How to Thrift Store Chair Makeover

Craft Materials

Before starting this project, you’ll need the following materials:

Paint, Chair, Fabric, Plaster of Paris, Paint Brush

On a recent trip to Goodwill I found this chair for $5.00, total bargain! I was dragging it around the store with three kids in tow, I wasn’t letting this chair out of my site. I had big plans for it.

I knew I needed to find the perfect fabric for the chair so of course I headed over to Hobby Lobby. They have a ton a great options. I picked out a couple pieces but I knew once I saw the anchor fabric it was exactly what I was looking for. I’ve been going for a more beach/nautical theme for the house.

Thrift Store Chair Makeover – Nautical Style

Getting Started

I didn’t have any yellow chalk paint on hand so I decided I would make some, using this beautiful yellow I found at Lowes. I gathered up the rest of my supplies to get started!

Thrift Store Chair Makeover - Nautical Style

Step 1 – Prep Your Piece

I didn’t have to do to much prepping, just taking the seat off. So this step was super easy.

Step 2 – Mix Your Paint

I added a tiny amount of Plaster of Paris to my paint to thicken my paint up.

Step 3 – Add Your Paint

I painted two coats on the chair letting each coat dry 30 minutes.

Thrift Store Chair Makeover – Nautical Style

Step 4 – Distress Your Chair

I really wanted to give this chair a good distressing. My mom say’s I “tore it’s nerves up” I distressed it so much.

I used an 80 grade sandpaper and went over the entire chair.

Side Note: If you like this chair makeover, then you have to check out all my other recent projects I’ve been working on. My first project was the Sofa Table Makeover then my Entertainment Center Reveal and of course my Side Table.

Step 5 – Recover Your Seat

I made sure to center my fabric before I got started. I flipped the seat over and started stapling. I have never recovered a seat before so I was kinda guessing as I went along. I started with one side and worked my way around.

Step 6 – Finishing Touches

Finally I went over the chair with one coat of finishing wax using an old wash cloth, then I added my seat back on.

Here’s the finished chair! Love it. I think it turned out great. I couldn’t wait to start decorating around it.

Eventually I would like to move this chair into my bedroom, and turn it into my computer chair. I think the color in the anchors and the yellow work perfectly together.

My little guy decided to photo bomb my session today and refused to move. BUT he’s a cutie so of course I had to take his picture.

Here’s the before and after. You can see the chair was in great shape and the original color was beautiful. I’ve just had dark wood furniture for so long and I just had to lighten the color up.