But even if you bought a new piece of furniture to replace the old one, something different, but no less useful, can be made from the latter.
Old chairs can be found in almost every home, and with a strong desire to replace them, but still you should not throw them away, as you can make other useful things for the home, garden and summer cottage from old chairs.
For example, from an old chair you can make a towel rack, a garden bench, a convenient pet feeder, and much more.
Here are the most interesting crafts that you can make using old chairs:
Remaking an old chair with your own hands: a street bench.
For such a shop you will need two or three chairs. These chairs can be spray-painted or left with a vintage look.
1.1. If the chairs are too high, you can file their legs a little.
1.2. You can purchase special cushions for chairs. Some are sold separately (in which case they should be connected with a line), but you can also find 4 pads connected together and cut off the excess.
1.3. To make three chairs look more like one bench, you can purchase or find two or three boards that need to be cut to the required length (the length of three chairs) and connected.
* If desired, you can round the ends.
1.4. Prepare a piece of fabric that is longer and wider than the length and width of the pads. Lay the fabric on the floor with the pattern down and place the pillows on it.
1.5. Lay the connected boards on top of the pads.
1.6. Bend the fabric and use a stapler to attach it to the boards.
1.7. It remains to put the boards with pillows on the chairs and add a few simple pillows for decoration.
New life for old wooden chairs: large dog feeders.
Tall dogs will find it easier if the feeders are a little higher, especially older dogs who find it difficult to lower their heads all the time.
All you need is a file tool, a bowl and a pencil.
2.1. Before you start cutting a hole in the chair, you must first process it with sandpaper.
2.2. Place the bowl upside down on a chair and trace around with a pencil. After that, inside the resulting circle, draw a circle of smaller diameter. This can be done with a pair of compasses or a plate that is smaller in diameter than the bowl.
2.3. Make a hole inside the circle with a drill, from which you can then start cutting the circle. You can first cut out a circle of smaller diameter and check the stability of the bowl in the formed circle. Make the circle even bigger if necessary.
2.4. Process inner part holes with sandpaper.
* You can paint the chair and then insert the bowl.
Wall organizer from an old chair with a back.
By dividing the chair into parts, you can create wall hanger or organizer, as well as a comfortable stool.
The back and seat will not be easy to separate, but then everything will be easy.
If necessary, process all the details with sandpaper and paint.
To make a comfortable stool you will need:
Tools for separating chair parts
Sitting from a chair
Durable fabric and pillow filling or regular small pillow
stapler
Hot glue (if needed) to hold the stuffed fabric together.
1. Attach the fabric to the seat with a stapler, but leave one side intact to fill the resulting pocket with pillow stuffing.
* You can also use a small pillow instead of filling.
2. Attach the seat back to the chair and you have a beautiful stool.
3. For wall organizer hooks are needed. After you have screwed or glued the (self-adhesive) hooks, the organizer can be hung on the wall in the hallway, room or bathroom (on the door, for example), where you can hang towels on the hooks.
Converting an old chair into a menu board
You can make a beautiful menu board out of an old folding chair.
For this you will need:
MDF sheets
Seat separation tools
Blackboard paint
Sandpaper (if necessary)
Paint or spray paint (if necessary).
1. Cut out squares of the required size for each chair from MDF (if there is one chair, then there is one square from MDF, respectively).
2. Paint the MDF square with chalkboard paint.
3. Remove the seat from the chair and bolt a painted MDF square in its place.
* V this example for beauty, 2 old ones were attached to the board wooden details that fit the style of the board.
4. To make the legs stand normally, you can attach a chain between them.
How to convert a chair into a coat rack
You just need to detach the back of the old chair, sand it down and paint it.
After that, attach the hook of the size you need and hang the hanger in any convenient place.
Bathroom hanger from an old chair
You will need a chair back. It can be carefully cut, sanded and painted if desired.
The seat can be cut in half and one half can be used as a hanger shelf.
This shelf can be attached with bolts and special glue. To strengthen the shelf in its place, you can use the corners. This stage is optional, it is suitable for those who like to work with wood.
Such a hanger can be attached to the door in the bathroom, in the kitchen, in the country house or in any other room where it may be needed.
How to convert old chairs into shoe storage
Separate the seat from the chair. If this is not possible, then you will have to cut a large hole into which you will then need to insert the basket.
Find any basket (metal or plastic) and use a strong thread or wire to attach it to the chair (tie it to the frames of the chair).
What to make from an old chair: a swing
If you cut the legs of an old chair, sand it and paint it, then it can be used as a swing seat in the country or in the garden, for example.
You will need:
strong rope
metal rings
Eye screws
Additional details if needed.
Here is another version of the swing:
Chair second life: garden shelf
An old chair can be turned into convenient shelf for flowers or storage of various tools for the garden.
You will need a chair back and part (or all) of the seat. Just cut off the desired part of the seat (you may need to saw off the legs of the chair) and attach the shelf to the wall or door.
Sand the part with sandpaper and paint.
Do-it-yourself drink shelf from an old chair
1. Find a bucket that will contain ice and drinks. It is desirable that it be with handles that would rest on the frame of the chair.
2. Separate the seat from the chair, cut it down or make a hole in the seat.
* Using a strong rope, you can tie a bucket or a large bowl to a chair, in case there are no handles. It is most convenient to make holes in the bucket through which the thread is threaded.
The second life of an old chair: a flower bed
For the garden, you can create beautiful flower bed using old chair.
For this you will need:
A flower pot
Electric jigsaw
Sandpaper (for woodworking)
Paint (optional)
Sealing paste for smoothing unevenness in the opening of the chair (if necessary).
* If you want to attach more flower pots to the chair, you can use a pipe clamp to hold the pots or jars.
Photo of flower beds from old chairs with your own hands
The appearance of furniture over time can become unpresentable. In addition, it sometimes breaks down and needs repair. Restoring a chair that can serve for many more years is not at all difficult. Sometimes you just need to update the surface - change the upholstery or make the seat more durable. There are many materials for restoration in the house - a piece of dense fabric, foam rubber, etc. The updated chair, covered with a beautiful varnish, looks no less neat than when you bought it.
The appearance of furniture over time can become unpresentable.
A home-restored chair can be designed better than it looked before. Restoration requires a minimum of materials and tools. Replacing a leaky or frayed upholstery is a matter of one hour.
If the chair is antique, then you need to restore it very carefully.
Can be cleaned by yourself wooden surface old furniture and cover with a transparent or tinted composition, introduce new elements into the decor. For example, a chair is made with carved legs or a back, and the seat is reinforced so that it can be used for its intended purpose for a long time.
There are many materials for restoration in the house - a piece of dense fabric, foam rubber, etc.
Restoration costs at home are minimal. Before buying a new chair, think about whether it is possible to restore the old one and save a lot at the same time. Restoration of antique furniture is especially expensive because it requires great care and exclusive materials. Updating furniture on your own will be much cheaper.
The updated chair, covered with a beautiful varnish, looks no less neat than when you bought it.
Restoration process: step by step instructions
If the "native" bolts connecting the supporting structure are loosened, then they are strengthened with an additional washer. For greater reliability, you can add a little universal glue to the grooves.
Replace the seagrass and horsehair used in the old days as fillers with foam rubber.
A leaky seat is updated by replacing the base with slats and / or completely restoring the upholstery. The worn surface is freed from the old material. The chair is being prepared for further restoration:
- cut a piece of plywood to fit the seat;
- stick foam rubber on the base (width - 3-4 cm);
- fix plywood around the perimeter;
- stretch the upholstery fabric on the finished base;
- fix the material with a stapler and staples.
A home-restored chair can be designed better than it looked before.
You can completely replace the back with a figured one, if the design allows.
You can not bring the fabric to outer sides seats. Then the upholstery is tucked around the perimeter inward. The seat frame will be visible.
The fabric is selected resistant to abrasion and mechanical stress, sufficiently dense.
Replacing a leaky or frayed upholstery is a matter of one hour.
When updating, you can use the most different materials. With a good carpentry skill, the restored chair acquires an individual style. This takes into account the material - wood species, density, texture.
You can independently clean the wooden surface of old furniture and cover it with a transparent or tinted composition, add new elements to the decor.
The chairs included in the set must be decorated in the same style.
If the chair is antique, then you need to restore it very carefully. Be sure to give time to dry the applied composition.
For an antique chair, choose a decorative material with embroidery.
For your information. Antique chairs often come with springs in the seat area, so you will need to find the same or similar ones, and remove the old, rusted and lost elasticity. Replace the seagrass and horsehair used in the old days as fillers with foam rubber.
Restoration costs at home are minimal.
Round the edges using a jigsaw, clean the edges with sandpaper.
Necessary materials and tools
To restore the chairs you will need the following:
- quick-drying varnish (transparent or tinted);
- dye;
- upholstery fabric;
- foam rubber;
- plywood;
- sandpaper;
- metal washers and bolts (screws);
- springs (for a specific type of chairs).
Sandpaper will be required in order to clean the surface of the furniture from bumps, chips and cracks in the varnish.
The fabric is selected resistant to abrasion and mechanical stress, sufficiently dense. Tapestry, flock, matting, etc. will do. For an antique chair, choose a decorative material with embroidery.
Updating furniture on your own will be much cheaper.
Select in advance the density, texture of the wooden base, cut it to size and use the template to draw the desired pattern.
Sandpaper will be required in order to clean the surface of the furniture from bumps, chips and cracks in the varnish. It is necessary to completely sand the chair ( wooden structure) for smooth application of the laminating compound.
For serious repairs, the chair can be disassembled, the broken parts replaced with new ones and fastened with bolts or screws.
To update the chair, you need tools:
- scissors;
- roulette;
- hacksaw for wood (saw off excess plywood under the seat);
- screwdriver;
- screwdriver.
For greater reliability, you can add a little universal glue to the grooves.
For serious repairs, the chair can be disassembled, the broken parts replaced with new ones and fastened with bolts or screws. Seat frames also often require restoration.
Seat frames also often require restoration.
A Viennese chair or any other chair looks best in this design.
Important! It is necessary to use wood species close in density and texture so that the chair is functional and looks presentable.
A leaky seat is updated by replacing the base with slats and / or completely restoring the upholstery.
Restoration methods by decorating a chair
There are several options for designing the appearance of furniture. The chair can be updated in the following ways:
- staining;
- lamination;
- decoupage.
It is necessary to use wood species close in density and texture so that the chair is functional and looks presentable.
As a decor, you can use both the upholstery itself, choosing a fabric of interesting colors like a tapestry, and other parts of the furniture, making them carved, figured.
You can not bring the fabric to the outer sides of the seat.
A plain seat is decorated with smooth embroidery or appliqué. This must be done before starting the plating.
A plain seat is decorated with smooth embroidery or appliqué.
The wooden surface of the supporting structure and the back are laminated, that is, they are coated with a resistant varnish in several layers. The tone of the coating is selected closer to the natural shade of the tree (light, dark or moderate). A Viennese chair or any other chair looks best in this design.
The restored chair can be additionally decorated - to make the wooden surface lighter or darker, to decorate the back or legs in a different way.
You can completely replace the back with a figured one, if the design allows. Select in advance the density, texture of the wooden base, cut it to size and use the template to draw the desired pattern. Round the edges using a jigsaw, clean the edges with sandpaper.
The wooden surface of the supporting structure and the back are laminated, that is, they are coated with a resistant varnish in several layers.
The chairs included in the kit must be designed in the same style so that they do not stand out from the overall picture - "various" furniture can look good in different rooms, but at a common table, for example, when celebrating a family celebration, it looks careless.
When updating, you can use a variety of materials.
VIDEO: Chair restoration: How to make a chair with your own hands. Master class from Katerina Sanina: design, interior
Sooner or later, even the best chairs fail. It’s a pity to throw them away, because they have already become part of the interior, fell in love and keep a lot of emotional memories. If this is the case, then it is worth considering the practical reworking of old furniture and its repurposing into new interior items. What can happen from the most ordinary old chairs?
In the interior of a summer house or a house, decorated in a rustic style, objects with history look special. They give the space a special retro gloss and create a real touch of antiquity, which is so necessary in interiors of this kind. It is here that towel holders made from the backs of old chairs will be appropriate. It will not be difficult to create them, but they will colorfully fit into the design picture. You can safely decorate kitchens or bathrooms with such decor items.
Are the legs loose or broken on the chair? No problem! This does not mean that his life is over. If the case itself is strong enough and has an attractive appearance, then its best purpose is to become a garden swing. First, it is worth sanding a piece of furniture, impregnating it with an antifungal solution and painting it in a beautiful color. At the same time, the paint must be resistant to temperature extremes, precipitation and strong sun.
In the same garden, it is appropriate to put an unusual planter, also made from an old chair. Sometimes it happens that after the repair they completely change all the furniture, but there is no desire to get rid of the old one. In this case, the garden and even the interior of the house can be decorated with stylish flower stands. One has only to refresh the chairs with paint, cut holes in the seats and place large flower pots there (these can even be small tin containers).
Today it is fashionable to decorate the kitchen with items that are found in popular cafes or restaurants. They also include slate plates, on which menus or pleasant wishes to visitors are usually written. The most interesting thing is that making such a decor item is not at all difficult, and special costs it won't require. All you need is the back of an old chair and slate paint. By the way, young parents should also take this idea, because children love to draw with crayons so much.
It's amazing how many different and interesting interior items you can get using only old chairs. In addition, such old furniture with new life able to stylishly diversify the interior. For example, coffee table from a chair, which is also perfect for the role of a bedside table.
Shelves are never redundant, wherever they are - in the bathroom, in the living room, in the kitchen, in the hallway or even in the garden. A creative hanging shelf will turn out from the top of an old chair and will always delight not only with its functionality, but also with an attractive design.
We also made a selection. She's worth a look!
If you find that an old chair is completely worn out, do not rush to throw it away. Often old pieces of furniture bring with them pleasant memories of people and events in the life of your family. And to be honest, before furniture was made for centuries ...
Therefore, the restored chair may well serve not only you, but also your children. Simply by changing its appearance, you can return the furniture to its former attractiveness and novelty. Fortunately, there are many options now. Everything will depend only on your imagination. 
How to update an old chair? Precleaning
To begin with, the surface of the chair must be cleaned of the old coating, whatever it may be. If there is a soft seat upholstery, it must first be removed. To do this, it is not necessary to male power". Try turning the chair upside down and you will see that the seat is held in place with screws that need to be removed. To do this, you need to arm yourself with a hammer (for knocking out the seat) and a screwdriver (straight or Phillips).
Now you can start removing the old coating. To do this, you can use the usual "sandpaper" of different grain sizes or a grinding sponge. It is important to sand the surface of the wood well. This will make it easy to apply your choice in further coating. Needless to say, this job is not easy.
But it is possible to simplify the process a little by periodically moistening the surface to be treated. This way you can get rid of the dust. Just do not be afraid that the old varnish becomes viscous from moisture. This is fine. After the chair is completely dry, you need to once again sand the entire surface well with fine “sandpaper”. 
How to update an old chair? All right
Now it all depends on your imagination. If you decide to varnish the surface of the chair, then you need to use a colorless primer in order to protective layer the texture of the wood was clearly visible. A layer of primer will have to be used in any case. Even if you decide to paint the chair later.The fact is that the paint lays down better and lasts longer if the surface is pre-primed.
It is necessary to cover the surface with varnish in two layers. It is important that the first layer is well dried before applying the second. The varnish can be applied with a brush or sprayed on the surface.
You can paint the chair in any color. Now white furniture is considered very fashionable. And the upholstery of the seat can be chosen in contrast. Now there are many ways to show originality. For example, use a stencil. Let it be flowers or any other ornament.
Another way to cover the surface of the chair is with beeswax balm. The surface is also pre-sanded and primed with drying oil. Then cover with a thin layer of balm with a cloth. After twelve hours, the surface is polished with a brush.
Now you can start restoring the upholstery. The old one must be removed. Previously, it was attached to the seat with ordinary nails. You will also have to get rid of the foam rubber. It is necessary to cut a new one according to the old standards. The fabric needs to be cut with a margin for hem. Upholstery material can be very different: as a special fabric for upholstered furniture, and ordinary linen or thick cotton. It is better to fasten the fabric with a furniture stapler. But if you don't have one, don't worry. You can use ordinary nails by nailing them with a hammer. It is important to remember that the material must be well stretched on all sides.
Now the seat can be inserted into its original place and fastened with screws.
Upgrade an old chair with a slipcover
There is another way to update an old chair - use a cover. It can be made from any fabric, hiding defects and imperfections without major intervention. The cover can be with a variety of frills, ruffles, bows, tassels ... You can make several options. Festive and everyday. Show your imagination! Don't rush to throw away old furniture, try to become a designer, we are sure that you will succeed!
Before updating an old chair with a backrest with your own hands, you need to examine the condition of the furniture. Before restoration, the strength of the fastening of the legs, back and seat is checked. If they stagger, then they need to be tightened or re-glued. The next steps will depend on the type of restoration work to be undertaken. 
Similar articles:
How to update a chair with a back
In most cases, old chairs require overhaul. Furniture is cleaned of paint and varnish, chips, cracks and potholes are repaired on it. Objects from the array are covered with impregnation or stain so as not to overlap the texture of the wood. Furniture is also repainted in other colors.
To update a chair with soft elements, you need to remove the old upholstery and replace the foam rubber. If necessary, install new springs in the seat.
chair painting
The easiest way to reconstruct wooden objects is to repaint. Furniture can be made plain, highlight the back, legs or seat different colors. Also, a pattern is applied to the furniture.
Features of the reconstruction:
- Removing the old top cover. The easiest way to remove the paint layer is with a grinder. The device must be directed along the fibers of the tree. Otherwise, you can ruin the texture. To remove the coating in hard-to-reach places, use coarse-grained sandpaper. Another way to remove old paint and varnish - applying a wash. It is necessary to cover furniture with this chemical solution in a respirator and with open windows. The peeled top coat is removed with a spatula.
- Elimination of defects. Potholes and cracks are sealed with wood putty or a home-made mixture based on small sawdust and PVA glue.
- Preparing for painting. Before you update the chair, you need to make its surface smooth. Furniture cleaned of paint and varnish should be treated with fine-grained sandpaper.
- Painting. You will need a small foam roller and synthetic brushes different sizes. You can use alkyd paint, water-based compounds, impregnations. The first layer is applied with a roller. So the coating will be more uniform. Subsequent layers are applied with brushes. After repainting, the chair is varnished. Experts recommend using protective compounds that are resistant to mechanical stress.
If you decide to combine several shades in furniture, then you should use the color wheel to select them. Patterns are applied using a stencil. You can also transfer a sketch to furniture through carbon paper.
Seat and back padding
Upholstered chairs will take longer to update. In this case, it will be necessary to replace the springs and foam rubber.
Fabric for new upholstery must be durable. For the back and seat, you can choose from the following materials:
- Tapestry.
- Rogozhka.
- Jacquard.
- Artificial skin.
For stretching you will need:
- Screwdriver.
- Pliers.
- Roulette.
- Scissors.
- Furniture stapler.
How to reconstruct a wooden chair with your own hands:
- Dismantling furniture. First you need to disconnect the staples on which the fabric is attached from the frame. They pry off with a flat head screwdriver. Then they remove the old upholstery and disassemble the seat. If the frame of the furniture has been glued, then it is worth disconnecting the legs. They are cleaned and then re-mounted to the seat base. This is done to increase the stability of the chair.
- Replacement of old fittings. Springs need to be changed if they have rusted and started to move away. They can be purchased in stores with furniture fittings. A structure made of flooring, felt and batting is pulled over the springs.
- Construction of a pattern for the seat and back. You can duplicate the old upholstery. It is detached and then placed on paper. Details are outlined and cut out. When building a pattern for furniture without upholstery, paper is placed over the back and seat, and then their boundaries are marked with a pencil. When cutting out parts, you should take into account the thickness of the foam rubber and remember about allowances.
- Upholstery replacement. First form the back of the back. The fabric is fixed with a stapler. The direction of movement is from the central part to the corners. Then foam rubber is glued to the back and the front part is attached. After that, pull the seat. Foam rubber and synthetic winterizer are attached to it, and then covered with a cloth.
Upgrade an old chair with a slipcover
You can also update old chairs with covers. The easiest way is to make a design with a “skirt” that covers the bottom of the furniture. Removable cover can be sewn from 5 parts. When cutting them out, 1.5 cm is added to the allowances, and 3 mm to the free fit. For sewing, you will need about 2 m of fabric.
Pattern details:
- Seat. Consists of 1 part, fully corresponds to the parameters of a similar piece of furniture.
- Back. Sewn from 3 parts. The back part consists of 2 rectangles, between which a hidden zipper is sewn. At the bottom, these parts are hemmed, making a double hem. The front is folded back and sewn to the top of the back.
- Bottom. Cut out in the form of a long strip. It is sewn to the seat and bottom of the back. The part can completely cover the legs or be smaller than them in height. Its lower cut is processed with a hem seam.
