Tips on Refurbishing a Chair

Fabric Options

• Whether you are completely reupholstering the chair or making homemade cushions in a more desirable print, the fabric you use for your chair needs to be durable and easy to clean. Consider how often the chair will be used and whether it is an outdoor or indoor item. If the chair is primarily decorative and doesn't require a lot of fabric, you could splurge on a luxury fabric like the 100-percent silk used by decorator Rebecca Thienes in her project published in "Country Living" magazine.

Tools

• Don't forget to have all your tools ready before you start your project. If you're reupholstering the chair, you will need a staple gun and staples, scissors, a small flat tip screwdriver, pliers, spray adhesive, foam, batting and your fabric. You might also need a tack hammer, a needle and thread, and upholstery tacks if you don't use a staple gun. If you're only painting the chair, you will need your paint and a paintbrush, as well as wood cleaning soap, a cleaning rag and fine sandpaper.

Painting Tips

• If you're repainting your chair, take time to prepare the chair before applying paint. After you remove any cushions or fabric, be sure to wipe the chair down thoroughly with warm water and mild soap, or wood cleaner if the chair is made of wood. If the chair was previously painted, use light sandpaper to gently loosen the paint, but don't worry about completely removing it. This will provide a better surface for the new paint. When you paint the chair, use long brush strokes to avoid choppy painting. You will probably need to apply about three or four coats of paint, so plan accordingly.

Upholstering Tips

• Upholstering projects are a bit more complicated than paint jobs. Before you begin, be sure to gather all your materials and find a clean, spacious area to work. Iron all fabric before you start. According to Family Handyman, you can either apply new fabric or completely replace the foam and batting, which usually lasts only five to 10 years. If you replace the fabric, foam and batting, be sure to measure the foam about 1/2 inch larger than the seat, the batting at least 2 inches larger and the fabric at least 3 inches larger. You can also replace the seat if necessary by simply tracing the original seat onto a piece of plywood and cutting it out with a jigsaw.