Thrifted Navy Chairs: A DIY Makeover in the Works
We went thrifting again — and scored two unexpected finds. These chairs originally retailed for $90 each (a $180 total). They were marked down to $70 apiece ($140 total), then an additional 50% off was applied. In the end we paid just $35 per chair, $70 for both. That’s a great deal, especially when you consider similar metal options at some retailers are listed around $199 each, and rattan-style pieces can run $249 or more.
The chairs are sturdier than they look. I expected a rickety frame and flattened cushions — the kind of thing that would explain the low price — but they held up nicely when I sat in them. Pleasantly surprised, I did the usual enthusiastic routine: admired them out loud, circled them, explained how perfect they would be, and listed all the places they could live in our home. John listened, agreed, and we paid for them with a little spring in my step on the walk to the cashier.
We have a rule that nothing comes home unless we both approve, and that worked in these chairs’ favor. John can veto purchases decisively, so if he’d hated them it would’ve been a no-go. Fortunately, he liked these, and we were soon carrying them to the car. I’ll admit I tend to get excited about design odds and ends — everything from a vase to decor fabrics — and that enthusiasm is contagious. After a bit of brainstorming about makeover possibilities, even John was enthusiastic about giving these chairs some attention.
Color-wise, the frames are a deep navy and show plenty of chips and scratches. You can’t tell everything from the photos, but the wear is evident up close. That wear doesn’t bother us — it’s the perfect candidate for a refresh. Our plan is to repaint the frames and reupholster the seats in something fun and bold. We’ll document the process with pictures and a step-by-step writeup once we actually start on the makeover.
We haven’t settled on a final color or fabric yet, nor have we decided on the chairs’ permanent location. Right now we’re thinking they’ll make excellent desk chairs for the office — they’re comfortable and would pair well with our workspace — and then we could list the kitchen chairs we’re currently using when we build a DIY kitchen island down the road. For the moment, we’ll probably use them as-is while we focus on higher-priority projects, like refreshing the guest bedroom. That said, I’ve always had a soft spot for lattice-style Chippendale-inspired chairs, so I’m genuinely happy to have them either way.
Getting them home was a small adventure. We bought the chairs at a local antiques shop, the Midlothian Antique Center, which happens to be next to Hancock Fabrics — our usual stop for clearance yards when we need bold prints for small projects. We were only planning to look for fabric scraps, but ten minutes later John was trying to squeeze the chairs into the car while I chatted about colors and patterns the whole drive home. Somehow he got both chairs into the Altima — not an easy feat — so credit where it’s due: he’s a hero on transport duty.
Our immediate to-do list: strip and sand any rough spots, choose a durable paint or finish for the frames, pick a fabric that balances pattern and practicality for daily use, and reupholster the cushions. We’ll test a few color and fabric samples before committing, and we’ll share the full process and photos when we start. If you’re into budget-friendly furniture makeovers, this is a project worth watching — it combines thrift-store luck, simple repairs, and a little creativity to turn inexpensive finds into something fresh and polished.
P.S. I still have a rocker waiting to be redone — it’s about 15% complete, stripped of its old fabric and tacks, and ready for sanding, staining, and reupholstering. I’ll post pictures and a full update once it’s fully finished.