Blue Bird Chair Makeover

Like most people, I’ve been busy making fall and Halloween decor for my home (like my easy burlap banner and my rustic jute spider web).  But my passion is really in furniture makeovers, and I love having fun painting and being creative with furniture.

My parents went out of town recently and stopped at a flea market.  My mom (who knows me pretty well- she’s brought me several pieces) picked up this chair for only $3.00!  It was simple, sturdy, and I knew it would be the perfect candidate for a playful makeover.

First I cleaned it up and unscrewed the seat.

I really liked how my Bonjour Blue chair turned out so I went with the same color this time – Indigo Streamer by Valspar.  Then I added a bit of Old White Annie Sloan Chalk Paint for some contrast on the little spindles.

Then I went to our new Hobby Lobby store and chose some GORGEOUS colorful bird fabric for the seat.  I bought one yard but I probably could’ve gotten away with half.  (It’s alright, I know I’ll use the rest in other projects!)  I laid it over the seat to determine which area I wanted visible- of course it had to be the peacock-looking bird, some flowers, and a butterfly.  Then I cut around it leaving about 4 inches extra on all sides.  Next I ironed… and ironed… and ironed.

After I finally got the wrinkles out, I made sure it was centered again and flipped everything over.  I used a basic staple gun to secure the fabric, sometimes having to hammer the staples down too.  I started with opposite sides and cut out little triangles where the screw holes were.  I also cut off some of the excess fabric- it’s better to start with extra and then get rid of what you don’t need.  The corners were a little tricky- I pulled tightly and made two different folds, securing with staples each time.

After the seat was finished, I screwed it back into the chair frame… Easy peasy!

I love this blue bird chair and I LOVE the fabric.  It’s a bright, fun piece that will definitely be a conversation piece in someone’s home!

You’re invited to stop by my blog anytime at Girl in the Garage where you can keep up with my furniture makeovers, DIY home decor, crafts, and occasional thoughts about family and life.  (And I have two adorable preschoolers who show up there once in a while.)  😉  

Thanks for visiting with me today- and thanks to the fine ladies at LCI for having me!

Jen, aka Girl in the Garage

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If you like chair makeovers, you might enjoy these posts:

Berry Blush Chair Makeover

Bonjour Blue Chair Makeover

8 DIY Seating Makeovers