Chair decor - step-by-step instructions with photo examples and new designs

Old heroes in a new color

Painting is the easiest and fastest way to update old chairs. Whether the new furniture will be single-colored, multi-colored or with a pattern depends on your imagination and preferences. The only question left is which paint to choose.

• Stain will perfectly highlight the beauty of old wood. It comes in different shades, but for restoration it is still better to give preference to dark ones.
• Milky natural paints are absolutely harmless; they give the surface a charming matte and vintage look. Painting tape will help create a contrasting striped pattern or pattern on the chairs.
• Latex or oil paints will provide rich, vibrant color. Stools will become more modern if you paint the legs in different colors.
• Spray paint makes it possible to create any design using a stencil. As an option, you can put a lace napkin on the seat, back, and arms of the chair and apply paint through it. The result is a delicate rustic design.

The work is carried out in the following order:

• Remove the old coating from the surface using sandpaper.
• Degrease and prime.
• After drying, they are painted in one or several layers of paint or stain, and then varnished.

Removing old varnish and painting

You will need:

• sandpaper (sanding machine);
• nail puller;
• wood primer;
• acrylic paint;
• roller and brushes.

The process of decorating a chair.

Updating chairs with your own hands must begin with preparatory work. The first step is to remove the upholstery; this must be done carefully so as not to damage the surface. Then use a nail puller or pliers to remove the nails. After which they begin to remove the old varnish; this can be done in several ways: using a grinding machine, sandpaper, broken glass.

At home, the easiest way is to use medium-grit sandpaper, which you need to moisten, then walk over the surface in a circular motion several times. This will soften the old varnish and come off. Finish sanding with fine-grained sandpaper. To make the work easier, sandpaper is wrapped around the block.

After you have gotten rid of the varnish, you need to prime the surface of the old chair. It is best to use a special wood primer. Next you can start painting. Acrylic paint has a number of advantages over other paints and varnishes: it is odorless, dries quickly, and is resistant to mechanical damage. Therefore, when painting an old chair, it is better to use acrylic.

To decorate a chair in a classic style, you need to paint the legs dark and make the upholstery scarlet.

A classic-style chair can be painted black with the addition of red and brown shades. Provencal, Mediterranean, country style is suitable for furniture in light colors: gray, milky, light blue or green, as well as lilac. The easiest way to apply paint is with a wide soft brush (fleece) with synthetic bristles; to paint a wide surface, you can use a roller. After you have applied the first coat of paint, you need to let it dry thoroughly, then you need to sand the surface with fine-grained sandpaper. Apply 2 to 4 layers of paint in the same way.

Related article: Calculation of a sliding wardrobe with your own hands - frame and doors

Decoupage

A very popular technique, which is also used to update old furniture. Decoupage is the process of gluing images (applied to a napkin or very thin paper) to a surface.

Various techniques allow you to obtain the desired texture or visual effect: gilding, aging (brushing, crackle, shabby), artistic or three-dimensional drawing. It is not uncommon to use a combination of several decorative effects. The choice of picture and technique depends primarily on the style of the interior. The chair, updated with appropriate designs, will fit perfectly into the interior of ethno, military, country, Provence, loft, shabby chic, eclecticism.

Stool renewal is carried out in several stages. The furniture is cleaned of old coating, varnish or paint, degreased and primed. Next, the main background is applied with acrylic paint. After drying, the pattern is glued to the surface, treated with paints, additional elements and varnished.

Photo ideas for beautiful decor of chairs

Read: Design of a one-room Khrushchev house - 100 photos of impeccable interior ideas

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Cases: for all occasions

Chair covers are not only a way to decorate old, and, in general, new furniture, they are much more functional: they serve as protection against dirt and damage, help to fit the furniture into a given interior style or simply update the decor, they can be used for everyday or formal occasions.

The most convenient way to make patterns for a case is using a dummy. The chair is covered with newspapers or tracing paper, then the homemade cover is cut into individual elements with scissors. The accuracy of the pattern depends on correctly taken measurements. And of course, one should not forget about allowances, cutting errors, and shrinkage of the fabric after washing.

Fabric covers

Covers can be easily made with your own hands. For ordinary chairs with a back, you will need about 1.5-2 meters of fabric. It should be noted that the decor of the chair should correspond to the style of the interior, emphasize and complement it.

• Cotton fabrics will be appropriate in Provence or country styles. For the first, choose pastel colors with a small flower pattern, and the ethnic theme is best complemented by a large checkered pattern.
• Eco style will be emphasized by capes made of coarse burlap. To give them a modern touch, you can complement the case with patches made of denim, which also goes well with wood.
• In classic interiors, more durable fabrics with large patterns, matte or with a satin sheen, such as gabardine, are used.

You can use almost any fabric or combine several to sew a cover. Chairs with faux fur covers and the same “socks” on the legs will look very interesting.

Knitted covers

Knitted covers will be especially appropriate in winter; they will be associated with warmth and comfort. Knitted items look very interesting, as if a huge sweater was pulled over a frozen chair. A large volumetric pattern made of thick pastel-colored thread would be optimal. Of course, if your soul requires it, you can choose brighter shades.

Socks for feet will be an unusual addition. Chairs dressed in “shoes” look original and will never scratch the floor covering. Openwork capes filled with summer lightness and coolness are usually crocheted. In addition, original handmade items will create a calm and truly homely atmosphere.

Festive felt covers

Felt is familiar to every needlewoman. This material is very easy to work with, so it is often used for holiday decor. On the eve of any event, felt chair back covers made in a holiday theme will be an excellent addition and decoration.

On New Year's Eve, you can also sew mitten covers or capes in the form of a Santa Claus hat on the backs. In general, there are countless options, everything is limited only by the imagination of the master.

Colors and decor

For all its practicality and convenience, the baby will definitely not like the chair if it cannot be described with the word “beautiful”. Nobody makes any special chairs for teenagers, but brightness and attractiveness are very important for younger children. Therefore, do not limit yourself to just clear varnish or discreet monochromatic solutions. A single-color color is generally acceptable only if a light or very bright shade is chosen - often red or yellow, the so-called “warm” tones.

If drawing is not alien to you, please your child with interesting design solutions. You can go the “adult” route by painting the frame one color, and the seat and back in another, or you can focus on the child’s desire for something bright and defiant. The simplest option is “rings” on the legs of the chair; any patterns and even just blots are also acceptable, provided that it looks cute and positive. Regardless of how much and what kind of paint you used, do not forget - it should not be toxic.

If you have a creative streak and a desire to complicate the task a little for the overall benefit of the matter, you can create more complex decor. Another option is to decorate the legs or back of the chair with carvings, but adults would like this solution more. But for a child, a chic solution would be decoration in the form of one or another animal. The classic version is when the back is cut out to resemble an elephant, or any other animal that is cute to a child, and then painted to look more like a “cartoon” character.

Covers can also become a unique type of decoration. In addition to their typical functions, such as simplifying the cleaning of furniture and increasing the comfort of its use, they can also decorate the back of the chair. Ideally, they should depict the child’s favorite hero, characters from popular fairy tales, or the same animals. Mom can help dad make a cover, especially if she knows how to embroider or has fabric appliqué skills. If your mother does not have such talents, you can simply alter the cover from clothes on which the necessary pictures were applied at the factory.

Unconventional ideas

If we delve deeper into the issue of decorating chairs, there is no doubt that a wide variety of, sometimes unexpected, materials can be used. You won’t surprise anyone with simple coloring; twigs, ropes, flowers, candies, tree bark and old discs are used.

Chair decor with rope

This option is considered more suitable for massive stools and chairs. Although, if you wish, you can try to decorate more sophisticated furniture. The upholstery is removed from the chair and pieces of twine of the required length are prepared for each individual element (legs, crossbars, handles). Next, follow a simple technique: fix the end of the rope with a stapler or a small nail and begin to tightly wrap the product. The other end is secured in the same way. You can make simple weaving on the backs of the chair, which will become a noticeable decoration.

The rope can be left plain or decorated as you wish. In general, you can use not only rope for winding, it can be artificial rattan or scraps of fabric twisted into a rope.

Natural materials

The use of natural materials is relevant not only in school crafts. Even Italian designers (Andrea Magnani and Giovanni Delvezzio from the Re Sign studio) distinguished themselves with the simple but unexpected idea of ​​decorating chairs with bark. Not everyone can buy designer furniture, but anyone can take an idea and bring it to life.

Wooden chairs should closely match the natural material, so they are cleaned of varnish, sanded with fine sandpaper and left in that form. The maximum that can be done is to cover it with stain to give it a tint. The prepared tree bark is glued in a loose order; the designers chose one leg and a back for gluing.

Another equally interesting approach is to decorate the chairs with flat pebbles. The stone is glued directly to the seat and back. An unusual chair can decorate a bathroom, balcony or garden, especially if there are other marine-themed items nearby.

Mosaic

If, in addition to old chairs, you also find unnecessary or damaged disks at home, you can decorate a piece of furniture with a mosaic. A pattern made from small colored pieces will look original and interesting, and the updated chair will fit perfectly into almost any interior.

The mirror side of the discs is rubbed with fine sandpaper, after which colored glossy paper is glued onto it. Then cut the disk into equal squares (it’s more convenient to immediately divide them into colors). The chair also needs to be prepared. The surface is sanded, degreased and primed. Mosaic squares are glued one by one in the form of a selected pattern or randomly. After drying, the gaps between the “tiles” are filled with construction putty, and the surface is coated with varnish.

Materials

In terms of ease of processing and environmental friendliness, among materials for the manufacture of children's furniture, wood and its derivatives undoubtedly hold the palm. Therefore, you can most often find a wooden high chair. However, you cannot choose just any tree - this is also worth thinking about before starting to make it. The most popular among all types of wood is beech. It has the strength of oak, but it is easier to process and costs less. In general, it is deciduous trees that are considered priority. Among inexpensive options, birch is often chosen; linden can also be considered.

Spruce and pine are suitable for making furniture from coniferous wood, but the resin contained in any such wood is dangerous - it can stain clothes, and it can also pose a health hazard. Regardless of the specific species, choose a uniform tree, without knots or cracks, with an even texture.

The seat material may be similar to the body material, or it may be fundamentally different. In order to save money and achieve greater flexibility, the seat is also made of plywood, and even chipboard. When choosing them, give preference only to the most durable types, but remember that in any case they are inferior in durability to solid natural wood.

For increased softness, the seat can be additionally equipped with a small foam cushion covered with a fabric that is pleasant to the touch.

There is also a seating option made from plastic bottles - both whole and cut. Harmful plastic, present as garbage in any apartment and polluting the environment, could get a second life, especially since its strength and durability are very high. This option is still much less common due to the difficulty of securely fastening individual parts, as well as the not very attractive appearance of the finished product.

Pompom chair

Decorating a chair with pom-poms is very expensive in terms of material and time, but as a result, the restored chair looks very bright and cozy. It will ideally complement a children's room, and perhaps become a colorful accent in a bedroom or living room. It is more convenient to attach pompoms to a mesh or piece of fabric. At the end of the work, the soft lining is fixed to the seat and back of the chair. If necessary, the decoration can be easily removed and washed. Pompom seats will look very interesting on stools in the kitchen.

We change the upholstery with our own hands

Is the upholstery on your old chairs torn? There is no need to get rid of good furniture; try changing the upholstery yourself. It’s not difficult, any owner or housewife can do it. There is a metal chair in front of us, we will change its seat.

To work you need:

1. Upholstery material (for example, red leatherette).
2. Lining (black leatherette).
3. Screwdriver.
4. Stapler.
5. Centimeter.
6. Scissors.
7. Pencil.

Pick up a screwdriver or scissors. Next, you need to unscrew the seat from the base, remove the old upholstery, unbending the old stapler clips.

We use the seat - place it on the upholstery material and trace all sides with a pencil.

For the pattern, add another 3-4 cm to the hem of the seat.

We go around the seat and attach the red leatherette to it with a stapler.

We cover the back of the product with black lining fabric to make our work look neater, and stitch it on top with a stapler.

And finally, we attach the black leatherette on top with the same fasteners. The chair has been updated and looks like new.

Flowerbed chair

The old chair does not have to stay at home; it can find its new place in the garden or on the terrace in the form of an original flower bed. At the same time, it is not necessary to restore, restore, or repair it.

But if the idea requires it, the stool can be repainted or even painted with bright colors. Then a hole is cut in the seat and a flowerpot with flowers is installed.

The conclusion suggests itself: if only there were chairs, there would definitely be a suitable option for decorating them. You don't have to be a restoration artist to do this. Anyone can update or decorate furniture, and then sit on the fruits of their labor with a feeling of complete satisfaction.

How to age the surface of a chair?

You will need:

Croqueling is a technique for aging a surface.

• paraffin candle;
• acrylic paints;
• sandpaper;
• one-step craquelure;
• antique patina.

If you want to decorate a chair or an old stool in the Provencal style, then in this case you cannot do without such a technique as aging. In order to make abrasions, it is necessary to apply dark brown, black or gray-green paint in certain places and let it dry. Then you need to rub the area with a paraffin candle and paint it with a contrasting color, for example, white or blue. Then take sandpaper and go over these places. This removes the top layer of paint, after which abrasions appear, which give the chair a touch of antiquity.

You can age a chair using one-step craquelure (sold in handicraft departments). First you need to decide where the cracks will be. Then paint the surface a dark color, after the paint has dried, apply a layer of one-step craquelure. Paint of a contrasting color is immediately applied, with strokes made in only one direction. You cannot return to the painted area, as you can paint over the cracks - then the craquelure will not work. The shape of the cracks will depend on the direction of the brush. You can apply strokes horizontally and vertically. An interesting crackle is obtained if you make strokes in the form of a semicircle or alternate the direction of the brush.

You can achieve the effect of aging with the help of an antique patina; it is used to tint convex places, recesses of the ornament, and darken the edges of the surface. The patina is applied with a foam sponge, left for 5-10 minutes, then the excess is removed with a damp cloth. You can replace the patina with acrylic paints, so a mixture of burnt umber and black shades successfully imitate antique bitumen. Green and blue shades can be used to age metal chair hardware.