DIY Refurbish Vintage Dinette Chairs

Give your dining room a new look with refurbished chairs.

Do your dinette chairs need a little TLC? Whether you picked up something vintage at the thrift store or a garage sale, have used your set until it's just worn out, or are saddled with a hand-me-down, it's easy to give your dinette chairs a fresh, new look.

Things You'll Need

• Dinette chair
• Screwdriver
• Quilt batting
• Fabric
• Staple gun
• Stapler
• Sandpaper
• Finish remover
• Finish or paint
• Paintbrush
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Use the screwdriver to remove the chair's back and seat cushions.

2. Remove the old finish from the chair with finish remover and sandpaper. Do this outdoors to avoid breathing strong fumes. Once the chair has a smooth surface, paint or refinish as desired. Use small brushes to get into the crevices.

3. Cut pieces of quilt batting to 3 inches larger on all sides than the chair back and seat. Lay the seat upside down on its piece of batting and pull the sides around to the bottom. Staple into place. Repeat with the back cushion. Trim excess batting to 1 inch.

4. Cut fabric to 3 inches larger on all sides than the chair back and seat. Lay the chair seat upside down on top of its piece of fabric. Stretch the fabric around and staple the edges under the seat. Start on opposite sides, checking the front for smoothness often, then staple the other two sides. Fold the corners neatly and staple them last. Repeat with the chair back. Trim the fabric edges to 1 inch.

5. Replace the seat back and seat, using the screwdriver. Snip the fabric and batting from the screw holes, if necessary.

References

• DIY Home Decorating: Recover Dining Chairs