Upcycling "Old" Chairs Is Giving New MEANING To Layered Style
Between soaring prices, import fees, and long lead times, scoring the perfect brand-new chairs for your home isn't always a possibility. Shopping secondhand at antique and vintage shops for the ideal chair is great (and earth-friendly!) but if you don't have the eye—or imagination—for a makeover, you may find yourself leaving frustrated and empty-handed.
That would be a shame, because a chair with good bones but upholstery that doesn't thrill you could be an invitation to create just the right custom piece for your home. All it takes is a little vision to imagine the end result, then the know-how to make it happen. That's where we come in. We asked the experts to outline their favorite ways to makeover vintage chairs and turn them into the perfect pieces for your any space. (In the image above, note how these Erinn V. chairs set the tone for a San Francisco dining room designed by Palmer Weiss after the designer covered them in Schumacher (seat) and Fortuny (back) fabrics.)
According to pros, the key to a great chair makeover is as much about the fabric and upholstery treatment you choose as it is about the bones of the chair. You want to choose a piece that has a reliable origin and sturdy frame, as well as an item that, for lack of a better phrase, speaks to you. "For me, every piece has potential, but there are a few key factors I always consider before committing to a makeover," says design creator Geneva Vanderzeil. "Things like the structural integrity of the piece, its shape and style, and how easy the existing materials will be to makeover all factor into the decision. At the end of the day, I love giving pieces a second chance, whether they have a personal history, a unique backstory, or simply deserve to be saved from a landfill."
Ready for a '90s movie-montage-worthy makeover? Below, we're rounding up 11 inspiring chair reinventions, straight from the pros who know a thing or two about uncovering beauty. From faux painting techniques and quirky patchwork to mix-and-match patterns, these makeover ideas are sure to get your wheels turning—all the way to the secondhand store.
For More Furniture Makeover Inspiration:
When to Rehab an Old Piece of Furniture Yourself—And When to Leave It to the Pros
5 Furniture Pieces You Should Always Buy Secondhand
How to Reupholster Furniture Yourself
Pair Complementary Prints
Chairs that have designated sections, like a framed back and plush seat, offer the perfect opportunity to incorporate several of your favorite prints at once. In this dining room, "the wallpaper set the stage for these chairs," says Wendy Conklin of Chair Whimsy. "I carefully selected fabrics with textures and patterns that would complement it beautifully; the embroidered floral fabric paired seamlessly with a green-and-white stripe, while the polka dot print and blue velvet on the end chairs added layers of visual interest. Even though I mixed three different chair styles, I created a cohesive look by painting all the frames in the same soft off-white."
Add a Playful Pop
Much like a fun fabric lampshade or peek of wallpaper on the back of a shelving unit, upholstery projects can offer a little wink and nod that makes your entire design scheme feel thoughtful and nuanced. For these wood-framed chairs, "my client fell in love with the floral fabric but wanted an unexpected touch on the back," says Conklin. "I always love a good surprise element, so I curated a selection of coordinating fabrics for her to choose from. We landed on the yellow animal-print dot, which echoed the yellow tones in the floral fabric. To complete the look, I painted the frames a bold, bright gold, which gives the chairs a modern, luxurious twist."
Look for Unexpected "Fabric"
There's no end to how creative you can get when recovering a chair, even going so far as skipping the fabric aisle entirely in pursuit of your new print. Geneva Vanderzeil, a DIY expert, best-selling author, and founder of Collective Gen did just that when covering a chair with a rug, rather than upholstery fabric. "I’d seen high-end furniture pieces that embraced woven elements and rich fabrics, and I wanted to see if I could create that same warmth and coziness with an upcycled approach," she explains. "I was drawn to the idea of incorporating texture in an unexpected way. And I also wanted to push the boundaries of traditional upholstery by using a rug, a material not usually associated with chairs—giving new life to something that might otherwise be discarded. "
Up the Comfort
Remaking a chair isn't just an opportunity to tweak the aesthetic to your preferences; you can also use it as a chance to boost the comfort, too. Case in point? This upgraded lounge chair, which Vanderzeil used as an opportunity to add some plushness. "This lounge chair was all about embracing the sculptural beauty of its shape," she says. "Even though the original chair was in rough condition, I saw the potential in its unique curved design. Rather than looking at what it was, I focused on what it could be—a cozy piece with a fresh, modern aesthetic. The softness of the fabric, paired with the generous shape, makes it feel like a cloud. I wanted to create something that looked as inviting as it feels, and I think that really came through in the end result."
Fake a Fancy Finish
Generally speaking, recovering or reimagining furniture is a pretty thrifty process compared to buying new, but it will still cost you a pretty penny both for the fabric and the skilled trade work. If you're looking to tackle a DIY from scratch, consider breaking out your paintbrushes instead of your needle and thread. "There’s a technique I’ve been wanting to try for a while, which is using paint to turn the surface of a piece of furniture into a faux leather finish," said design creator and founder of Lone Fox, Drew Michael Scott, describing how he transformed this upholstered armchair. "I looked for a piece that already had super smooth fabric, then worked with varying shades of paint mixed with fabric softener to get that quintessential distressed leather look."
See The Entire Project
Tie on a Slipcover
Nervous about permanently altering family heirlooms? Forgo more invasive makeovers in favor of a slipcover that grants an instant upgrade to a well-loved piece, and can "dress up" your chairs for special occasions or any time you want. This three-piece collection from Houses and Parties is sized to perfectly fit a standard ballroom chair, with a seat cushion, ruffle apron, and back piece all made in a punchy, playful print. There are three different patterns available on site to choose from, or, if you're handy with a sewing machine, you might try whipping up a slipcover of any style yourself.
Piece Together Patches
Most passionate DIYers and design fans have an assortment of fabric scraps around just waiting for their moment in the spotlight. Instead of trashing your remnants (or worse, full-sized samples), consider combining them together for an eclectic upholstery project. "The patchwork chair has elegant lines and timeless design, which provided the perfect canvas for reinvention," says Hepzabeth Evans of The Upholstery Studio. "The reupholstering process featured Christopher Farr Cloth’s latest luxury fabric, Dodoma, beautifully blended with an eclectic mix of discontinued fabric scraps. By combining these high-quality remnants, we transformed what might have been waste into a striking design statement, highlighting the art of reuse and sustainable craftsmanship."
Decoupage-It-Yourself
Not every chair recovering project requires a trip to the upholsterer. For this cheeky piece, designer Camila Pavone relied on a craft aisle staple—Mod Podge decoupage paste—to reinvigorate a timeless bentwood chair. "This was such a classic-looking chair that I felt like painting it wouldn't make a huge impact," says the designer behind Effortless Style Interiors. "I'm a 'more is more' sort of girl, and when I looked at my fabric stash I realized I could easily decoupage it by wrapping fabric strips around the frame."
Let the Chairs Lead the Way
Sometimes, you can just tell what kind of makeover a chair is asking for, and its form will lead the way in dictating how exactly you recover it. For this collection of vintage dining chairs, that meant something bold and graphic. Designer Elizabeth Mollen of Stone Textile Studio turned to a nubby blue stripe to accent the unique angles seen on the polished black frames. "We fell in love with this set of Memphis-style dining chairs from 1st Dibs, but they needed a lot of help," she explains. "We refinished the frames in black and reupholstered the chairs with a heavy jewel toned stripe fabric as a fun way to give them new life."
Choose an Era-Specific Fabric
Your recovering and reupholstery projects will always look their best when you marry a fabric option with the DNA of your piece. A perfect example? These MCM chairs that designer Samantha Stathis Lynch of Samantha Ware Designs revived for her own New Jersey loft. "I came across a pair of mid-century chairs on Instagram a few years back and instantly knew I had to have them," she says. "I drove all the way out to the tip of Long Island to the antique store Beal and Bell just to pick them up, and had them reupholstered in a beautiful tapestry-like Pierre Frey fabric. The combination of the modern silhouette alongside the traditional yet bold fabric achieved the sense of contrast that I'm always looking for."
Team Up Complimentary Fabrics
If you're looking to embrace a more eclectic, mix-and-match look, aim for an assortment of fabrics that have a distinct commonality, such as color. "This particular chair was for a customer who had collected various fabrics over the years and wanted a statement piece," says Alice Marns of Marns Makes. "What made it work so well was that all the fabrics came from the same supplier and sat within a cohesive color palette, which ensured the piece felt intentional rather than random. I used one fabric for all the piping and added orange accent buttons to balance the color across the chair. These small details helped tie everything together, creating a harmonious look despite the mix of patterns and textures."
Incorporate Another Crafting Style
After seeing this genius chair makeover, you'll never see a cane the same way again. Pro cross stitcher Sally Wilson treated the perforated back and seat of this chair like it was cross-stitch cloth, weaving in a granny-chic floral pattern that feels fresh and unexpected. "I had seen these chairs before, and after 10 years in the cross-stitch world, every item with a grid or holes screams 'Stitch me please!'" says Wilson. "Instead of cotton thread, I used wool that I chose from my local haberdashery store. I was inspired by vintage roses and thought that theme would work perfectly on this chair with the juxtaposition of the black, modern frame, which offsets the colors beautifully."
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