Dining Room Chair Makeover

Hello, it’s Carrie from Lovely Etc. back to share another of my favorite DIY projects with you. I am a huge fan of making things for my home instead of just buying them. My creative side loves the process of making things that are completely unique. And my practical side loves to save money. These dining chairs were a huge win in both categories.

It all started with a set of four solid wood chairs that I found at a yard sale for only $30. The shape of the chairs was beautiful but there were random paint splatters all over them and the padding on the seats was completely shot.

I knew I could fix these wooden chairs right up with some gorgeous paint, but the seats were in dire need of some fresh fabric and padding as well. If you have ever considered reupholstering something before, you know that beautiful upholstery-weight fabric and foam cushions can be real budget killers. But I was determined to find a way to keep this transformation affordable.

I found the answer to my fabric dilemma at TJMaxx, one of my favorite home décor stores. As I was perusing the aisles, I spotted a gorgeous paisley shower curtain for only $15. It turns out a shower curtain is absolutely perfect for upholstering chairs. This shower curtain was a heavy duty canvas type fabric – perfect for upholstery. It was fairly water resistant – perfect for a dining room. And I was able to get several yards of fabric for only $15 – way less than just one yard of designer upholstery fabric.

I also saved money on the chair padding by using a favorite trick – instead of buying expensive foam from a fabric store, I used pieces of a memory foam mattress pad. (This is the perfect time of year to snatch a few of these up, since there are tons of sales on bedding now as college students prepare to outfit their dorm rooms.)

Once I had all my materials gathered at rock bottom prices, I got to work painting and upholstering. And ended up with these gorgeous ladies!

I am seriously in love with that fabric! You can find more details of this transformation at Lovely Etc. as well as a list of other creative ways to get gorgeous fabric on a serious budget.