat.
2. Lay out the fabric and outline the back and seat.
3. Cut the blanks taking into account allowances of 2-3 cm.
4. Cover the outside of the seat with PVA. PHOTO: 10por15.com
5. Place the cut on the seat, smooth it with your hands, then cover it again with PVA and leave to dry overnight. PHOTO: 10por15.com
6. Trim off the hard edges and treat the sides with PVA to prevent the fabric from fraying over time.
7. Repeat all steps with the back. PHOTO: 10por15.com

Selection of materials

It is important to take into account the density of the fabric; it should hold its shape well. And easy to clean. The most commonly used are tapestry, flock, chenille, and jacquard. They are quite strong compared to other fabrics. The list of materials also includes leather and leatherette.

It is important to take correct measurements before purchasing. Don't forget to take into account the width of the hem and the height of the filler, this is approximately plus 15-20 cm to the original length of the fabric.

The color of the upholstery plays a big role. It should fit harmoniously into the interior. Dark colors are considered more practical, while light upholstery is more demanding to maintain. You can combine different materials in color and texture.

Inspection and search for defects

First of all, an old chair found in an attic or barn must be cleaned of dirt and dust, and then carefully inspected for defects.

The first thing that catches your eye is the shabby appearance, worn out paint and varnish. You can often find wood splintered at bends. Sometimes craftsmen who tried to strengthen the structure hammered nails into the legs or frame, thereby damaging the integrity of the wooden parts.

During the examination, you should shake the chair and sit on it. Such manipulations will allow you to determine whether the connections are loose and what actions led to the fact that it began to wobble and creak.

If the chair has soft upholstery, it could be completely unusable: the fabric is frayed, torn or completely missing, the filling has crumbled and fallen out.

The solid seat was made of plywood, which could delaminate over time and break off in places. In this case, the chair is given a second life by repair, complete replacement of the element or upholstery with fabric filled with foam rubber.

After a piece of furniture has been carefully examined, you need to figure out how to restore a Viennese chair with your own hands in one case or another.

How to decide on color

It is important to carefully approach the choice of shade and texture of the future product. Here photographs of chairs from furniture catalogs, where you can find hundreds of upholstery options, will help you in your search. You also shouldn’t lose sight of your own wishes, the interior of the room, and the design of other pieces of furniture.

The color of the upholstery of a restored chair is usually dark. The most commonly chosen colors are brown, blue and burgundy. However, for light frames, fabric of a golden or beige tone is selected. Often preference is given to more intense colors, especially if the furniture is intended for children's rooms or living rooms in the pop art or city style.

An interesting solution would be to use several materials on one product: for fabric mosaics in one place or for upholstering different areas of a chair.

Soft pie: materials, thickness

Before reupholstering a chair, you will have to study some information about what exactly to use when restoring a chair or armchair. Please note that you can use not only the materials listed in this paragraph. We have described the most common, synthetic, inexpensive, with acceptable characteristics. If desired or necessary, you can use natural analogues - copra in mats or rolls, batting, dried sea grass, horsehair, burlap and other materials that are exotic today and once traditional.

Most common materials

What materials are needed to reupholster a chair?

When restoring a chair or armchair, foam rubber or polyurethane foam (PPU) is used for the soft part. We are talking about foamed polyurethane foam, not sheet. There is also furniture latex. It and polyurethane foam differ from foam rubber to the touch. They are more like rubber (latex is generally like rubber); when stretched/compressed, they tend to return to their previous shape.

To be soft enough, the density of these materials should be 30-35 kg/m³. Foam rubber and polyurethane foam are sold in large sheets - the minimum size is 1*2 meters. So that's enough for more than one chair. Latex is usually available in some standard sizes, but is most often made to order.

Different thickness, density, rigidity, different manufacturing technologies

What is better to use for upholstering chairs - foam rubber, latex or polyurethane foam (PPU)? If we talk about quality and durability, then latex or polyurethane foam is better. They will last up to ten years or more without signs of wear, they absorb better and wear out less. The best of this pair is latex, but it is much more expensive than even polyurethane foam, not to mention foam rubber. Therefore, if you are on a limited budget, choose foam rubber. If durability is important - polyurethane foam or latex.

Now on the thickness of these materials. For the back, a thickness of 3-5 cm of foam rubber/PPU/latex is sufficient, depending on the degree of desired softness/hardness, but for the seat it is better to use materials with a thickness of 7-8 cm or more. If the base is solid - made of plywood, without springs or tapes - a thickness of 10 cm is needed. Otherwise the base will be felt.

The three most common materials are foam rubber, polyurethane foam and latex.

A padding polyester is laid on top of the foam rubber. Its thickness is small - 1 cm in a free state or so. It’s easier to navigate by density: 150-200 g/m². This layer is needed so that the foam/PPU/latex rubs less. This way, restored upholstered furniture will last longer.

If you want the chair or armchair you have reupholstered to last longer, another layer of spunbond is stretched over the padding polyester - this is a non-woven material made from a polymer melt using a spunbond method. Spunbond costs very little, but significantly extends the life of the seat. This layer is found in expensive furniture and increases durability (foam rubber/sintepon does not rub) and comfort of use (upholstery fabric does not fidget). A possible disadvantage is the accumulation of static electricity. But this is observed only when natural wool or silk is used in upholstery.

How to cut and fasten

The foam is cut to fit the size of the seat. The easiest way is to make a template at the initial stage: attach a sheet of cardboard to the seat, trace it and cut it out. This template will be needed more than once, so it’s better to make it.

It’s better to make a template right away, especially if you will be dragging several identical chairs

We cut out foam rubber and padding polyester strictly according to the template. In some cases, it is worth making it wider and longer by 3-5 mm so as not to feel the edges of the base. The cut foam rubber is glued to the base using furniture glue. There is a special glue in a can for foam rubber. It is more convenient to use, but it is not easy to find everywhere.

The padding polyester is laid on top - one side is more “rough”, so we place it on the foam rubber/PPU/latex, level it and smooth it with our hands. After this, it is problematic to separate the laid layers (you can try). If this method does not seem reliable enough to you, you can glue the connection by applying a mesh of suitable universal glue or the same glue for foam rubber.

Latex is usually made to order, so the edges are rounded for greater convenience.

One point: if the base of the chair is not rigid - springs, tapes, a snake - the glue you should use is not the one that forms a hard crust after drying, but the one that remains elastic.

If you decide to also use spunbond, it must be cut out with a margin, attached with staples to the base, evenly straightened and stretched. You should not pull too hard - the material is non-woven and is easily damaged. It just needs to lie without folds. Carefully trim the excess to the level of the chair/chair frame.

Seat trim

Many modern chairs have a removable seat, so you will have to work outside the box with this design. However, in other cases, decorating chairs must be done on the chair structure itself.

Next, you need to stock up on foam rubber, which will ultimately be used to make a soft and comfortable seat. The dimensions of this element must be strictly the same as your frame and deviations are not allowed. At the same time, most experts believe that the thickness of the foam rubber must be selected individually.

After this, you need to make a canvas from batting that will have all the basic and necessary dimensions of the “seat” of your chair. However, in this case, you need to leave about five centimeters of space on each side for fastening using staplers. After that, it is necessary to mark the fabric for subsequent upholstery. Its size should be identical to the batting sheet.

You can safely lay foam rubber on the place prepared under the seat, after which you need to fasten a sheet of batting prepared to size into the seat, carefully removing the excess parts with a sharp knife. Using a stapler, the upholstery is upholstered along the entire contour of the frame; it is advisable to prevent the formation of various folds and flaws and bumps.

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Advantages and disadvantages

Restoring old furniture is a creative process that allows you to restore beauty and functionality to interior items. A finished sofa, table or cabinet can be used independently, left as decoration or sold. Antique furniture is in great demand among collectors and lovers of retro styles, so there is always a demand for it.

Advantages of restoring furniture with your own hands at home:

1. Savings on the purchase of a new item and the services of a restoration workshop. Much work can be done independently using available tools.
2. After the work carried out, the furniture will last longer.
3. You can discover your creative potential and realize complex ideas. You will not be rushed, which allows you to spend a lot of time on restoration.
4. You don’t have to get rid of an antique item inherited from your ancestors. Perhaps the chest of drawers is treasured as a memory of your grandmother or evokes nostalgia for childhood. Many people find it difficult to part with old items left over from childhood.
5. Old furniture will not spoil the new interior. This applies to items that were purchased to complement the interior, but then the design of the room changed. In this case, you need to create new furniture that will fit perfectly with the overall style.

You will get the wardrobe or sofa you need without tedious searching. At home, you will create an item that meets your requirements. And to do this, you don’t need to look for it in stores, order it on foreign websites, or have it manufactured by specialists.

But there are also disadvantages to restoring furniture yourself:

Without any experience working with furniture, you may encounter difficulties already at the stage of selecting materials

It is important to choose a coating that will protect the surface from insects and minor damage. You need to be able to work carefully with small details so as not to spoil the original drawing. To restore furniture, you need a separate room, preferably not in an apartment. If this is not possible, construction covers are needed to protect the interior. During repairs there will be dust, dirt, noise and unpleasant odors.

This is another reason to look for a separate room where your family members will not be.

Why do you need a constriction?

First of all, this will save you money. New furniture of good quality is not cheap. And furniture from the last century, if you work with it well, will easily outlast inexpensive modern furniture. This is also an opportunity to choose the color and texture of the upholstery material that best suits your interior.

And again, any work with your own hands is a creative process that brings pleasure. This is an opportunity to create something unique, to put warmth and love into your home environment.

Another plus is that you don’t have to go shopping to find the right chairs that will match the rest of the furniture in your home. This is especially true for kitchen and dining sets, where chairs and a table come from one set.

Assembly and finishing

When the chair frame is updated and the soft parts are covered with new upholstery, all that remains is to assemble the structure. The basic rule is to reassemble in the same order as you disassembled. The legs and backrest parts must be installed in the same grooves where they were originally, so the structure will not lose strength. The plywood on which the seat is attached is usually screwed to the frame; in Viennese chairs, glue acts as a retainer.

Knowing all the stages of restoring a chair, it is not difficult to create a stylish and unique object using finishing from an unattractive piece of furniture. Simply by painting the chairs in pink, blue, or pistachio colors, you can get a bright color accent to the interior in the “fusion” style.

When updating old chairs, the decoupage technique is used. This operation is performed using glue, varnish and a pattern on a paper base; it is convenient to use napkins. The paper with the selected pattern is cut or torn into pieces, then these fragments are fixed to the frame and seat using glue, and after drying they are varnished. As a result, this piece of furniture is completely transformed and becomes an art object.

In modern interiors, designers often use one or two antique-style items. For this purpose, chairs of antique designs are required. First, they are painted with white paint, then a thin translucent layer of gold, bronze or silver paint is applied to the entire chair or its individual parts, depending on the surrounding environment and the decoration of the entire interior. The final stage is a layer of craquelure varnish. It creates small cracks throughout the coating, giving a luxurious touch of antiquity.

These chairs can be finished in the Empire style. The frame, painted white, is painted with gold paint along the carvings; on smooth elements, you can copy a suitable pattern with a pencil and paint according to this pattern with gold paint. In this case, the seat is covered with a shiny fabric - satin, brocade, velvet. The composition turns out to be very effective.

The Provence style is popular today. The frame is painted in several different layers. For example, green first, white on top. The top layer is rubbed with coarse sandpaper so that the green base shows through here and there, then covered with blue, and sanded again with sandpaper. Next comes another white layer using sandpaper. This creates a layered effect.

This method is used to artificially age an object, creating the impression of many years of use and faded color. For upholstery of soft parts, light fabric with a floral pattern is suitable. You can also make covers or pillows from this fabric.

At home, the traditional seating area is a stool. It should also be designed in a new way. To add national flavor, the patchwork technique has proven itself well. In this case, pieces of fabric suitable for the design are purchased, and it is better to recycle used items of clothing. The fabrics are cut into scraps and combined so that the pattern does not merge, and they are pasted over the legs and seat of the stool. Everything is varnished on top.

When choosing a chair design, you should use the entire palette of your imagination or take a closer look at existing samples in art catalogs.

Methods and ideas for decorating chairs

Chairs can be restored in different ways. The number of options is limited only by the imagination of the designer. Contrasting painting using two or three colors is suitable for simple interiors. Covering the surface with a layer of paint with a bronze or gold effect and covering it with fabric on which patterns are drawn with gold thread will create a “retro” mood. Such a product will highlight the features of the furnishings, decorated in the same style. White paint with traces of brush strokes and a scuffed effect goes well with Provence. Additionally, a separate area (most often the corner of the back of a chair) is decorated using the decoupage technique using pictures with floral motifs. The hard seats of children's stools can be decorated with funny smiley faces.

Screen painting will look elegant. To do this, part of the wooden seat is sealed with a special film, which forms a pattern. For example, a blooming rosebud. Then the stool is covered with light paint. After the composition has dried, the stencil is peeled off. The entire surface is covered with a layer of colorless varnish. “Rose” looks original due to the wood texture, which fills all its petals and contrasts with the light tone of the paint on the rest of the surface. A layer of wax will help age the piece, giving it a dirty brown tint. To add wear, it is partially sanded. You can make upholstery with a pattern yourself using the tapestry stitch technique and strong threads.

Do-it-yourself restoration of a wooden chair seat

There is no need to rush to move on to this stage of restoring chairs with your own hands. First you must wait for the glue to dry completely. Most chairs usually have a frame that is painted or varnished. If you want to transform it, then you can use the decoupage technique. Don't waste time while the frame dries. You can put it to good use and change the soft part.

Upholstery restoration

First you will have to remove the old fabric and stuffing. Inspect the wooden base very carefully - any defects found on it must be eliminated.

Next, you will need new foam rubber; you should attach the seat to it, trace it with a pencil and cut out a template with a knife. We do the same with upholstery fabric - having measured the shape of the seat, we cut out a new piece, not forgetting to include allowances for hems and the height of the foam. The fabric must be placed face down, foam rubber is placed directly on it, and the seat itself is placed on top of it. Now you need to stretch the fabric and align it well. We wrap the resulting allowances on the wrong side. Be especially careful in the corners of the seat - in these places you should lay out even folds, carefully bend the edges, and then secure everything well with a stapler.

If you do not have this tool, then instead of staples you can use small nails with a wide head.

Using a similar scheme, you can restore the upholstered back. Finally, the restored parts are attached to the frame. To do this, you must have metal corners and screws. At this point, the restoration of old chairs can be considered complete. Now you can continue to use the furniture, enjoying the result of your labors.

Updating furniture upholstery

The decor for upholstered furniture can be changed. A durable sofa, even if old, strong chairs, even if a little shabby, can serve their owners for a long time.

With some effort and creativity, it is quite easy to end up with a unique drapery made from brand new fabric. Fortunately, there is currently no shortage of it. The main requirement is density.

Then you will definitely need a stapler for construction work, a hammer, and a sufficient number of small nails. Pliers, a knife, a large needle, a nylon thread, chalk (a piece of soap) and a screwdriver.

For convenience, a heat gun is often used instead of glue. A drill and nail puller will also come in handy. The old tissue is removed. Accurate measurements are taken. Details are being cut out. They must be attached to the item to ensure compliance.

Features of restoration of metal chairs

Unlike wood, metal chairs are more durable. If they break, they are more difficult to repair, and during restoration the product needs to be protected from only one “enemy” - corrosion. For metal, they buy a special primer and paint that have an anti-corrosion effect. Enamels are applied in several layers, and colorless compounds are coated in three to four layers. It is not recommended to use chairs and stools with a metal frame in kitchens and bathrooms, where the humidity level systematically increases. To remove the old layer of paint or varnish, the chemical treatment method is ideal for metal, since the material is not afraid of aggressive agents.

Stool in the kitchen

When purchasing stools for the kitchen, you need to ensure that their “appearance” does not bring disharmony into the interior of the room. This will not happen if the size of the stool is taken into account when purchasing the product. For example, it must match the size and design of the table so that the table and stool form a single ensemble.

The color of the furniture pieces is also important, as they would decorate the overall design of the kitchen with their color scheme. When selecting, it is necessary to take into account the material of the product. If, for example, the apartment is decorated in a high-tech style, then kitchen stools with soft seats are definitely excluded.

When determining the quantity, you need to proceed from family needs (or from the number of family members). The main thing is that the pieces of furniture do not “capture” the entire space of the room. Their placement also depends on appearance.

Seat update

While the wood frame is drying, work on the seat. Remove the upholstery from the upholstered seat. Look at the condition of the foam. Remove it if necessary. Cut out a new piece of foam and secure it to the seat using double-sided tape.

Place the old upholstery on newspaper and trace it with a pen. Cut out the pattern and transfer it to the new material. If the fabric is thin, make a backing for the foam from another dense material. Assemble the seat. Cover it with new fabric, securing it on the reverse side with staples from a furniture stapler.

Renew a dried out wooden chair frame. Remove the old varnish coating from it using a sander and sandpaper. Fill any old chips with wood putty. Prime the surface, and after drying, apply several layers of varnish with intermediate drying. Place the seat back into place.

Restoration of a chair with seat upholstery

Reupholstering the seat is quite simple. After the layer of old upholstery and stuffing has been removed, you need to cut a piece of plywood that will become the base. You can make a pattern using the seat measurements and use it to cut out all three layers. Foam rubber is fixed on top of the plywood. Based on the size of the seat, a piece of thick fabric is cut out for covering. At the same time, do not forget to leave reserves for bending the material. Now all that remains is to fix the upholstery fabric to the seat.

Previously, special furniture nails (miniature ones with push-button heads) were used for this work, but now staplers with staples are more relevant. The backrest is made using the same algorithm: a base made of plywood, then padding, and the procedure is completed by fixing the upholstery material. If the seat is equipped with springs, then a layer of batting is placed in front of the foam rubber. Chairs that are upholstered in the same material as the curtains or rug in the room look stylish.

Method 2. Seat reupholstery

Most often, if a chair has a soft seat, then painting the frame is not enough to completely update it - you need to change the upholstery. Here are some photo examples of how reupholstering a seat can turn an old chair into a stylish piece of decor.

Office chair before and after painting, replacing the back and seat upholstery

By the way, if your chair or stool does not have a soft seat, then you can make it yourself: first cut the MDF base exactly to the shape of the seat, then follow our master class, upholster it and, finally, screw it to the chair frame with self-tapping screws.

To make a soft seat for a stool, just glue the foam rubber directly to the base, and then cover it with fabric, driving staples into the inside of the seat.

Stool with homemade upholstery

To work you will need:

• Anti-stapler (or its alternative);
• Furniture stapler and staples no higher than the thickness of the seat base;
• Textile;
• Foam rubber about 4 cm thick;
• Batting or padding polyester;
• Scissors;
• Serrated bread knife (with teeth);
• Screwdriver.

How to reupholster a chair with your own hands:

1. First we need to remove the seat from the chair frame using a nail puller or a screwdriver.
2. We remove the old upholstery using an anti-stapler and remove the filling if it is worn out (if it is in good condition, then it can be reused). Next, wipe the base of the seat from dust and dirt.

If the wooden base of the seat seems too old and unreliable, use it as a template to cut out a new seat from plywood.

1. We place the seat on the foam rubber, trace its outline and cut it out.

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• 2
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1. We cut the fabric and batting in such a size that they can be wrapped around all sides of the seat (along with foam rubber), leaving 10-15 cm free. This excess is needed to make it more convenient to stretch the material.
2. So, we have four blanks: base, foam rubber, batting/sintepon and fabric. Now we need to put it all into a sandwich. First of all, we spread the batting, put foam rubber on it, and on the foam rubber - the base of the seat, wrong side up. Next, we simply fold the edges of the batting onto the seat and, slightly stretching the material, fix it with a stapler. The corners of the batting can be cut off, or you can simply bend them and fasten them in the same way.

How to restore a chair seat

1. Once all the batting is attached to the seat, trim off any excess batting.

If desired, the foam rubber can be pre-glued to the base or stapled around the perimeter, retreating 5 mm from the edge of the seat.

1. The most crucial moment has come - the stage of reupholstering the seat with fabric. Spread the fabric with the wrong side up and place the seat on it. Next, fold the edges of the fabric along one side and secure with a stapler. Now lightly stretch the fabric over the opposite side of the seat and secure it with a stapler.

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Repeat the procedure on the remaining two sides and start decorating the corners - they need to be wrapped as shown in the photo below.

Chair after restoration

1. We return the seat to its place and fix it with the “original” fasteners.

Helpful Tips:

• The soft seat of the chair can be additionally decorated with furniture nails around the perimeter.
• The upholstery fabric should be selected in accordance with the style of the chair. For example, traditional jacquard fabric is not suitable for a modern chair, and a classic chair with an elegant back is unlikely to “make friends” with fabric with a newfangled geometric print.
• The same fabric from which your curtains are made is ideal for upholstering a chair. In the interior, such a coincidence will look very harmonious.
• The print on the fabric can echo the carved crossbars as shown in the photo below.

For a more visual master class on upholstering the seat of an old chair, watch this video.

Progress

Cleaning, washing and drying the product

Restoration begins with cleaning the frame and seat. It is necessary to wash all parts with any gentle composition using soft cloths and sponges. It is important to do this as quickly as possible so that the natural wood does not get wet. Then dry the stool completely in natural conditions, away from heating devices.

To wash the stool, you can use soft napkins to avoid scratching the surface.

Removing old paint

To completely renew a chair or stool, it is necessary to clean the frame of the old covering.

There are several ways to remove paint or varnish:

1. Mechanical. Using a sander or sandpaper of different grain sizes.
2. Chemical. Some paint can be removed with acetone or factory remover. If necessary, re-process.
3. Thermal. Using a hair dryer. When exposed to hot air, old paint or varnish becomes blistered and easily comes off the frame.

Chemical remover will soften the coating

Product repair

When disassembling a chair, the parts of which are fastened with a tenon joint, act carefully, trying not to damage the fastening points. To do this, you can lightly tap them with a hammer and try to loosen the tenon. When the chair is disassembled, use a chisel or knife to remove dirt and glue residues from the grooves. The elements are coated with casein or flesh glue, assembled and clamped with a clamp for 3 hours.

Types of tenon joints

Repairing a chair may involve the following steps:

1. When loosening a bolted connection, you can place a metal or plastic washer under the nut, and then tighten the nut tightly.
2. You can ensure a tight fit of the wooden fragments to the eyes by increasing the missing volume using thin pieces of wood.
3. If a tenon breaks, a new part will need to be made.
4. If the upholstery or soft filling is damaged, they are completely replaced. This stage can already be attributed to decorative design, since you can choose absolutely any color of the upholstery, design of the back and legs of the chair.

Tape (belt) clamp

Note! When choosing a design option for a chair during its restoration, the properties of the material from which it is made, the density of the wood, and its texture are taken into account.

Upholstery of an upholstered chair seat

In Soviet-made chairs, softness was ensured by a durable jute backing. Now other materials are used that caking less and do not lose shape when exposed to heavy objects. In addition, jute is expensive.

New seat backing products use:

• thin furniture foam;
• padding polyester;
• batting;
• coir is a material made from the nut of the coconut tree.

For upholstering chairs at home, foam rubber up to 5 cm thick is best suited for the backing. The top covering is made of any dense fabric.
Work algorithm:

The foam rubber is cut out strictly according to the shape of the seat. Coat the base and foam rubber with glue. If this is not done, over time, bulges will appear on the surface of the chair, and the backing will bunch up to one edge.

Connect and press the backing and the seat, allow the glue to “set.” Thin batting is stapled around the perimeter of the base.

Cut the fabric so that when stretching there is a margin of 5-7 cm on each edge of the seat.

The fabric is attached to the front and back of the seat from the bottom. Use a stapler. The upholstery is carefully straightened at all stages of work to prevent the formation of wrinkles.

When the covering is leveled, nail the material on the left and right sides of the seat. At the last stage, the upholstery is stretched and secured in the corners. Special care is required. Incorrectly driven staples are removed and the process is repeated.

To get the best result, upholstery fabric is nailed on top of the foam rubber and only then the finishing fabric.

When working with nails, additionally place a tape of thick fabric under them. Using a stapler eliminates the need for additional materials.

Painting a chair

Even the most old-fashioned or simply ordinary chair, say, a “Viennese” wooden, plastic, folding or office chair, can be transformed by painting. The main thing here is to choose the right color. Here are some inspiring examples where color alone saved furniture from ending up in a landfill.

Viennese chair before and after coloring

Folding chair before and after painting

Chair before and after staining

Chair before and after painting

Old Viennese chair before and after renovation

A few more examples of remaking the most common Viennese chairs made of bent beech, which can be found in almost every home or cottage.

Here are some cool ideas for painting stools.

Inspired? Then let's get to practice!

To paint the chair you will need:

• Acrylic paint, or preferably chalk paint, in one or more colors;
• Synthetic flat brushes (separately for primer, paint and varnish);
• Protective gloves (better to buy at a pharmacy);
• Primer for wood/metal (depending on the frame material);
• Wax or matte varnish (polyurethane or acrylic);
• Medium to fine grit sandpaper.

How to paint a chair with your own hands:

• Prepare the chair for painting: wash it to remove any rough dirt and dust, then sand it with medium-grit sandpaper to remove the top layer of old varnish or paint. The surface should be slightly rough.

• If you want to update a metal chair, then it is not necessary to sand it (although it is safer to sand off the top gloss), but before priming/painting, the frame must be degreased with white spirit.
• Also, you can avoid the tedious sanding step if you use chalk paint, but you won’t be able to do without a primer.
• If your chair is varnished, it can be removed with a special varnish remover.
• If the chair has any damage, such as scratches, chips or cracks, fill them with furniture putty.

• Wipe the chair from dust, wait for it to dry and apply two layers of primer to the entire frame, allowing each layer to dry for about a day. Between layers, it is advisable to sand the primer with fine-grained sandpaper (no. 220 is suitable).
• Take a new brush and paint the chair in 2-3 layers, allowing each layer to dry completely. Make sure that the paint does not smudge.

• If you want to paint a chair with a distressed effect, then first apply a dark paint, say dark gray or dark blue, to some places (for example, the edges of the seat, back and armrests), and then cover them with wax. Next, you should paint the chair with the main paint in 2-3 layers. And finally, lightly work with fine-grained sandpaper to expose the dark “substrate”.

• Do you want to achieve the effect of a perfect factory paint job? Then be patient: each layer of primer and paint (except for the finishing layers) will have to be sanded with fine-grained sandpaper. This way the coating will be as smooth and reliable as possible.
• To paint only certain parts or parts of the chair, use masking tape.

Treat the chair with wax or matte varnish. Voila, your “four-legged friend” has found a new life!

Helpful Tips:

• Don't know what color to paint your chair? You can't go wrong if you paint it white, because this color is the most versatile and goes well with any bright upholstery;
• Before painting, you can glue the stucco decor to the back of the chair using wood glue;
• You can achieve the effect of a very old and dirty Provence style chair using dark brown wax;
• Chalk paints are a relatively new type of paint that are not yet widely available. However, we recommend using it, because due to its thickness, increased adhesive properties and super-fast drying (in 30 minutes), it saves a lot of time and effort. In Russia, you can purchase chalk paints from designer Daria Geiler, and in Kazakhstan – from Vernenskaya Manufactory. You can also always order paints from foreign manufacturers - Annie Sloan and Rustoleum.

This video master class will help you better figure out how to paint an old chair with your own hands.

Decoupage technique

Decoupage allows you to hide unevenness and damage to the surface of the chair. In addition, you can choose a print to match any chosen style from Provence to techno.

The technique involves covering a chair with paper or fabric and then covering it with several layers of transparent varnish.

Decoupage with paper

The structure of the paper makes it easy to paste over not only flat, but also curved surfaces, including chair legs.

Work algorithm:

The chair is disassembled and treated with sandpaper, achieving the most even surface possible. Degrease.

If necessary, furniture is painted. If the chair is dark and the background should be light, it is first painted white, then in the chosen color.

Cut out the part of the picture you like. Lubricate the chair with PVA furniture glue and apply the cut out design.

Smooth the paper, achieving a perfect fit. Use rollers or soft cloth. If necessary, the paper is moistened with water to make it softer.

After drying, apply a new thin layer of glue over the design. Decorate with paint if necessary.

The final finishing consists of applying 3-4 layers of clear varnish. Each layer must dry completely.

To decoupage small surfaces, for example, legs, the paper is torn into fragments up to 10 cm in size. You can paint it with paint in the general style.

Decoupage with fabric

Decoupage with fabric is only suitable for seats and backs of chairs; legs cannot be processed.

Operating procedure:

The chair is disassembled and the surface is prepared. The fabric is laid out on the table. Place the seat and trace the edges with a marker or pencil. Make a pattern, departing from the intended line about 2 cm.

Cover the seat with glue: PVA or special for blending. Glue the fabric, carefully level it, remove folds and air bubbles. Apply a layer of glue on top of the fabric.

After complete drying, the material should become rigid. Using a stationery knife, cut off excess fabric strictly along the edges of the part to be pasted.

Apply another layer of glue to prevent premature wear and the appearance of fringe along the edges.

Decoupage with fabric ends by applying 2-3 layers of transparent varnish.

Working with the seat

If the chair seat is hopelessly damaged, it needs to be replaced:

• The easiest way is to remove the old one, trace it on a sheet of new plywood and cut it out with a jigsaw;
• the seat is usually screwed to the frame; in Viennese chairs it is fixed with glue;
• sand the uneven areas.

Master class on working with upholstery:

1. Remove the seat from the chair frame, helping yourself with a nail puller and a screwdriver. The old upholstery is removed, the worn-out filling is removed, and the base is cleaned of dust and dirt.
2. Place the seat on the foam rubber, carefully trace the outline, and cut it out.
3. If the old fabric and batting backing are preserved, they are traced like patterns on the new fabric and padding polyester; if not, then they are cut so that they can be wrapped around a seat with foam rubber on all sides, leaving 10–15 cm free at the edges. They are needed to stretch the material well.
4. All the blanks are folded - foam rubber is placed on the padding polyester, the base of the seat is placed on top with the wrong side up, the edges of the padding polyester are folded over the seat and, slightly stretching, they are fixed with a stapler, and the corners are cut off or, bending, fastened. The excess is trimmed off.
5. The foam rubber can be glued to the base in advance or stapled along the entire perimeter, departing 5 mm from each edge.
6. The covering material is spread out with the wrong side up and the prepared seat is placed on it, the edges of the fabric are folded on one side, secured with a stapler. Pull it slightly onto the opposite side of the chair seat and also fix it with a stapler. Repeat the operation on the remaining two sides, carefully shaping the corners.
7. Return the seat to its place, securing it with the same fasteners.

If a soft seat was not initially provided for in the chair, it can be made into one using the method indicated above - by removing it, gluing the foam rubber and covering it with material, hammering the staples from the inside. The same technology is used to reupholster a chair with a backrest. But to disguise the staples on the back side of the back, they use fabric with a sewn-in edging to match the main fabric.

As you can see from the information above, restoring a chair yourself - old but durable - is not at all difficult. Sometimes it is enough just to update the surface by painting or reupholstering the soft part to make the item look neat and attractive. The result can be a truly unique piece of furniture that will perfectly match the interior.

Options that are easy to use

Let's look at all the options that you can easily do with your own hands. All the nuances and step-by-step implementation are below.

We sew a cover for a chair with a back

After we have measured the height of the back, legs, and width of the chair, we make a pattern of three elements: rectangles covering the sides and the back with the seat. Don't forget to add a couple of centimeters to the seams.

• Transfer the pattern to the fabric. Since we are dealing with rectangular parts, you can use a ruler for greater accuracy.
• Carefully cut out all the details, taking into account the shared thread.
• First of all, we sew the side edges.
• Then we move on to the side and bottom sections of the back of the back. They should be folded and then stitched.
• Sew the side parts to the seat.
• We tuck and stitch the sections of the side and front parts of the product.
• Ready-made covers can be decorated with a bow or other decor on the back of the chair.

We sew a simple seat

The easiest option, which is suitable even for beginners, is a regular stool seat. It's fairly quick to sew.

1. We make a template from cardboard or other material according to the shape of the stool seat;
2. using the resulting pattern, we cut out three parts of the same shape and size from the fabric (for the front, back side + padding polyester);
3. We place the padding polyester between two pieces of fabric and secure it with pins;
4. to quilt the future seat, you need to sew even lines parallel to each other;
5. we baste the pre-prepared bias tape for edging, leaving the ends as future ties;
6. We carefully fold the ties in half and stitch them on a typewriter;
7. We sew bias tape on the sides of the product using a machine.

Elastic cover for a round stool

1. First, as usual, we make a pattern. In order not to bother with measuring instruments when calculating the diameter, you can simply attach a sheet of cardboard or newspaper to the surface of the stool, then cut it along the contour.
2. We transfer the drawing to a new sheet of paper, adding a few centimeters along the contour.
3. Based on the resulting template, we cut out the piece from the fabric.
4. We put an elastic band on the edge of the fabric, fold the fabric, and stitch it.
5. Our cover is ready - all that remains is to put it on the stool.
6. To add softness, you can sew foam rubber or padding polyester into the seat.

Crochet chair covers

A knitted cover can be an interesting option for decorating a room. Crocheting will take more time than sewing a simple pattern, but the result will be a special and original item.

Most often, round or square models are crocheted for seating stools. Let's look at an example of knitting a simple round cover:

1. We make the upper part from rows of lush columns, separated by short chains of air loops.
2. We make the hem by knitting several rows in stitches without adding. This way they will form an even side (for greater stability we make the side higher).
3. In the last row we knit air loops - at the end you can insert a fixing elastic band or cord into them to secure the product to the stool.

Using various knitting patterns, you can knit absolutely any model with your own hands. For example, the so-called flower cover or models crocheted from motifs (they can also be decorated with crocheted flower appliqués).

Cover made from an old sweater

If knitting is not your thing, but the beauty and comfort of knitted covers haunt you, try making them from an old sweater. Any item of the desired size and color, knitted with knitting needles, large or medium knit, is suitable for this.

Depending on the size of the sweater, you can sew a cape only on the seat or on the back, or you can get a whole accessory, for example, by using several old products.

You can also sew models not only from knitwear, but also from other old things in good condition. For example, from jeans or coats that have become too small. The main thing is that the style of the resulting product matches the interior of the room.

On a children's chair

Chair covers in a children's room are more relevant than anywhere else. Bright, elegant fabrics can decorate the interior of a nursery and interest little fidgets. In addition, they are indispensable in protecting furniture from dirty handprints, spilled drinks or traces of children's creativity.

The product is sewn according to a standard pattern, as for a regular stool. All measurements are taken in advance. Very often, for children's furniture, capes are sewn only on the back: two rectangular pieces are cut out and sewn in three places. At the end, you can apply a design or decorate it with fabric, sew on “bunny ears” or, for example, design it in the shape of a snowman.

On the inside, so that the cover does not slip, you can sew decorative laces that will be tied behind the legs of the stool. You can also use buttons, ribbons or elastic.

Paint coating of chairs

What is a favorite chair? These are wonderful moments of returning to childhood... Or the memory of a loved one... Or even a chair can be a family heirloom, passed down from generation to generation. Or something else, but so dear that you don’t want to part with it.

But, unfortunately, a thing cannot last forever. Scratches appear on the furniture, the varnish cracks and peels. The appearance, alas, becomes unpresentable. However, restoring old chairs with your own hands will help preserve the item for some time.

Often, before varnishing a chair, it is necessary to completely remove old paint or varnish. This process requires patience and perseverance from the master. But the payment for labor will be fully consistent with the efforts invested.

Beautiful photos of alterations for inspiration

Look at how aesthetically pleasing chairs can be made from boring, familiar objects. Sometimes all it takes is paint, fabric and creativity.

And sometimes you should try and approach the matter with imagination, using and combining various technologies.

Remaking chairs is a great way to update your interior with your own hands and get things with a unique design.

Causes of breakdowns

Before you look for how to glue a wooden chair together, you need to understand what caused the breakdown. This type of furniture consists of many parts that are attached with glue. Over time, the joints become unstuck. It happens that the legs move away from the harness. They are usually attached using spikes.

Some products may have manufacturing defects. A man sits on a chair with wooden legs and falls because one of the legs falls off. Don’t think that furniture is no longer usable and should be in a landfill. Breakdowns of this type can be easily repaired with your own hands without spending a lot of money on repairs.

Home chairs

A massive wooden chair is considered comfortable and durable. Thanks to its design, it is stable and reliable. The product is suitable for both adults and children. Kids will not be afraid, and the chair will withstand any load.

There are standard types of products:

• chair with soft seat;
• armchair chair;
• folding chair;
• transformable chair.

The aesthetics and comfort of these models are quite high. The choice of manufacturing style and material depends on your desire. If you need to make a durable but lightweight chair, use plywood or boards.

The elegance of the design is determined by the carved legs and backs. Each of the above types has its own special use, creating coziness and providing maximum comfort for home, work or leisure.

Decorating chairs

Sometimes it makes sense to radically change the color scheme of furniture. Chairs painted white or gold look very creative. Often craftsmen choose other colors for the wooden part of the chair: blue or light blue, pink or bright red. But then the upholstery should be pure white or with golden ornaments. The elegance of this design transports people to the times of Catherine the Second, reviving palace luxury.

White furniture can be decorated with gilded ornaments, simply drawn or made in the form of a bas-relief. Blanks for this type of decoration can be purchased in stores or cast yourself from plaster and glued on. Restoring and decorating chairs with your own hands in an antique style will add charm and originality to the design. Sometimes the edges of the upholstery are decorated with beautiful braid and tassels.

Chairs painted in a cubic style will also change the image of the room. And some will prefer floral or plant colors. In any case, surface coating will protect the item from corrosion and increase its service life. Therefore, the practical benefits that such a DIY restoration of chairs will bring are also obvious.

Wedding covers for banquet chairs: 3 ideas for decoration

The furniture in the banquet hall chosen for the celebration does not always look modern and presentable. This is why many designers use wedding chair covers, which allow you to hide ugly furniture and create a pleasant decor that matches the style of the celebration. The covers also save the chairs from getting dirty, and you leave a clean restaurant after the party, for which the staff will certainly be very grateful to you.

How to creatively decorate wedding covers?

• Satin bow. As a rule, at most weddings, a light satin cover is put on a banquet chair, which hides the back and legs. However, such decoration is not enough to create a festive decor. To add some flair to decorating your chairs, hang a large fabric bow on the back of each chair. It can be satin, tulle or another fabric you like, the main thing is that your bows look voluminous and stylish. Be sure to smooth out the fabric thoroughly before hanging your decorations. Also carefully form the bow, smoothing its edges. Select the color of the fabric based on the color scheme chosen for the wedding: it can be a similar or contrasting shade. The bows for the chairs that you choose for your wedding will give your celebration a sense of celebration and fun, create a light playful mood and complement the overall image of your celebration.
• Volumetric flowers. The decoration of chairs can also be done using large flowers, which are also hung on the back over the cover. Flowers can be made of fabric, paper or plastic. You can even use fresh flowers to decorate chairs by carefully attaching them to the fabric of the covers. If you have chosen a floral wedding theme, do not forget that creative banquet seating cards, table numbers and even invitations should also be made in the same style.
• Playing with fabric. Wedding chair covers can be easily decorated with your own hands using ordinary fabric. Choose a beautiful flowing fabric in a contrasting shade, from which you can create all kinds of decorations - bows, weaves, braids, etc. Just wrap the fabric around the back of the chair several times and tie an original knot. You'll see: such an unusual approach to design will definitely attract the eyes of guests and arouse their interest. The lounge area at a wedding can also be decorated with beautiful delicate fabrics to match the decorations of the hall.

Decoupage technique for the design of an old chair

This technique will help turn monotonous stools into original and beautiful objects that will decorate the main interior of the house. To create a design you will need napkins, fabric with a pattern, you can use leather appliqués. If you can get to the store, you can buy special cards for such equipment.

After you sand the chair, you need to seal all the cracks with putty and cover everything with water-based emulsion. Cut out the picture, apply glue and attach the drawing. Gradually you need to move from the center to the edges, thereby smoothing out the pattern. Let the surface dry and then varnish it.

Restoring an old chair with your own hands is not that difficult. The main thing is to do everything step by step

An old product can look like new if you pay attention to its design. You can paint it, make different upholstery, sew covers or use different design techniques

Then the chair will not only perform its functions, but will also become an addition to the interior of the room.

Don't rush to throw away old things. They can be useful for restoring an old stool. We've looked at different options for stool designs that anyone can make.

Benefits of working independently

By updating an old chair and making it modern, you benefit in two ways:

• You have the opportunity to change the image of the furniture to whatever you want. At the same time, adjust it to the main shades of the interior. And you don’t need to look for similar furniture in stores at all.
• Save time and money. Furniture restoration is often carried out using improvised means. Even the costs you incur for purchasing consumables are only 20-30% of the cost of a new chair.

Interesting: Restoring old furniture in a modern way

Important: before you begin decorative restoration of wooden chairs, be sure to check all fasteners. Tighten loose bolts or replace them with new ones. If there are cracks, chips, or debris, they need to be sealed decoratively. To do this, use special carpenter's wax. It fills voids in the wood, hardens and looks like an integral part of the chair.

Craquelure

Complex coloring with a network of cracks on the surface is called craquelure. This way you can transform chairs, refrigerators, radiators, and any other old furniture and equipment. You only need special paint and varnish.

First, the surface of the chairs is painted or pigmented with a dark color, and then covered with light or colored paint. When both layers are dry, apply craquelure varnish on top, under which the top layer will crack. This is a two-step craquelure, but there is also a one-step one, when the base itself is visible in the cracks, and not the bottom layer of paint.

Restoration process: step-by-step instructions

If the “original” bolts connecting the supporting structure become loose, they are strengthened with an additional washer. For greater reliability, you can add a little universal glue to the grooves.

Replace the sea grass and horsehair used in the old days as fillers with foam rubber.

A leaky seat is updated by replacing the base with slats and/or the upholstery is completely restored. The worn surface is freed from old material. The chair is prepared for further restoration:

• cut a piece of plywood to fit the seat;
• glue foam rubber onto the base (width - 3-4 cm);
• fix the plywood around the perimeter;
• stretch the upholstery fabric onto the finished base;
• secure the material with a stapler and staples.

A chair that is updated at home can be designed better than it looked before.

You can completely replace the back with a curly one, if the design allows.

You don't have to place the fabric on the outer sides of the seat. Then the upholstery is folded inward around the perimeter. The seat frame will be visible.

The fabric chosen is resistant to abrasion and mechanical stress, and quite dense.

A restored chair can be further decorated - make the wooden surface lighter or darker, or design the back or legs differently.

Replacing holey or worn upholstery is a matter of one hour.

When updating, you can use a variety of materials. With good carpentry skills, a restored chair acquires an individual style. This takes into account the material - wood type, density, texture.

Scratch (crack) size	Means
Small shallow scratches	Iodine solution
Small cracks	Putty (carpentry, automotive)
Deep scratches	Shoe polish, mastic (heated beeswax + turpentine in a ratio of 4:3)

You can independently clean the wooden surface of old furniture and cover it with a transparent or tinted composition, or introduce new elements into the decor.

The chairs included in the set must be decorated in the same style.

If the chair is antique, then it must be restored very carefully. Be sure to give the applied composition time to dry.

For an antique chair, choose decorative material with embroidery.

The costs of restoration at home are minimal.

Round the edges using a jigsaw and sand the edges with sandpaper.

Scuffs and brushing

The easiest way to make shabby furniture look stylish and eye-catching is to age it even more. Such chairs will complement classic interiors, Provence, boho, shabby chic, Scandinavian interiors and even loft. The fashion for retro and antiques regularly returns with short breaks. To make ordinary decorative abrasions, first paint the chair with colored paint: bright or pastel, to match your interior. After drying, thoroughly treat the surface with wax or paraffin and cover it with another layer of paint of a different color on top. As you begin to remove the wax with sandpaper, the bottom layer will begin to show through. The technique of creating real mechanical abrasions on wooden furniture is called brushing. First, choose and mark the places where they will look as natural as possible - corners, edges, edge of the seat, protruding reliefs. Brush the surface with a stiff wire brush, which will remove old paintwork and soft wood fibers.

Vinyl self-adhesive film

In any hardware store you can find a wide variety of multi-colored self-adhesive tapes with beautiful patterns. This option for finishing an old stool is quick, simple, and inexpensive. For pasting you will need vinyl self-adhesive film, primer, sandpaper, varnish.

The process of updating a stool is not much different from the previous ones. First you need to sand the surfaces, then wash them thoroughly with soapy water. Prime the seat and legs with primer. All that remains is to cut the self-adhesive to the required size, tracing the elements to be pasted. It is better if you leave a few centimeters of material, which will then tuck under the seat. Now glue the vinyl film, smooth it out and cover the updated chair with several layers of varnish.

List of materials and tools for restoration

Before starting work, it is necessary to assess the condition of the furniture and identify problem areas - damage to body elements, deterioration of the paintwork or unusable connecting components. After this, you need to draw up a restoration plan - repair or replace parts of the chair, restore the protective layer or improve the fasteners. Usually these works are performed in combination.

Depending on the type of restoration measures, the optimal set of tools and consumables is selected. The minimum configuration should include the following components:

• screwdriver or screwdriver;
• furniture stapler;
• hammer, jigsaw, grinder;
• a sheet of plywood, preferably four-layer;
• varnish and stain;
• set of brushes;
• clamps for fastening chair elements;
• screws, self-tapping screws.

For better connection of parts, it is recommended to purchase special wood glue.

Methods and types of restoration

Restoration in the literal sense of the word means returning an object to its original appearance without making any unauthorized changes. Such work is carried out by restoration specialists who have years of training behind them. They are trusted to restore rare art objects. In our case, “home” restoration allows for changes to be made to the design of chairs that were not previously included in the design.

The goal of this process is to create an original interior element, and not to restore authentic furniture. A variety of techniques are used during restoration. For some stylistic decisions, only a certain method is suitable, while others use a competent combination of techniques. One of the striking examples is furniture for the Provence style. To update an old chair, they combine painting (mostly in light colors), decoupage techniques and craquelure. The most popular restoration methods include the following techniques:

• Painting. The fastest and least labor-intensive way to restore chairs. Depending on the type of paint, the surface can be given a glossy or matte shine.
• Craquelure. This is a technique for artificially aging the surface, imitating “worn-out” wood.
• Decoupage. A popular technique for transferring images from paper (postcards, napkins) to the surface of a chair and then fixing the image with varnish.
• Artistic painting. Applying original drawings and patterns to the prepared surface of the chair. You can be guided only by a flight of fancy or use ready-made stencils.
• Adhesive films, tapes. Stick directly onto the chair. Their surface imitates the texture of natural materials: stone, wood, leather.
• Veneering. The chair is covered with thin sheets of veneer (cut wood) with an original texture. Additionally, the decor is secured with varnish.
• Lamination. The technique is similar to decorating using adhesive films or veneer, but the sheets are fixed not with glue, but with synthetic resins, which are pre-coated with the back side of the decorative paper.
• Inlay. Decorating a surface by attaching parts from other materials to it. For wooden chairs, pieces of marble, ornamental stones, mother of pearl, metals, and ceramics are used.
• Painting with a “scuffed” effect. It is carried out in two stages. First, the surface of the chair is partially covered with a layer of dark paint. She is allowed to dry. After this, they are additionally coated with wax. Now the entire product is painted in a light tone. After the composition has dried, the “darkened” areas are thoroughly sanded, exposing the lower layers of wax and paint.

Of course, the list is not limited to these methods. Chairs can be decorated using pieces of old leather, fabric, small fittings, and carved elements made specifically for this furniture.

Replacing the soft seat

Before restoring the chair, you must then wait until the glue has completely dried. Then the product can be painted, varnished, decoupaged or decorated with painting. Everything will depend on the desire and imagination of the owner.

If your chair has a soft seat that needs replacing, now is the time to start. First you need to remove the old fabric and padding. If there are defects on the wooden surface, they must be eliminated.

Markings should be made on the new foam rubber. The old seat is applied to the foam rubber and outlined with a felt-tip pen. To cut evenly, you need to take a sharp knife. Then make a pattern on the fabric, taking into account allowances for hems and foam. Next, lay the pattern out face down on a flat surface. Foam rubber is placed on top, and then the seat. The seam allowances need to be turned to the wrong side, pulled tight and aligned with the front side. Align the folds at the corners, fold the edges and attach the material using a stapler. If you don’t have it on hand, you can use small carnations with wide heads. Secure the updated seat to the frame with metal corners and screws. If the chair has a soft back, then it is restored in the same manner as the seat.

A completely restored and transformed chair will serve its owners for many years.

What to choose as a filler?

Most often this is sheet foam rubber. It comes in different thicknesses, the optimal thickness being 4-5 cm. You can use padding polyester as a lining between the fabric and foam rubber.

This method will simplify further stretching of the fabric and eliminate unnecessary folds.

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Preparing tools

Having determined the degree of wear of structural parts, you need to stock up on the necessary tools. Let's try to figure out what is needed for repairs.

To strengthen the frame, you will have to acquire a chisel, wood glue or PVA glue, and wooden blocks to replace furniture tenons or spacers. Spikes are used to fasten frame parts.

If the legs of the chair are loose, the tenons must be removed, coated with glue and inserted into the structure, after which the elements must be fixed for several hours. At home, you can use a regular belt to tie parts together.

Chairs can be varnished, stained or painted. To remove the damaged coating, you need to sand the surface of the chair - it is not necessary to completely remove the old layer of paint or varnish, just level it. Here you will need coarse and fine sandpaper or a sanding machine. When completely changing the design, it is worth using a special composition that dissolves the paint - technical acetone.

After preparing the frame for new painting, you need to apply a primer under the paint - usually it is gray or white. Paint and varnish materials will be required. They are selected depending on the conditions of use, whether this household item will be exposed to adverse effects from moisture, steam or sun. Instructions are included with each coloring product. After reviewing it, choose the appropriate one.

Before varnishing, to preserve the wood, it is treated with stain, wax or oil. These furniture products come in a variety of colors to match the different colors of natural wood. After covering the frame of a wooden chair with a water-based stain of the desired color, a layer of varnish follows; when using a polymer-based stain, varnish coating is not necessary.

Next you have to decide what the seat finish will be. If it is a hard seat, then we paint it according to the same rules as the frame. If you have to deal with a soft seat, you need to stock up on foam rubber and fabric for upholstery. A furniture stapler with appropriately sized staples will come in handy here. The fabric can also be secured using special furniture nails and a hammer.

When working with a spring block, it may be necessary to replace the springs or the entire block. You need to ask in advance if these materials are available for repair work or if you need to change your strategy and abandon springs in favor of foam rubber.

Fabric decoupage

Everyone knows that decoupage is the creation of beautiful applications from paper.
But for these purposes you can also use scraps of beautiful fabric. This method of decorating old stools is characterized by speed of execution and unusual results. In the process of using a stool covered with fabric, threads from the finishing material may become knocked out, but this is not a problem. They simply cut off and the chair will look like new again. For fabric decoupage of a chair, you will need upholstery fabric or multi-colored scraps, PVA glue or a special decoupage analogue, a stationery knife, and a brush for applying the adhesive composition.

The entire process of pasting a stool can be divided into the following stages:

Removing the seat and backrest (if equipped) using a screwdriver. Painting a chair if you want to completely freshen up the design. Spread the fabric on a flat surface. Outlining the vision of the chair on the fabric

It is important to step back a few centimeters from the edge so that you can bend them under the seat. Coating the outside of the seat with PVA glue or a special composition for decoupage

Smoothing the fabric and coating the outside of the material with glue.

Now you need to leave the chair overnight so that the glue dries thoroughly. All that remains is to trim off the excess material with a stationery knife. To ensure that the decoupled seat serves you for a long time and does not fray, cover the edges with glue to fix the result. If the chair has other elements, for example, a back and armrests, then they should also be decorated with fabric.