A lot of people asked for the specifics of the thrift-store chair we refreshed for our latest column in R. Home magazine. Here’s the step-by-step rundown of how we brought this little find back to life.
We found the chair at Diversity Thrift in Richmond for $10 and brought it home to begin work. First step: sanding. We used 100-grit sandpaper to scuff up the semi-gloss finish and worked down to bare wood where possible. Another common approach is to apply an oil-based primer before painting, but because this chair was old and we could expose enough bare wood with light sanding, we skipped priming. If we had planned to paint it white or another very pale shade, priming would have been a better choice to prevent bleed-through and ensure even coverage.
Next we applied three thin, even coats of semi-gloss latex paint in Valspar’s Fabulous Red—the same hue used on our front door. Red typically needs an extra coat compared with other colors to achieve a true, saturated tone without any pink undertones. For the smoothest furniture finish, a brush is your best tool. We briefly tested a mini roller, but rollers tend to leave tiny surface textures, so we returned to a quality brush for an even, seamless coat. (You might notice leaves in the background of one photo—that’s just a reminder of our production schedule: we completed this project last fall for the March/April issue.)
After three coats of semi-gloss red, we let the chair cure for at least 24–48 hours to avoid smudges or dents. For high-use surfaces—like tabletops or kitchen chairs—we sometimes recommend a clear polyurethane topcoat for extra durability and wipeability. In this case, the chair is an accent piece, and the semi-gloss paint already provides a durable, wipeable sheen, so we left it as-is.
This makeover was fast, simple, and inexpensive. The total cost came to about $25—$10 for the chair and the remainder for paint and supplies. If you already have semi-gloss paint on hand, you can refresh a thrift-store chair for even less, and complete the project in just a few hours.
You might be wondering what happened to this chair. R. Home is giving it away to one lucky local reader, so if you live in or near Richmond you had a chance to take it home. If you’re not local, use this guide to make your own version—you’ll find the process straightforward, affordable, and very satisfying.