Office Chair Up Cycle

first project using wood stain and my first try at upholstery work.

Posted by Haught Tea

About

I found this chair at my Last Chance Thrift store located at the Marina,
CA dump. It was $5. The finish and fabric were hideous, but it had good lines, and fully functional office chair base and all the rest was made of solid wood! I invested about $20 in supplies and materials.

First thing I did was take the whole chair apart.

For this project I used a heat gun and putty knife to remove the original painted finish. This took a long time as there were lots of small spaces to work between.

Next, I removed the upholstery covering the seat (the inner foam and batting were still in good condition so I just left them on). I labeled the old fabric so I would remember how they were sewn together, then ripped it apart and used it as the pattern for my new fabric. When I was done sewing my duplicate I staple-gunned the new cover onto the seat.

I then got to work on the wood. Sanding it down, then staining it, then coating it with a clear satin finish. That took a few days of dry time to complete it all.*

When it was dry I bolted the whole thing back together and there you are!

*Total time includes curing for the stain and seal.

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You Will Need (19 things)

  • Supplies

  • Wood chair
  • Wood Stain
  • Polyurethane clear Satin finish
  • Upholstery Fabric
  • Bias Tape maxi piping
  • Tools

  • Cloth
  • Sandpaper 250grit
  • Natural Bristle Brushes
  • Foam Brush
  • Staple Remover
  • Staple Gun
  • Seam Ripper
  • Pins
  • Fabric Scissors
  • socket Wrench
  • Sewing Machine
  • Screwdriver