3 Tips On How To Upcycle Thrifted Chairs

​Thrifting for chairs is a great way to find inexpensive, excellent quality chairs that can easily be transformed and seamlessly incorporated into your home. Check out my 3 tips to on how to upcycle your own thrifted chair.

1.Move Past The Finish

​Don’t focus on the colour or the overall tired look of a chair. I found this outdated looking chair at my local Ottawa Salvation Army thrift store. At first glance, this chair does look a little sad and not very comfortable. All of that can be easily changed, but if you take a closer look at this chair it is in excellent condition; it’s sturdy, solid wood and the legs are gorgeous! With a new foam seat, fabric and a stunning colour of paint, this chair would be an easy upcycle. Make sure to look at the overall structure, details and material of the chair. Click here to watch a video on how to get the best finds when thrifting.


2. Prepping Is The Key 

​The first step in upcycling a chair is to prep it first. Chairs typically will have grease and oil build up, use TSP to clean them. Fusion TSP is my favorite to use. Once cleaned, use 220 sandpaper and gently scuff up the wood to give it a little tooth. Give your chair a quick wipe down with a damp lint free cloth to finish off your prep. Click here to watch a video on how to properly prep your furniture.

3. Paint It

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​To transform and update your chair, paint it in a fun colour. Two of my favourite paint brands to use when I am upcycling furniture is FAT paint and Fusion Mineral paint. They both are very easy to use and don’t require any heavy duty sanding or priming. Learn more about FAT paint and  about Fusion Mineral paint. I love the look of a bright modern colour on a vintage chair.

Reupholstering the seats with new foam and fabric is fairly easy and came make a big impact. Head to your local fabric store to find the perfect fabric and more information on how to reupholster your seat.
Make sure to hit your local thrift store, they always have a great selection of vintage chairs to choose from and you can create a custom look to seamlessly incorporate into your space. Happy thrifting!

Author

​Erin Rochon is a Interior Decorator, an avid upcycler, thrifter, and furniture refinishing artisan. She has passion for creating beautiful spaces by merging the world of upcycling and DIY together with Interior Design.

Within a few years of starting Bluebird Upcycled Style, Erin has built a successful business and has become a creative force in Ottawa, inspiring others to upcycle and create through her workshops and classes. Often appearing on CTV Ottawa Morning Live and Daytime Ottawa, sharing current design trends with a twist, Erin loves incorporating upcycling and thrifting into designs trends, teaching viewers  through her vlogs and blogs. She was thrilled to be a guest blogger for Celebrity Interior Designer Amanda Forrest as her first blog . Erin continues to blog about her passions; thrifting, Interior Design and painting furniture. She has recently been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 50 Interior Design blogs and is a Creative Expert for Salvation Army Canada.