Today’s Rocking Chair Makeover is my project for the March edition of the Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest: Mix and Match with Fairfield World.
Our Fab Hosts this month are Ciburbanity & 58 Water Street.
Also feel free to contact Stacy from Anastasia Vintage at info@anastasiavintage.com for more info about our Fab Furniture Flippin Contests.
Like many of my furniture makeover projects, this one started with an eye roll and a head shake. From my husband ; )
Yep, that’s what I got from Dan when I showed him my $5 rocking chair: An eye roll and a head shake. I’m used to it ; )
He clearly doesn’t have my vision ; )
To be honest, I was a little skeptical myself. I mean look at that poor chair! But for $5 what did I have to lose???
the first thing I did was give this old chair a good cleaning and then removed the arms rest pads.
I have to stop and say right here that this is NOT a reupholstery project. Maybe some day I will attempt such a project, but not today. The most REUPHOLSTERING that I did with this chair was what you see in the photos above. I removed the old fabric, and whatever that stuff was underneath of it. I replaced whatever that nasty stuff was, with new batting (about 6 layers) and new fabric. For the rest of the upholstery: I just covered it the existing upholstery with batting and fabric.
Okay, back to the chair. Once it was clean, I painted it. It took about three coats of paint. The paint I used is called Pink Pearl Metallic Paint and it’s made by Modern Masters. It coordinates so well with the fabric that I got at Hobby Lobby.
I attached the batting with my RYOBI Narrow Crown Stapler using 1/2″ staples. It worked great for this application. I’m not sure it’s the “right” way to attach batting but it worked for me!
I attached the fabric the same way: using my stapler.
I was able to cover up all of those staples by hot gluing trim (also from Hobby Lobby) around the edges.
I have a new respect for anyone out there that does “real” reupholstering. My hats off to them!
I’m not sure that this $5 chair would be worth the work and time of a complete reupholstering job, but I think that by using some quality batting, pretty paint, and pretty fabric, I was able to transform this chair into quite a lovely and striking piece of furniture. I’d love to hear what you think of it. Tell me in the comments below.
One last look at the before and after:
Love this rocking chair, it is so romantic with the new fabric!! I would love to hear what you husband said after your work, I imagine he didn’t roll his eyes this time! And I agree with you, upholstery is not an easy task.
I would love to invite you to share it with us at the party I co-host every Tuesday on my blog. Enjoy the week!
What an incredible makeover! I’d say that was $5 well spent.
Wow! I have almost the identical rocker I picked up for half price ($15), at the local Re-Store, but it’s in much shabbier condition. There were antique dealers offering me more money to take it off my hands, so I knew I had a diamond in the rough! I have no idea what to do with it – it weighs a ton and the springs in the seat are twisted, but seeing your reupholstered masterpiece, I think I can do something cool with mine too! Your upholstering skills match mine – as long as I have my good electric stapler, anything is possible!
You took a $5.00 chair and turned it into a million bucks. What a difference. The fabric and paint color is so pretty and feminine
The change in this chair is remarkable. I love the pink. Great job!! Thanks for linking to Friday’s Furniture Fix. It is such a joy to have you share with us.
Hello Jeanie,
It’s really awesome makeover your rocking chair. Really, love your post. You create a new look this rocking chair. Great work! It is so romantic with the new fabric. My sister has a nursing rocking chair. I also create a new look my sister nursing rocking chair.
You did a great job recovering this chair! But it breaks my heart a little that you painted over the antique Mahogany woodwork, which makes it a stand out piece. That makes me join your husband with a sad head shake of my own.
Oops, meant to leave a comment to Jeanie!
wonderful post, I really enjoy your article, Thanks
Good work done by you in renovating this rocking chair. These chairs are very comfortable and often costly, you saved money by the makeover of this chair.
I’ve no words to explain. Just awesome work done by you. Thank very much for sharing your knowledge with us.
I am really glad to have an article like this. These chairs are very expensive to buy but you made this very easy for everyone with these step by step tutorial.
Great article Lot’s of information to Read…Great Keep Posting and update to People..Thanks
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