How to Fix Up an Old Wood Chair

That steal from the Saturday flea market may not look like such a find come Sunday--unless you know some tricks for reviving old furniture. Here's how to give that tired old chair a fresh look without breaking into your retirement account.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paint
• Drop Cloth Or Tarp
• Paint
• Paintbrush
• Primer
• Seat Cushion With Ties
• Tack Cloth
• 120- And 220-grit Sandpaper
• Plastic Putty Knife
• Wood-filler Paste

1. Place the chair outside or in a garage on a drop cloth or tarp.

2. 

   Sand away years of old paint starting with medium-coarse (120-grit) sandpaper and finishing with fine (220-grit) sandpaper (see A).

3. Fill in nicks and crannies with wood-filler paste using a plastic putty knife. Smooth the surface with the putty knife.

4. Let it dry overnight.

5. Sand patched areas with fine (220-grit) sandpaper.

6. Wipe down the entire chair with a tack cloth to remove dust particles.

7. Apply primer to the entire chair using a paintbrush.

8. Let it dry.

9. 

   Paint the chair (see B). Have fun choosing a color, whether it's a soft pastel for a baby's room, fire-engine red for a child's room or French blue for the kitchen. For an antique look, choose creamy off-white. If you'll be placing your chair outside, be sure to choose an exterior paint.

10. If desired, tie on a seat cushion in a complementary color.

Tips & Warnings

• Always apply paint and primer in a well-ventilated area.