Are your chairs a sight for eyes that cannot or better yet, shouldn’t see? And are you having company in just a few days? Eek! What can you do to make things look more presentable? Well, here are a few ideas for those cruddy chairs that you have been meaning to fix up but haven’t had a chance to.
The cushions are the easiest things to tackle, so let’s start there. Loose seats can easily be fixed. If the cushion sits within the frame, simply pop it out and then stretch and staple the new fabric over the old. (Resist the urge to put something borrowed and something blue in the mix.) Then squeeze the “new” cushion back into the frame and voila! A new cushion!
Think outside of the fabric box and consider different kinds for your chairs. What about dress fabric or even wallpaper? (Well, maybe not wallpaper.) Dressmaker fabric is cut differently and it is narrower, as most people aren’t built like armchairs. It is also usually cheaper than upholstery fabric.
If you want a rustic or country look, use a crackle glaze. If the finish is peeled, leave it alone as it will fit right into the look. It is said by some who should know that we are most comfortable around humble furniture (I would ask Abe Lincoln, but who knows where he is keeping himself these days?) It does make sense though, if you think about it. Aloof and snotty chairs are not easily approachable or easy to live with.
So look around and get started. If your house is anything like mine, it will be difficult to pick a focal point as just about EVERYTHING needs some help. Still, you must work on the chairs so that they can work for you.
Happy chairs and happy company.
Have YOU a chair story to tell? Please share.