How to Redo a 1970s Rocking Chair

Cover the floor of a well-ventilated workspace with paper or plastic sheeting and secure it to the floor with painter's tape. Move the chair to the work space and make sure you have enough room to work safely and efficiently if you are working in a multipurpose space like a garage.

Strip the original wood finish with a lacquer or varnish remover and clean rags, working in even strokes in small areas until the wood is completely bare.

Sand the rocking chair with 120 to 150 grit sandpaper to make sure you have an even surface. Do not use heavier grit sandpaper. You may damage the wood or weaken the structure of the chair.

Brush a coat of paint primer on the chair if you plan on painting it instead of staining it to give it a more updated, modern look. You can skip the primer if you plan on staining the chair.

Stain the rocking chair with wood stain in a natural color to redo the chair in a similar style to the original. For a more contemporary look, use a darker color that covers a little more of the grain of the wood. Allow the first coat to dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions before applying another coat of stain or paint.

Seal the stain with a coat of shellac after it has fully dried. If you chose to paint the chair, use a coat of polyurethane instead. Allow the shellac or polyurethane to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions before using the chair.