How to Redo Furniture From Thrift Stores

Cloth Seats

• 1

  Flip a covered dining room chair upside down to remove the cloth. Remove the screws that attach the seat from the main frame. Set the screws aside to reuse.

• 2

  Pull out staples that secure the cloth, and use the cloth as a pattern for new fabric. Use a flathead screwdriver, and dispose of the staples.

• 3

  Remove worn padding, and replace with new padding. Keep the padding in place by using craft glue between the padding and the wood seat.

• 4

  Cut the new fabric the same size as the old fabric, and lay the fabric with the right side facing down on a hard surface. Position the padded seat evenly on top of the fabric with the padding facing down.

• 5

  Gather the corner pieces of fabric snugly over the seat corners. Staple the fabric to the chair seat bottom.

• 6

  Continue to pull the fabric to the back of the chair seat, and staple the material. Cut off excess material.

• 7

  Replace the seat, and reattach with the original screws.

Painting Wood

• 8

  Sand the wood using 240-grit sandpaper to remove as much of the old finish as possible. Wipe the surface with a cloth to remove the dust. Blow the dust from crevices with a handheld hair dryer.

• 9

  Patch gouges and cracks with wood filler. Use your finger or a flat tool to spread enough filler to cover the problem area. Wait for the filler to dry, and smooth the surface using 240-grit sandpaper. Wipe dust from the area with a clean cloth.

• 10

  Paint the furniture with primer in the direction of the wood grain. Primer ensures that paint will adhere to the surface. Allow the primer to dry according to the label directions.

• 11

  Feel the surface for uneven paint or raised wood. Smooth the surface using 320-grit sandpaper, and wipe off the dust.

• 12

  Apply the paint according to the label instructions. Semi-gloss or high-gloss paint cleans up using soapy water, and the finish is durable. Clean the brush according to the paint label instructions.