Old Chairs into New Dining Set

Before I moved into my current apartment, I didn't know what I wanted as far as a dining set. The sets I liked were expensive and also came in a million pieces that needed to be put together. I decided to use part of the money I'd spend on a new set and find some old chairs to revamp. 


Knowing I wanted to do this before actually moving was an advantage because I could take my time to find exactly what I wanted. First, I went to a fabric store to find some inspiration. My chairs were going to be all different, but be the same in color and upholstery. I scoured through a few second hand stores and found many chairs, but a lot of them were not in the best condition. My goal was to find 4 different shape chairs, all that needed upholstery, and most importantly, sturdy. I found 3 chairs pretty easily, but finding just one more was the hardest. The pre-makeover pictures are below. 

I also found this farm house table at a second hand store to complete my set!

After finding the right upholstery fabric, which was a black and white theme, I was ready to prime and paint my furniture. I chose an almost black color paint and it took 4 coats to realize it wasn't going to get any darker. It just looked navy blue, so after much frustration, I went back to the paint store and told them it was wrong, which they agreed the second they opened the can and mixed me a new gallon. 3 more coats, and finally, I could see the black! 

My only experience with upholstering is from watching Trading Spaces. I eagerly bought myself a staple gun and couldn't wait to use it. I had the seat cushions already unscrewed from the chairs I had painted, then placed the fabric on the floor with the design facing down, put the cushion upside down on the fabric, and started stapling from the middle on each side to the corners. You have to be sure to pull as tight as you can so it doesn't stretch too much and wrinkle once the chairs are in use. I was very surprised  how easy this was and can't wait to use my staple gun again. :)


Ready for my finished product? Tah Dah...

I had a valance made out of the extra fabric to pull it all together. 

Final impression: 

Having the time to do this project was a huge positive. After doing 3 coats of the wrong paint, I was ready to give up and buy a set, but I took a break for the night and started back the next day ready to go! It's very important when you get frustrated in any project to take a break, even if you want to finish as soon as possible. Take that break because it will really show a difference in your work. When you rush through things, it never comes out the way you wanted, so take your time. I am so happy with my set!