I have officially hatched my egg-chair plan (mwah‑hah‑hah).
Forgive the ovum pun. The $30 thrift-store egg chair I mentioned last week got a good cleaning with a liquid deglosser, then a coat of spray primer and spray paint. Ten minutes after I took that grody before photo with the old cushion in our sunroom…
…I had it out in the yard ready for some TLC.
In photos that orangey-wood tone didn’t look terrible, but in person the frame felt dated and a bit worn — the caning was missing on both sides — so paint was the quickest way to refresh it. I can always repaint it later if we want a different mood (glossy black, soft mocha, cheerful yellow, etc.). After repainting our green office chairs I’ve lost any hesitation about painted furniture: painted chairs can be some of the most-loved pieces in a room.
So we wanted to love Eggy just as much.
An hour or two later it was all dressed up in white. I used Rust-Oleum Universal in a satin finish. I chose white because the living room corner where it will sit already has a large colorful rug and bright pillows — a clean white finish helps the chair blend without competing. I can always add pops of color with cushions whenever the mood strikes.
After drying outside in the sun for a few days and then sitting in the sunroom to air out any lingering fumes, Eggy made his way into the living room. Ignore the placeholder pillows for now — they’re just old seat cushions covered with white towels so I could imagine a white cushion look. I also tossed a pig pillow on for fun.
Because I like to be ridiculous sometimes.
I then tried a faux sheepskin over the cushions. Before I could step back, Burger had claimed the chair.
He settled in instantly.
The faux sheepskin earned Burger’s approval, but after sitting in it myself on a hot day I felt a bit overheated. We might bring the sheepskin back for winter, but for now I dressed the chair in a cooler summer combo using things we already had: a small faux-fur lumbar pillow on the bottom and a bunny pillow for the back. It’s temporary, but it works.
It’s a cute little setup, and thankfully Burger doesn’t mind sharing the seat with a stuffed rabbit.
Clara tried it too. She’s curious, but toys still beat out the novelty of mom’s egg chair, which is fine — I plan to monopolize this one.
She enjoyed reading an animal book in the chair — “with the rabbit and the dog” — and then hammed it up for a photo.
I also snapped an overhead shot. The chair’s slatted, enveloping shape is lovely — like a supportive hammock without the sag or precarious feeling. It swaddles you without a worry, and the swivel feature is a bonus. The slats feel substantial, similar to a sturdy park bench, so you don’t worry about falling through.
Some readers asked about Clara’s head fitting between the slats. The spacing is either too narrow to fit her head or wide enough that, in the unlikely event she tried, her whole body could pass through — which we don’t encourage. So far it’s been fine, similar to harmless curiosities like the bucket of blocks in her room.
The next day John took a photo of me in the chair so you could see adult scale: it comes up to your shoulder blades and offers cozy, supportive back coverage. Of course Clara insisted on joining the snuggle.
Longer term, I’ll probably pick up a white seat cushion for the bottom (and maybe another for the back). The bunny pillow may stick around because I like it. All told, the chair and the refresh cost about $37 — a bargain for a swivel chair that looks new and doubles as a sculptural piece thanks to its strappy curves. The before photo was quirky enough that I’m tempted to name him Odie.
Have you rescued any secondhand chairs lately, reused small rugs or faux sheepskins, or noticed your pet’s sudden obsession with textiles? Same here.
Psst — the latest Clara Conversations post is up over on Young House Life. She’s working on her comedy timing.