How to make a modern one out of an old chair: features of do-it-yourself restoration

I'm a woodworker and love to give old things a second chance. We recently brought back an old chair from the dacha, which was clearly worth showing off in our living room. True, for this it needed to be completely updated and restored. We did it with our own hands quickly and simply; anyone can repeat this “feat” with their own used furniture using our instructions.

Materials and tools:

stapler and staples;
sharp scissors;
3 cm wood screws;
5 cm wood screws;
high density foam rubber;
cotton or polyethylene batting;
elastic upholstery;
3 meters of upholstery fabric;
a large piece of cardboard;
cardboard potholder;
2 metal strips for fastening;
hammer or mallet;
upholstery nails;
cambric fabric (black lining);
4 finished legs;
4 mounting plates for legs.

How to re-string: step-by-step guide

One of the ways to restore an old leather chair is to reupholster it. This process is quite lengthy and labor-intensive. First of all, new fabric is purchased. Upholstery can be done with leather or other popular materials. Some experts also recommend purchasing substances for padding (foam rubber, batting). To simplify the reupholstering operation, you also need to have a stapler, nails, hammer, etc.

The algorithm for solving this problem can be described in several successive steps:

The first stage involves removing the fabric from the bottom of the chair. In simple models, this part is fixed only from the bottom

But there are complex models, so it is important to initially free this part and then proceed with the remaining operations.

After this, the fabric is completely removed from the surface of the structure. It is important to do this sequentially to avoid any damage to the elements. Please note that each element of the chair is covered with one piece of fabric

Therefore, it must be released sequentially, layer by layer. You should not tear these elements, since they will then need to be used as blanks for cutting.

The next step is to dismantle the old foam upholstery. To remove it, you should carefully unbend it and remove all the metal brackets with which it was secured. Also try not to tear the material, which will later be used as blanks when replacing foam rubber.

Cut out the material. This operation involves the formation of new upholstery elements. To do this, use old pieces of fabric that were attached to the armrests, backrest and seat. The size of the new elements should be slightly larger than the old ones. This is due to the fact that it is not always possible to predict how accurately the fabric will fit. Therefore, it is better to take it with a reserve.

This step involves fixing the foam. Previously prepared pieces are sequentially placed on a specific part of the chair. If the foam protrudes in certain places, then it should be cut off. This way the appearance of each element is formed. Then a padding polyester is placed on top of the foam rubber. After this, both substances are fixed to the frame using a stapler. It is important to attach them so that they follow the contours of individual parts of the structure.

The process is completed by attaching the fabric. This operation is very similar to the previous one. But it is important to place the pieces correctly on the surface. Before fixing, carefully align the fabric and tension it. Initially, the middle part of the workpiece is nailed with staples. This is necessary in order to avoid distortions. Then each of the corners is sequentially stretched and secured using a stapler.

Table repair

Tables are classified according to functionality into desks, dining tables, kitchen tables and coffee tables. Depending on their purpose, their structure and, consequently, the restoration process also differ. Typically, dining tables consist of 4 legs, a bow and a tabletop. They can be solid or folding

When remodeling such furniture, it is worth paying special attention to the condition of all elements, as well as their fastening. The legs must be identical, without damage

If necessary, they can be replaced.

The tabletop, in turn, is the main part of the table. Its surface should be smooth, without grooves, cracks and corrosion. If necessary, wood putty can be used to achieve the desired effect. With its help, you can easily and quickly eliminate all surface imperfections. If necessary, it can also be used to repair legs. The same scheme is used when repairing coffee tables.

Kitchen tables have their own characteristics. Before starting repairs, it is necessary to conduct a full inspection of this piece of furniture. The strength of the countertop plays an important role. It must withstand heavy loads and physical impact. In this regard, the base on which it is installed must also be strong.

An example of using wood putty, which will help correct all the unevenness of an old countertop

If the table is equipped with shelves, then you should pay attention to their fasteners. If necessary, you can purchase special caps made of wood or plastic at a furniture store; a thin, durable metal corner can also be used as a fastening for shelves.

Pay attention to the condition of the canopies that secure the door. It is best to replace them with new ones, since with frequent use this part is subject to the greatest wear.

Natural wood is given freshness by special polishing agents, which can be found in any hardware or furniture store.

If the table is equipped with drawers, check how firmly their walls and bottom are connected. To make them easier to use, you can replace the fittings with which the drawers are pulled out. You can buy it at a furniture store. You can also buy various types of comfortable handles there.

When repairing a desk, you should pay attention to all of the above. After watching a detailed master class on remaking old furniture with your own hands, you can repeat it yourself

An example of a restored bedside table. Now it is a bright element of the interior and a functional piece of furniture in the bedroom

Do-it-yourself chair reupholstery

Let's take a step-by-step look at the process of reupholstering a chair

Replacing foam rubber

The next stage of do-it-yourself chair restoration will be replacing the foam rubber. List of brands used in furniture production:

Album

Brands of foam rubber-1

Album

Brands of foam rubber-1

Album

Brands of foam rubber-1

Album

Brands of foam rubber-2

Album

Brands of foam rubber-2

ST – standard type,
EL – has a medium degree of hardness,
HS – soft type,
HL – super hard,
HR – low degree of rigidity, most often used in the manufacture of upholstered furniture.

In our case, HR is the best option.

It is best to cut foam rubber with a knife with a long blade sharpened on an abrasive stone. We cut in several stages.

Replacing passes (belts)

After we have decided on the foam rubber, we check the passes. They can be made of rubber or thick canvas fabric.

They are fixed to a wooden frame with nails, and in rare cases they are punched through with staples.

We remove the old belts, measure their length and, with a little tension, replace them with new ones. The edges of the belt must be folded (folded at least in two). In this position they will last a long time and will not stretch under heavy weight.

The straps are tight, now you need to secure the foam. We coat the passes with foam glue and carefully adjust the seat first, and then the back.

After we have the frame ready, we proceed to choosing the fabric.

Chair upholstery with fabric

Today, the textile industry offers a wide range of fabrics for repairing and upholstering chairs.

Fabric for upholstery:

We cut out the front and back parts of the backrest from the first meter of fabric, and the seat from the remainder.

Having made the cut, we need to check whether we have maintained the dimensions correctly by covering the seat with a cut piece of fabric. Having set the angles correctly as shown in the figure, we begin to “shoot” our cover to the frame of the chair.

We fix the rest of the fabric with staples, and make sure to pull it towards ourselves.

The corners can be sewn by machine or, if not essential, by hand, using a fine seam.

At the moment of fixing the cover to the frame, we punch the staples at intervals of 3-4 cm. If these are nails with a wide head, then the distance should be slightly less.

Once we have changed the seat upholstery, we do the same with the backrest.

You should always remember that restoring a chair with your own hands always requires consistency in work, as well as attention.

Select fabric for upholstering the chair seat

Ohhh! The choice of fabric was almost the most difficult moment in this whole story. I went to the Internet to ask Google what it could tell me about fabric stores in St. Petersburg. What I found was a sad sadness. The sites are in the style of the early 2000s and the photos of the assortment are such that I was amazed. Driving around the city looking for fabric, not being sure that I would find what I needed, somehow didn’t make me smile at all.

And then I remembered my favorite fabric store, Myata Fabric, with beautiful modern prints. Now the guys are launching their own fabric production and will soon open a relaunched website, and I was lucky to grab one of the last pieces from the old collection. And I don’t regret for a second that I had to wait until the fabric reached me by mail from Yekaterinburg. It was definitely worth the wait.

Step-by-step recovery instructions

So, after the preparation has been completed, we can proceed directly to restoring the old chair. Here's what you have to do:

First of all, get rid of chips and possible cracks. This is done using putty.
Then sand the wood thoroughly with sandpaper, first coarse and then fine, until the work surface is smooth.
Take a good look at the stele and all its parts. If the legs are wobbly, then this needs to be addressed. There are several options: either using a wedge (it is driven in from the end of the axle), or wrapping the axle with a bandage and then covering it with glue.
If the legs of the chair are very wobbly, but for one reason or another they could not be dismantled, then there is one way that helps solve the problem. So, you need to drill a thin hole at the joint, and then pour glue into it using a syringe.
In order for the glue to “stick” better and the connection to become reliable, place any available weight on the seat and wait until the glue is completely dry.
After this, the chair seat is restored, if necessary. It can consist of either soft upholstery or be made of wood. It all depends on the design of the chair. As for remaking the frame, you can use several different finishing options for it, ranging from varnish or red coating to such a rare technique as decoupage.

Restoration of frame parts

The concept of “restoration” includes not only reupholstery, but also restoration of the wooden parts of the chair. Over time, decorative parts (armrests, turned elements, curly chair legs) become unusable, that is, they become dull, the varnish surface wears off, and small cracks appear on the furniture frame.

What can be done in this case?

To solve this problem we will need:

Sandpaper,
Scraper,
Blade from a stationery knife.
Varnish, stain.

Every part needs to be sanded. You need to start with coarse grains, gradually moving to smaller ones.

After the parts have been sanded, carefully remove the dust with a damp cloth or foam sponge.
Apply nitro varnish with a soft brush until completely dry.
After the varnish has dried, you can run your hand over the surface and feel how the pile rises. Using the finest sandpaper, we carefully “knock down” the raised fibers, that is, we make the surface smooth.
Then you can apply a stain (alcohol, water or white spirit based) and only then cover it with any commercially available varnish.

How to update old furniture: ideas

Old chairs are often very strong and durable. But after a long period of use, they lose their attractive appearance. Do not rush to throw away such furniture, as it can be easily restored.

The technology for updating a chair depends, first of all, on its design. This can be done using several approaches:

Pieces from the 60s can be restored simply by changing the upholstery. This process is relatively simple. The main thing is to choose the right fabric style. Some designers recommend using several color shades that will fit into the overall interior.
Restoration of the external covering. This approach involves changing the paint layer on wooden or metal surfaces. It is used for chairs made of rattan, wood, wicker and other natural products. This also includes restoration of natural or artificial leather (painting, cleaning, etc.).
Replacement of certain elements. An old chair will look original if you replace the armrest with a product of a different shape. You can do the same with the legs or back. Here everything depends only on your imagination and capabilities.

What materials are used

There are many different pillows in supermarkets and online stores:

for sleeping, comfortable sitting on an armchair, sofa;
seat cushions placed on stools for softness; and furniture of different colors and shapes.

Pillows are sewn in the form:

curved hard bolsters for placing under the back;
tiny thoughts under your head;
and even thick blankets.

In order for a garden accessory to last a long time, you need to choose the right fabric.

Exposure to the sun causes the fabric to quickly fade. If there is a swimming pool, fountain or shower on your personal plot, then moisture resistance is also needed.

Fabrics

The fabric must be especially durable. If you have children or pets on holiday in the garden in the summer, you can share space with them on a wooden swing, bench or chair. For strength, it is recommended to stuff the fabric with filler and stitch it. In a separate segment, limited by a line, it will be easier to eliminate damage.

When choosing material for sewing pillows, remember several essential requirements:

The color you like should dominate the surrounding environment, or create a feeling of harmony if everything is decorated in the same style;
The fabric must be resistant to fading, otherwise it will quickly take on an unkempt appearance;
Natural fabrics wear out and shrink very quickly. Synthetic lasts a long time, but it is not pleasant to the skin. You need to choose textiles with the optimal combination of synthetic and natural threads.
The material should be soft enough to be comfortable to sit on. In this case, the fabric must be dense and resistant to mechanical damage.

An important role in furniture accessories is played by padded fabric, which must also meet strictly specified conditions.

Peculiarities

Previously, furniture from the USSR times was shamelessly taken to landfills or, at best, sent to the dacha. It seemed that a polished table or a full-wall set would never become relevant again. Today, fashion, which has taken another turn, believes that the same polished table can become the highlight of the interior, and grandfather’s old chair will fit perfectly into the cozy picture of your living room.

Small apartments would not have accommodated the bulky, massive furniture of the earlier Soviet period, so the Thaw designers were inspired by the concept of minimalism.

To reduce the cost of furniture, affordable and cheap materials began to be used: chipboard, plywood, polymers. That is why armchairs and sofas with wooden backs and armrests, purchased in the 30s, could survive to this day in more solid condition than armchairs from the 60s. During the “thaw” period, furniture began to be varnished more and more.

In most cases, armchairs were sold in sets: they could come as a set together with a sofa or coffee table. These were mainly models with wooden armrests. They could not be called quite comfortable - the minimalist concept did not imply that a home chair would promote relaxation. But modern people miss such furniture from childhood, are imbued with its laconicism, simple aesthetics and want to see it in their interior.

What will you need for work?

A certain set of materials and tools for restoration, of course, is needed. If you already have paint brushes, paints and standard tools, you need to buy much less than if you start restoration from scratch. What you need to update your furniture:

spatula and chisel;
screwdriver;
hammer;
wood glue;
stationery knife;
roller;
a set of brushes;
varnish with moisture-resistant properties;
acrylic paints;
foam;
grinding machine;
sandpaper;
stapler;
new springs;
awl;
screwdriver;
large needles with silk threads.

Everything else is optional. Fabric for covering, decoupage for decorating armrests, rivets can be included in the design project. But the list outlined above is what will be useful in virtually every case. With these tools, you can successfully restore the chair.

Attach the seat to the chair

Depending on what fasteners you originally used, use them to secure the seat to the base of the chair. I attached the seat with a glue gun, since my chair is used more for decorative purposes - it stands in a corner, I put a blanket, clothes on it, and put a bag on it. If you plan to use the chair to its fullest extent, then it is better to take care of a more serious fastening.

This is what happened in the end!

There was an old, shabby chair that I felt sorry for and wanted to throw in the trash, but what came out was a bright and cheerful yellow chair with a modern print on the fabric that fits perfectly into the interior. Paint and a brush can work wonders.

What you can do on your own

Most often, the following types of work are performed at home:

Padding. This option is necessary if the old upholstery has worn out and requires replacement. The old fabric is removed and a new one is stretched in its place, and this may be a different color option, which will immediately change the appearance of the chair.
Replacing the filler. If the chair is dented and the soft armrests have become hard, this is a sure sign that it is time to replace the filling. Most often, this type of work is carried out in conjunction with replacing the upholstery, so that you do not have to disassemble the chair twice.

The filler can be purchased at furniture stores; it can even be in the shape of an armrest or other element

Upholstery structure. This option involves placing fabric even in places where there used to be wood. For example, if wooden armrests have worn out over time and it is impossible to restore an attractive appearance, then it is easier to cover them with fabric and lay foam rubber, turning hard elements into soft ones.
Frame repair. This includes all work to restore and strengthen the structure, replace failed elements and strengthen loose connections. Sometimes it is necessary to completely change individual elements due to their poor condition, and sometimes it is enough to carry out minor repairs.

Paint a chair

An important question is what paint to paint the chair. It’s very simple: I came to the store and asked the consultant to advise what paint would be suitable for painting a wooden chair. They recommended semi-matte Tikurilla Pesto 30 to me. I chose the color from palettes in the store and the consultant mixed me the right jar of paint.

I painted the chair three times in total. When you apply paint for the first time, you want to exclaim “Whoa?” The paint is applied in a thin layer, the dark wood shines through it, and the brush leaves grooves in the paint. The main thing here is patience.

Between each coat I waited a day for the paint to dry completely.

Disassembling the chair

Before you start working, you need to disassemble the old chair and see what's inside.

As a rule, it is a wooden frame, foam rubber on the back and seat. It is held in place by rubber or textile slings.

Also included in the components are legs and armrests (polished or fabric-look). The back wall of the chair is secured with plywood. That's probably all.

We determine what needs to be replaced. We carefully knock out all the tenon parts with a rubber hammer so as not to damage the edges and preserve the polish.
Using a scalpel or a knife with a thin tip, we clean the grooves so that there are no glue residues inside.
We coat the tenon parts with PVA glue, and then wrap the bandage directly onto the tenon.
We carefully hammer everything into place and wait a day for it to dry completely.

Secure the fabric with a staple gun

First, I secured the fabric with a stapler on four sides so that the fabric would not fidget and then separately walked around the perimeter. First on the sides of the seat and only lastly on the corners. During the process, I made sure that the fabric was well stretched, but not too tight.

Perhaps it was my simple staple gun, or maybe it was the plywood seat, but the staples did not go all the way into the seat, so I tapped them all with a hammer to secure them properly.

Accessories

Modern chairs are made from various materials. The design of such modifications consists of many elements that can be replaced if necessary. Often these chairs include office models that are equipped with a gas lift mechanism. To restore such products, you may need several types of components:

Rollers. This mechanism is made from various types of plastic.

When choosing this product, it is important to consider its purpose, connector type and fixation method.

Gas lift. Almost all office chairs are equipped with this element, which allows you to hold the chair at a certain height

Today there are several types of these designs on the market. It is important to pay attention to the type of mechanism that was previously used in the damaged chair.

Cross. Plays the role of a supporting element. Made in the form of a 5-ray star, to which rollers are attached. When purchasing, it is important to pay attention to the quality of the material and the way the parts are connected.

There are many other components that will be needed when repairing such furniture. This can include everything from small handles and bolts to specialized fabrics.

Overview of species

Nowadays, furniture factories produce a great variety of different models of chairs, complemented by wooden sides. This furniture differs both in its direct design and in the materials used. The final cost of the finished product depends on these factors. Let us consider in detail what types of chairs there are that differ from each other according to the indicated characteristics.

By design

Compact upholstered furniture with wooden side parts can have different designs

Each specimen has its own device features, which are important to consider when selecting similar products.

Standard models. The most widespread options found in many homes. They can be recognized by one distinctive feature - the arrangement of their legs. The supports in such a furniture design can be either straight or elegantly curved and will definitely be present. The role of decorative and functional details that positively influence the level of comfort of furniture can be side supporting structures - the so-called “wings”, roller-type armrests or poufs.

Based on materials

Chairs with wooden sides differ not only in design, but also in the materials used to make the frame base.

Wood (natural). Environmentally friendly and durable option. It emits pleasant aromas, but such a frame will require periodic treatment with antiseptics. Can be expensive.
Chipboard or MDF. Inexpensive materials. Inferior to natural wood in many respects. Laminated chipboard is completely toxic, since it contains formaldehyde. Only materials of classes E-1 or E-0 are safe.
Metal. Furniture with a metal frame is the most reliable, durable, non-capricious and wear-resistant. But such products have an impressive mass - they can be difficult to transport or rearrange from place to place. Their weight may leave unsightly marks on the floor.

Rarely is a frame made from one type of material. Combinations of several types are usually used. Most often, metal is used at the base of the racks, fasteners and lower stops, but the entire structure, as a rule, is metal only in the case of garden furniture.

The upholstery of chairs with wooden armrests also varies. The following materials are suitable:

leather (natural or artificial);
jacquard;
shennyl;
tapestry;
silk;
velveteen;
organza and many others.

Original ideas on how to update an old Soviet chair

After sheathing, and before it:

After sheathing and before it

Another update option:

Another update option

Complete office chair renovation

A master can update the chair more efficiently, but it is possible to restore it yourself. It is necessary to choose high-quality upholstery material. Restore the appearance of furniture to match the interior of the room. Then there will be no need to purchase new furniture.

If you have an old chair at home, don’t rush to throw it away, try updating it! To restore the chair, you don’t even need to go to a special workshop; it’s easy to repair it yourself.

Repairing a chair with your own hands is a completely simple task and accessible to any beginner. In this article we will introduce you to a simple restoration of a chair with wooden armrests.

The simplest ways to restore the sides of a sofa

The unsightly appearance of the tattered sides of the sofa can be tidied up in several ways.

If it is not possible to wean your cat off his favorite sofa, try upholstering upholstered furniture with a special matting for cats. By doing this carefully and symmetrically, you can solve several problems at once - the cat will be quite happy, the sofa looks quite aesthetically pleasing, and it won’t be awkward in front of guests because of the tattered furniture.
When there is no desire or opportunity to reupholster the entire sofa, you can only reupholster the armrests of the sofa with your own hands. Cats do not like to sharpen their claws on slippery surfaces, so it is better to use inexpensive dermantine than soft leatherette. This looks much more aesthetically pleasing than a tattered sofa, and partial reupholstery of the sofa “under the skin” will add a little newness and elegance, of course, if the design of the sofa allows it. At the same time, do not forget to provide the cat with a new surface for “scratching”, and rub the updated sofa on the inner surfaces with orange peels.
You can completely replace the sides of the sofa, especially if it does not have a folding mechanism, by ordering it from a carpentry shop or furniture shop, again, if it looks harmonious with your product. Perhaps the cat will also begin to scratch the wooden sides, but this does not look so untidy, and unpolished wood can be sanded periodically.

Required materials and tools

You can use a standard set of tools, and a set of brushes and paints for a painter. Unavailable tools are purchased according to the recommendations of the master, so as not to damage the parts during work. Pure wood furniture is sensitive to floors and can dry out.

First you need to select a set of tools and materials or ask a specialist to select the necessary

Required materials and tools:

chisel, spatula;
hammer, screwdriver;
stationery knife, wood glue;
set of brushes, roller;
acrylic paints, water-repellent varnish;
sanding machine, foam rubber;
stapler, sandpaper, new springs;
screwdriver, awl, large needles with silk threads.

Cut the fabric for the seat

Several years ago the seat was already reupholstered, but the cat sharpened its nails on the old fabric and it became unsightly. At the same time, the seat itself was completely normal, so I did not change the fabric and foam inside, but simply decided to wrap the seat with new fabric.

I laid the seat on the fabric and cut it around the perimeter with an allowance of 4-5 cm.

Master classes

Repairing chairs is a labor-intensive and time-consuming job that needs to be learned from real professionals. A true craftsman will not only restore the functionality of the product, but also give it a unique design. We invite you to familiarize yourself with various approaches to repairing chairs.

To learn how to restore a chair with your own hands, watch the following video.

To learn how to create an art object from grandma’s chairs with your own hands, see below.

At the end there is a video about the restoration of an old chair.

Probably everyone in their home has old furniture (bedside tables, chairs, sofas and armchairs) that have become unusable over time. “It’s a pity to throw it away, and there’s not always enough money to buy a new one,” many people are immediately upset about this, not even suspecting that old furniture can be restored and restored. As an example, in this article we will reupholster an old chair with our own hands.

Restoration: patchwork technique

It is worth noting that there is no need to use elastic materials. Choose simple things without complex patterns. Use old upholstery as a template.

If you are restoring chairs for the first time, then you need to choose square or rectangular elements for upholstery.

Cut the required number of flaps and distribute them over the surface of the seat. The flaps may vary in width. This will create a “mosaic” effect. Sew a ribbon from pieces of fabric. To do this, you can use a machine or do everything by hand. Collect the resulting strips into a single canvas. Try the template on the seat. Cut off any excess. Secure the upholstery.

How to repair it yourself?

Chairs today have different designs, on which the algorithm for repair work depends. If this is an ordinary wooden product, then repairing it is quite simple. It is necessary to identify the problem, which is often poor-quality fasteners or a violation of the structure of the material. This can be corrected by replacing the wooden element (backrest elements, frame base, etc.) with a new one or simply tightening the bolt.

More difficult to repair are shell chairs, which often have fabric outer upholstery. To get to the breakdown, you first need to dismantle the fabric. The process of repairing such chairs is much more complicated, so it is not always possible at home.

Office chairs are mechanisms that consist of several parts. There are many reasons why this design loses its characteristics:

Rollers falling out. Often this can only be corrected by replacing the crosspiece or these moving elements

It is important to first check the cause of the breakdown (broken hole, missing retaining ring on the roller, etc.

Gas lift malfunction. There are also several reasons here, including improper fastening of the piastrum or malfunction of the control lever mechanism. Therefore, you should check these attributes first.

Breakage of the cross. The functionality of this element can only be restored by replacing it with a new one.

The back does not spring. The main cause of this problem is the violation of the integrity of the metal parts inside. Sometimes the spring mechanism also fails. Operation can only be restored by replacing parts with new ones.

Wicker models are a special type of chairs. Repairing them requires certain skills. You can restore a rocking chair by replacing the damaged rods with new ones. To do this, you need to unravel the place where they are fixed and install the previously prepared elements. Rattan chairs are a little easier to repair. This process is carried out using a special glue that holds the broken threads together.

Refreshing the color and design of old wood

The complete or partial transformation of a restored chair directly depends on the availability of certain tools and materials. Not many people know how to properly restore old chairs at home. In the process of restoring kitchen furniture, you cannot do without a drill (screwdriver), a small hammer, two different types of screwdrivers, scissors, a brush, a clamp, a stapler with mounting brackets, sandpaper, a small mallet and scissors. As the last component you will need:

self-tapping screws;
wood glue;
foam pillow;
varnish and coloring agents;
a piece of upholstery fabric.

At the first stage of repair, the surface should be restored. The furniture is cleaned of dust and thoroughly wiped with a wet sponge. Next, the seat and back of the body are removed and the components are disassembled. Sometimes it needs to be fixed. Use a rubber mallet instead of a metal hammer to avoid damaging the parts.

If the chair is assembled with screws, the structure can be disassembled without much effort with your own hands. It is enough to unscrew them for complete dismantling. You need to fold them in such a way as not to confuse them later. To clean any remaining epoxy glue, use a dampened rag, then carefully scrape it off with an old dull knife. The cleaned frame is left to dry for some time. Only then is the structure restored and remodeled.

Do-it-yourself chair reupholstery

Let's take a step-by-step look at the process of reupholstering a chair

Replacing foam rubber

The next stage of do-it-yourself chair restoration will be replacing the foam rubber. List of brands used in furniture production:

Album

Brands of foam rubber-1

Album

Brands of foam rubber-1

Album

Brands of foam rubber-1

Album

Brands of foam rubber-2

Album

Brands of foam rubber-2

ST – standard type,
EL – has a medium degree of hardness,
HS – soft type,
HL – super hard,
HR – low degree of rigidity, most often used in the manufacture of upholstered furniture.

In our case, HR is the best option.

It is best to cut foam rubber with a knife with a long blade sharpened on an abrasive stone. We cut in several stages.

Replacing passes (belts)

After we have decided on the foam rubber, we check the passes. They can be made of rubber or thick canvas fabric.

They are fixed to a wooden frame with nails, and in rare cases they are punched through with staples.

The straps are tight, now you need to secure the foam. We coat the passes with foam glue and carefully adjust the seat first, and then the back.

After we have the frame ready, we proceed to choosing the fabric.

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.

Product disassembly stages

If an office chair breaks, the first thing you need to do is disassemble the structure. To do this, you will need a rubber hammer, slotted and Phillips screwdrivers, and a ring drift. All actions are carried out in stages:

First of all, remove the seat, turn the chair over, and remove the fasteners.
Unscrew the bolts that secure the armrests and remove these parts along with the plates.
Disconnect the fasteners holding the permanent contact.
The crosspiece is separated from the pneumatic chuck by gently tapping the connection with a hammer.
The wheels are removed from the mounting sockets, and the plugs located in the steel case are removed. The procedure is performed using a slotted screwdriver.

Review of popular models of Ikea computer chairs for adults and children It is recommended to carry out all manipulations with the mechanisms while holding the structure suspended so as not to break the fragile plastic parts. For the same reason, you should not use physical force when unscrewing fasteners. After completing the dismantling of the computer chair, you need to collect all the parts in one place so as not to lose anything.

Assembly

To assemble a computer chair after the reupholstery procedure, it is important to assemble all the parts in the same order as they were taken apart. Having prepared the updated elements, the seat, and, if necessary, the backrest, you must immediately attach the base to which all other elements will be screwed

On the seat, armrests and a metal structure for the back are attached to the base. If the backrest was reupholstered, then after putting on the base, it must be inserted into a metal corner and clamped with a bolt with a large plastic head.

Before you sit down on a chair and try out the fruits of your work, you should go through all the fasteners and check their reliability in order to prevent deformation or loosening of any parts. Once the full check is completed, you can safely sit on the chair and enjoy the new, beautiful and comfortable furniture.

Features of chair restoration

I would like to note right away that despite the fact that all the work can be done without any problems with your own hands, this process is not the easiest, and if you doubt your abilities or do not have enough time to carry out the restoration, then it is better to entrust this process to specialists.

As for the features of recovery, they are as follows:

First of all, functionality is restored. All structural damage, loose connections and other similar problems can be easily eliminated if you know how to carry out the work correctly

In this case, it is very important to correctly identify all the problems in order to do exactly what requires your intervention. The appearance is also restored

At this stage, the upholstery is updated, as well as all wooden elements that are located outside and wear out over time. This part of the work is more responsible from the point of view that the result is visible to everyone, and if you do not do everything in the best way, you will have to redo the work again. If everything is done correctly, the restored chair will be no worse than a new one. And in some cases it’s even better, since previously furniture was made much stronger and materials were not saved. For this reason, it makes sense to take the time to restore a chair that has already served a lot.

An example of how a restored chair is transformed

Recommendations

To ensure that your computer chair lasts as long as possible, when planning reupholstery, you should choose the right type of material. You should focus on the following parameters:

material possibilities - fabrics can have a wide range of prices, so it is important to understand what you can count on;

interior design - when choosing the color, structure and print of the fabric, you need to take into account the interior of the room in which the furniture is located;

degree of use of the furniture - the choice of material should be made based on how often the chair will be used.

If a computer chair is completely upholstered with material, then it must be replaced everywhere so that the appearance of the product remains presentable. In addition to the seat and back, the armrests, which are also upholstered in fabric, often get very worn, so when purchasing material, it is worth including their dimensions in the size of the future canvas. The upholstery of the armrests is no different from working with other parts of the chair; they are immediately disassembled, then the old materials are replaced with new ones and the finished product is assembled. If the handles have wooden elements, it is recommended to update them by covering them with varnish or stain, which will make the appearance of the finished product more presentable.

To ensure that caring for the chair does not cause great difficulties, it is worth choosing not only durable and strong fabric. In addition, it should repel water and be easy to clean. If there is a question about choosing a color, it is better to buy a plain material, since the presence of a pattern may necessitate the selection of elements, which will increase the consumption of material, and accordingly, the cost and duration of the work.

An equally important point will be the choice of foam rubber, which is located under the upholstery. If its thickness or density is too small, then the comfort from using such a chair will be minimal. The choice of thickness should depend on the type of chair and the weight of the person who will sit on it. To increase the shock-absorbing properties and keep the soft parts of the chair elastic for as long as possible, you can lay a sheet of polyethylene foam on the base, which has greater elasticity and will not sag over time. By placing polyethylene, high-quality foam rubber and upholstery material, you can create a more comfortable computer chair than it was originally, and use it comfortably for a long time.

You can watch a detailed video about reupholstering a computer chair with your own hands below.