Check out what I bought yesterday…
A lot of 9 steamer trunks. I couldn’t resist. Mr. DIY may consider an intervention. But you guys! The price was just too good to pass by and it was an all or nothing type deal. And you know I’ll find somewhere for a few of them. So will Bri. Ali will probably want one too. How about you? 😉
I love imperfectly perfect!
You all know Jaime from 
right? Well, in case you missed it or just in case you don’t ‘know’ her yet, I’d like to introduce you to a super creative, talented DIY blogger. She claims “All DIY all the time” and she’s not kidding.
She always has some amazing do-it-yourself projects to share and most recently, a truly awesome master bedroom makeover full of DIY projects with detailed tutorials on how you can give your room or even other areas of your home a fresh new low-cost look. Here are just a few of the before/after photos.
With a low budget family room renovation in progress, I need to give some old pieces a new look. As I’m looking through some creative projects, this gorgeous transformation submitted by Gabbi at Retro Ranch Reno is definitely an inspiration.
Gabbi removed all of the original hardware and sanded the surface to roughen things up for primer.
Thrift Store Chair makeover, painting and re-upholstery. Meet: Karin from
I had the pleasure of meeting Ethan from One Project Closer in real life last summer at the Shaw/HGTV Home Design Challenge. Ethan was a partner in the winning team. The team at One Project Closer shares crafts and DIY tutorials and reviews. Today he’s here to introduce you to One Project Closer with an easy way to update chairs.
This is a guest post by Ethan from One Project Closer.
Reupholstering chairs and cushions may sound like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. With a few tools and some DIY spirit, you can give old seat cushions new life. My wife and her mother recovered six dining room chairs, and I was able to take pictures of the whole process. Read on to learn how you can conceal ugly stains and worn fabric on your own chairs.
Reupholstering six chairs only took a few hours and it wasn’t very expensive at all. The cost is almost entirely the upholstery fabric so just wait until Joanne’s has a sale or you find a coupon. Here are the necessary tools and materials you’ll need before starting.
Most seat cushions are held in place with a few (usually hidden) screws. Flip your chair upside-down and remove the screws. We found one in each corner.
We didn’t bother to remove the existing fabric because there’s really no need. You can just cover right over it.
My wife bought a fun zebra print upholstery fabric to give our dining room a fresh, new look. No matter what pattern you chose, just make sure it’s upholstery fabric because it’s more durable. Otherwise, your new seats won’t last very long.
Place the seat cushion upside-down on the upholstery fabric, and measure out the necessary dimensions. Add about three inches to each side so that the fabric will be long enough to wrap underneath the cushion. Remember, it’s better to have too much than too little. You can always cut any excess later. We oriented the zebra strips across the seat cushion. If your fabric has a pattern, make sure you keep it consistent with the other cushions.
We used a heavy-duty staple to staple the fabric to the bottom of the cushion. Starting on the front side, put staples every couple of inches. Then, on the opposite site (the back) pull the fabric tight (but not too tight) and staple that side. Repeat these steps with the other two sides, and leave the corners open for now.
As you’re stapling, the goal is to smooth away wrinkles, and the corners are the most difficult. To make the turn, we used overlapping pleats. Start on one side, make a small pleat and then continue in a likewise fashion through the entire corner. Staple the heck out of the corners!
After everything is stapled and you’re happy with how the cushion looks, trim away any excess fabric.
Once we had completed all six cushions, we sprayed ’em with ScotchGuard to better prevent any future stains. This was an important step because we have two young girls ages 1 and 3, and they always seem to spill or drop food. As you’re screwing the cushions back on, don’t over-tighten the screws or the wood may strip.
Now it’s time to enjoy the “new” chairs!
One Project Closer is a website where Fred, Kim, Jocie, and I share how-to projects, tool reviews, coupons for home improvement centers, and crafty projects. We hope you’ll stop by OPC for great resources like building a shed or making merlot cupcakes. We also provide the most up-to-date list of coupons for home improvement stores like this Lowe’s coupon page. Stop by and say hello! Join the DIY party.