Your Guide to Simple Chair Restoration

There is no greater satisfaction than turning something old and worn into something fabulous and unique. The thought of chair restoration may seem intimidating, but you may be surprised at how simple it can be to restore a chair and turn it into a one of a kind accent piece for your home. Here we'll give you step-by-step instructions needed for a simple chair restoration. It's easier than you think!

If you don't have a chair at home that needs restored, you can find them for sale at an affordable price at antique sales, auctions, yard sales, and flea markets. You can locate VERY inexpensive furniture at these types of events. The furniture may be worn, with chipped paint and ugly fabric, but it doesn't matter! In just a few steps and very little money, you can restore a chair and create a one of a kind accent piece that you will be proud to show off to guests and friends.

A note about chair restoration: When shopping for an old chair, look for one that is in good structural shape. This means, you want it to have all four legs and it doesn't wobble or make a cracking sound when you sit in it. Once you've found a structurally sound chair, it's appearance is unimportant. Take your chair home and follow these simple steps:

How to restore a chair:

STEP 1 - Tip the chair over and take off the seat. If it has a chair back that can removed, remove it.

STEP 2 - Fill in any cracks with wood filler and allow to dry.

STEP 3 - Sand the chair with sand paper. Rub your hands along the wood, to ensure there are no rough patches.

STEP 4 - Apply a coat of primer and allow to dry overnight.

STEP 5 - Paint the chair with the color of your choice. Consider using a Shabby Chic Paint Technique which will give your new chair a professional distressed look.

STEP 6 - You can't restore a chair without adding a pretty new fabric on the seat! So the next step is to reupholster the seat with a fabric that will complement the new paint color. To learn more about how to upholster a chair, click here.

STEP 7 - After you have added new fabric to your chair, you can add ribbon, cording, or other accent fabric for a finished look. Simply attach the accent of your choice with a hot glue gun before gluing the seat back into place.

That's it! You've mastered the art of chair restoration. Once you become a 'master' at chair repair, you can even profit from your work. There's big money in chair restoration, and it's a fun hobby that will keep you busy in a productive way.

More from Jennifer Wagner:

Upholster a Dining Room Chair in 10 Simple Steps

Shabby Chic Paint Technique

Understanding Upholstery Cleaning Codes　

SOURCE:

Personal knowledge

Jennifer Wagner - Yahoo! Contributor Network

Jenny Wagner - Columbus Home Improvement Examiner