I’m finally on the last part of the posts about my dining chair upcyle project (Part 1, 2 and 3 can be found in the following links – Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 ) and today I will be sharing the finishing touches that I have added, lessons I have learned and how much the project cost per chair.
Firstly though, the finished chairs…
I finally finished the chairs, it took several weekends to complete but I’ve done it and am really pleased with the outcome! The final finishing touch that I have added is some pompom trim that I used for the alcoves when I decorated the downstairs which I purchased from Amazon (if you missed that post you can find it here) . I decided to add the trim to add a further element of co-ordination into the colour scheme and design of the room and I feel that it pulls all the elements together really well. I like the idea that people will notice all the little touches and will allow their eye to investigate the room in greater detail.
This chairs project was really my first major foray into the world of upcycling and upholstery. I have not worked on a project quite like this before and along the way have learned a few lessons…
- However long you think it will take, double it and add an hour. Sanding the chairs was probably the longest part and I couldn’t believe how much time I spent clearing the old varnish from the frames of the chairs.
- Clearing all the varnish and stripping the frames back to bare wood is the best thing to do for the paint to adhere properly. Failing to clear all the varnish, like on my yellow chair, has resulted in patchy paint and the colour of the varnish bleeding through all the coats of paint I applied. It still looks patchy now and seems to be more noticeable at the bottom of the legs.
- Sometimes it pays to sit back and think a bit…I tried to create a fancy curved corner and edge on the first seat that I tried to upholster which didn’t really work and frustrated me when it didnt go to plan. I should have sat and thought about what I was doing and ways to cover the seat before starting.
- Have fun with your project. Think about what is fun and makes you smile and go with what you think will work. The worst that can happen with a project like this is that you have to sand the chair down and start again.
And here are the costing calculations on the attached document…
So, in all the chairs cost £17.63 to upcycle which doesn’t seem too bad when you consider that I have bespoke, one of a kind, unique chairs that fit my home and style perfectly and I have had the experience of learning new skills along the way. And I’m proud to show them off and say “I created these”. I would recommend to anyone that can’t seem to find furniture that they completely like or keep finding thing that are not quite right to go out and see what is available for sale second-hand and try your hand at creating something that you love!
My Colourful Life 