Dining Room Chair Makeover

It’s amazing what you can do with unconventional materials and some spray paint. All of that played into this dining room chair makeover!

I’ve talked about the table, chairs, and matching hutch we bought from the seller of the house and how I was slowly making it all over.

Hutch: done
Table: in transition
Chairs: now done!

This project level is easy and anyone could do it.

First, here’s the “lovely” chair that is getting a makeover:

Before I spray painted all the chairs I took off the old cover seats and got them all lined up in the garage.

I used the same paint that I used on the corner hutch so they would match, but in a spray paint instead of a regular paint.

I needed about 6-7 cans to do multiple coats on 6 chairs. I did multiple coats because I did not sand, plus I needed a lot to fill in the oak grain. The chairs feel good and solid. I was a little worried about the multiple coats it would just peel off like when you do too many coats of nail polish…but it seems to just soak on in!

To cover the chairs I used another drop cloth. Man, I love these things. A drop cloth has proven to be so handy. It’s worked for a love seat cover, curtains in a bathroom (picture to come), and now these chair covers. Plus, there is just so much left after you use them. It’s great!

All you need are scissors, a staple gun, and staples. Plus whatever you’re covering the chair with.

I’m not a professional reupholster-(er?) so this isn’t some professional tutorial. However, I found it really easy. I just laid down the chair cover, cut around it with some extra room, and stapled it.

The only “hard” part is getting the corner to look right, but I found it’s just like wrapping a present!

Screw the new chair cushions back on and voila!

This dining room is really shaping up!

It’s really close to being my dream French country dining room. I have a chandelier that I ordered online, but it might be too small for the space. But we’ll see when the table is done. Which brings me to the table! My wonderful husband is making me a farmhouse french country table and it’s almost done. Now I have to decide what finish it should have and I’m torn.

These are the two table finishes I can’t decide upon:

I really like this weathered finish but I’m afraid the dining room would stand out way too much for being so white because the rest of my house has more red and brown colors.

Then there’s this table with a darker top and lighter bottom. This could balance out the colors more but I can’t decide! Ideas? Opinions?

Almost done!

*Update- We sold this house and have a new dining room now!*