Chair Makeover for Under $100

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$5 Dining Chair Makeover

($80 total cost)



While waiting for my new dining chairs to come back in stock (dang shipping delay nightmare of 2022) I realized I couldn't "wait" any longer for an update on my chairs, I had upholstered beige chairs that I loved but my kids destroyed and they were impossible to get or keep clean. 

I took to marketplace apps on the hunt to find a similar looking chair to the ones I’ll be getting and I wanted to try my first furniture flip! I found these old chairs for $20 for 4 so at $5 a chair I couldn’t pass that up! 

Before: red cherry finish 


Materials I Used

Orbital Sander
 I use this one

60, 120, and 320 grit sandpaper

Primer
 I used this one 
(zinsser cover stain spray one can did two chairs)

tac cloths

Paint brush for chalk paint
 I used this one (highly recommend)

Paint brush for polyurethane 
I used this one (highly recommend)

Matte Polyurethane 
I used this one from Behr

Chalk Paint
I used this one in Charcoal


Cost Run Down

I had the sander and sandpaper on hand so it came to about $90 for the rest of the supplies, I actually had 3/4 of a can of chalk paint already so I ended up not even needing the new can of it. 

This cost me $60 in supplies and $20 for chairs...

I also have almost all of the polyurethane so in reality this project costs even less than this since I can use that one so many more things, same with the paint brushes.

The work

I gave them all a light sand with a 60 and 120 grit sandpaper, I didn’t need to get them to raw wood since I was going to paint them.

If I was going to stain them I would have to strip the varnish and sand to raw wood.

Vacuum and wipe with a tac cloth when finished sanding 


I used a spray primer to prime the chairs


I used a chalk paint (which you don’t have to sand or prime before using but I was planning to use a cabinet enamel and spray it but my sprayer wasn’t working so I to change the plan)


I used a round nylon/polyester blend brush and worked top to bottom, starting on the spindles then seat and last the legs.

I found that chalk paint was very forgiving and so easy to work with truly amazing for a beginning furniture project.   


After one coat I was very happy with the coverage and look but did decided to do a second one coat to really make it look more modern than farmhouse, you could see the brush strokes  with one coat and two coats was almost flawless.


One coat

Two coats 

With chalk paint you don’t have to add a top coat BUT on chairs or a piece that you will use and have to clean often you need to have a protective finish or the paint will wipe off with cleaning and does sort of scratch.

I used a matte polyurethane because I didn’t want them to be shiny, I also saw someone do a similar project and loved the finish of chalk paint with a matte top coat. It has a slight sheen but not a strong as satin or gloss.

Before polyurethane 

I used a white China bristle brush and I was a little worried that it was going to be really bad because it goes on and looks very streaky and thick. 


But you can see when it dries it levels out and honestly looks incredible. It makes the finish look “hard” and also brought out some of the natural wood grain look and brush strokes which I really liked.

 Once it was completely dried I did do a second coat of polyurethane on the seat and legs because I know those will get the most use.  

Here you can see a side by side of before the polyurethane and after, I am so happy I did the matte and I loved that it deepened the color a bit because with was a little to grey with just the chalk paint.

 

The After

I am so happy with this project and I absolutely love how these chairs turned out! For under $100 I really think this is project for anyone that is looking for an easy update to your home.

Yes we also bought two new leather chairs for the head of the table from marketplace (offer up) and love how this room looks now. 



For more of what we use in our home visit my Amazon Store 

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If you have any questions about this build please leave me a comment or DM on Instagram and I'll be more than happy to answer it!



There is always a project to do so I hope you follow along on my social media accounts where I share my life as a Mom of 3 and all things DIY Home! 

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*Links may be affiliate links and if you choose to buy a product through my link I will make a small commission, helping to support these projects. 

Thank you for being here with me!

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