Ideas for Redoing Wooden Back Slat Chairs

Quick Change

• Make a quick change to any wooden back slat chair with a piece of sandpaper and a can of spray paint. Sand the surface lightly to break down the gloss on the finish and apply a coat of your favorite color of spray paint. Hold the can 8 to 10 inches from the surface and keep it moving in short, brushlike strokes, spraying the paint in short, overlapping bursts. Allow the paint to dry for one hour, then recoat.

Complete Refinish

• Use furniture stripper to remove the original finish with steel wool and a nylon scraper. Rinse the surface of the chair with a rag dampened with mineral spirits to remove the residue. Apply two coats of stain and clear finish all-in-one with a fine-bristled brush. Work in long, straight overlapping strokes until the chair is covered. Allow the finish to dry between coats.

Paneled Back

• Cut the back slats from the chair with a jigsaw. Cut a plywood panel to fill the area between the sides of the chair, from the top of the seat to the bottom of the back. Fit it into the back of the chair and use a pin nail gun to nail through the chair's side frame into the edge of the plywood. Paint or stain the panel to match the rest of the chair, or find a decorative image you like and decoupage it to the panel with clear glue or craft glaze.

Fabric Options

• Cover the slats in the back of the chair with a tie-on cushion for a fresh look, or sew covers from fabric to fit over the entire back of the chair. Add foam to the seat and staple the same fabric over it. Add decorative upholstery trim or tassels to the chair cover to add detail. Choose fabric that will hold up well to being used as a seat cushion. Dark colors and busy patterns stay clean longer.