Paint a Federal Style Shabby Chic Chair

I noticed I do a lot of shabby chic projects that are white or pastel, so I decided to dig some chairs out of the barn and give them a federal shabby chic look. My interpretation of federal is dark colors, Early American, with hints of patriotism.

I had purchased these chairs at a local tag sale for a dollar each. They are heavy and their design looks like they are from the 70s or 80s. I knew I could transform them, I was just waiting for them to speak to me.

I used every short cut I could think of to complete this task. This trash to treasure project was easily completed in an afternoon, and that thrills me.

Supplies Needed:

Old wood chair
Soap and water
Electric palm sander
Old rag
Flat black spray paint, two cans
Sponge
Yellow gold acrylic paint
3-inch chunky star stamp

Steps to Transform the Chair:

Step 1
Clean them up! This, unfortunately, took the longest. These chairs had been in the barn for a good two years. Granted, you probably will not have chairs this filthy, but even if you do, the project can still be completed in an afternoon.

Step 2
Lightly sand the surface of the chair. I used an electric palm sander and did not get too caught up in reaching every nook and cranny. The chairs were so old, the original varnish finish had long since faded away. I was just trying to give the surface a tooth to better accept the paint. Wipe the sanded dust from the chair's surface.

Step 3
Paint the chair using flat black spray paint. Spray paint is the key to this quick project. Apply one light coat and let it dry. Apply a second coat. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly. This will not take long, as flat spray paint dries very quickly and works well in humid climates.

Step 4
Lightly sand the surface and the edges of the chair to give it a worn shabby chic look. Wipe off the sanded dust.

Step 5
Use a sponge to dab yellow gold acrylic paint onto a 3-inch chunky star stamp. Stamp the top, center of the chair back and allow it to dry.

That's it! Even the clean up is fast.

This project, including the cost of one chair, was done for less than five dollars.