We previously shared a simple chair upholstery tutorial, and now we’re back with more chair transformations for inspiration.
Emily, John’s often-mentioned sister, invited me to go fabric hunting to find the perfect material for recovering two well-loved chairs with great potential. We searched until we found a fabric that complemented this low-slung chair with its worn orange upholstery. Below you can see us testing swatches before taking the chair to the upholsterer:
Here’s the after: the chair now sports a tiny black-and-white check fabric that reads gray from a distance and adds subtle movement. A playful pillow finishes the look:
The project didn’t stop there. Because we brought two chairs, we were able to negotiate a better price with the upholsterer. The second find was a $15 thrift-store score from a shop called The Love Of Jesus in southside Richmond. The chair had solid structure but clearly needed a refresh. Here’s the “before” shot:
We gave the wood a bright, crisp update by spray-priming and painting it white. Below is a progress photo showing the newly painted frame before upholstery:
Finally, we sent the chair to the upholsterer for a sleek makeover in classic black suede that complements the fresh white paint:
Two great makeovers resulted from smart fabric choices and professional upholstery help. If you find a chair with good bones, a bit of paint and new fabric can make it look fresh and modern. We’d love to see your before-and-after photos—there’s nothing like a little morning eye candy to brighten the day.