How-to-recover-this-end-up-chairs

As a parent of two elementary school students, I always ask my kids’ teachers if they need anything for their room. Usually the answer is markers, wipes, or snacks. But, my kindergartner’s teacher knows about my secret identity after having taught my older son for a year. So, she didn’t hesitate to ask me if I could possibly recover a few really sad looking chairs that had seen their fair share of kindergarten butts. 😉

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

 

old_school_chair

These poor chairs were still very study, but the fabric was nubby, pilled and stained. I love a good challenge, so I took all three of the chairs home over the Christmas break.

The first task involved removing the seats. Before I touched the seats, I flipped over the chairs and marked the front side of the chair so they would fit together perfectly when I put them back together.

mark_front_of_chair

Next I removed all the screws securing the chair seat (all six of them.)

seat_screws_view

Because of the construction of these chairs, I found it necessary to use a longer bit on my drill to get into each hole.

remove_seat_screws

I pried off the piping from the seat backs with a 5-in-1 painter’s tool and needle-nosed pliers.

removing_chair_piping

After the seats were removed, each chair got a good cleaning, a little sanding and then a couple coats of Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint (colors used: tricycle and luckett’s green) and the blue one was chalk painted. I used the bonding agent with the milk paint to make sure the paint would stick to the chairs.

painted_this_end_up_chairs

Finally, the chairs each got two coats of Minwax Polycrylic because those kindergartners are tough on furniture.

polycrylic_coating_on_chairs

Now on to the fun part!

How to Re-upholster This End Up Style Chairs:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Materials:

I let my son’s teacher to pick out some cute fabrics from one of my favorite fabric sources, Spoonflower.com. Not only do they have loads of designs to choose from, but you can also upload your own graphics and create your own custom fabric!

rocket_ship_fabric_spoonflower

She picked out these adorable space themed fabrics: Rocketship fabric and Space Fireworks fabric. With a primary color palette, they are the perfect choice for a kindergarten classroom.

Instructions:

Cut out fabric, oil-cloth (optional) and batting a few inches larger than the seat.

layer_fabric_onto_seats

Layer the fabric face down on the floor. then the oil-cloth next (I put the oil-cloth face up so the fuzzy back side would be against the fabric to keep it from feeling too crinkly.)

Cut a square out of each corner about 1″ from the seat cushion corner.

cut_corners_off_chair_seat

Staple one staple into the center of each side. Work across form each other, gently stretching the fabric taut.

staple_opposite_sides_recover_chair

Add more staples along each side.

seat_stapled_underside

Corners are neatly folded and then stapled to secure them. Hammer any staples that didn’t go completely into the bottom of the seat.

tucked_and_folded_corner

Re-attach the seat to the chair frame by replacing all the screws.

screws_into_seat_again

Flip the chair right side up and (1) layer batting, then fabric over the chair back. Cut the fabric about an inch wider on the two sides and the bottom. (2) Trim the batting to fit perfectly on the seat back. (3) Fold under the raw edges of the fabric. (4) Secure the fabric to the chair back by stapling at the top of both sides first.

cover_back_of_chair_with_fabric

Next put a few staples into the bottom of the seat back (hidden from view.)

staple_fabric_to_underside

Continue stapling the fabric to the chair along the sides. Set your staples as close to the frame as possible so the piping will hide your staples later. Hammer any staples that stick up.

staple_back_on_chair_first

If you haven’t done so already, sew your piping following this tutorial. Trim the excess fabric from the piping.

trim_piping

Peel back the ends of the piping fabric to expose about an inch of the rope inside. Cut the rope. Then fold the fabric back and tuck the raw edges inside. This will give you a flat section at the end of your piping.

trim_piping_cord

(1) Staple this flat end to the underside of the chair back. (2) Spread some hot glue on top of the staples along the side of the chair back. (3) Pull the piping taut and press it into the hot glue. (4) Secure the end of the piping with hot glue and a staple.

attach_piping_on_chair_back
Secure the piping to the opposite side using the same method.

close_up_piping_on_blue_chair

That’s it! 

Check out this sweet new chair!

reupholster_this_end_up_chairs

Would you know that it was the same chair if I hadn’t shown you?

before_after_reupholstered_this_end_up_chairs

Good, let’s keep it our little secret ;-).


close_up_corner_red_chair

The chairs were such a big hit with the kids. They all rushed to be the first to sit on them.

blue_red_this_end_up_chairs_recovered

I think their teacher was happy with the finished product too.

kindergarten_teacher_with_chair

It’s a happy trio of kindergarten chairs!

trio_primary_colored_kids_chairs

PHGFancySign

You might also like these chair makeovers:

Extreme Makeover for a Yardsale Chair

curbside chair makeover

or Rebuilding Daisy the Discarded Chair

 

Pin for later!

How to Recover Kindergarten Chairs | Pretty Handy Girl

7 replies
  1. Rissa
    Rissa says:

    You have no idea how much you just helped with the kindergarten chairs. Such a simple process but for some reason i am too scared to tackle my dining chair because of the back piece but i think i am ready now, THANK YOU!

    Reply
  2. Janet
    Janet says:

    What a difference!! I’ve done that kind of work, pre-digital photos days’ I’ll have to see if I can fine those photos. If I do I’ll have to post. It’s hard work but so worth it.
    Janet

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.