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DIY for Homeowners

How to Upholster a Chair with a Leather Skirt

2/22/2017

6 Comments

 
​text by Vicki     ​Sign up to get Mother Daughter Projects updates in your email!
Learn how to upcycle a chair using a thrifted leather skirt!
​Most Saturday mornings I’m off to yard sales in search of treasures to upcycle. I often come across chairs and really have to restrain myself from buying more—that’s because I have a dozen or more currently stored in my garage! 

This week, one of those chairs got a long-awaited makeover. This wrought iron, mid-century chair was purchased for the whopping sum of $1.00. It was structurally sound but needed work on the veneer, new upholstery, and new feet.
Learn how to upcycle a chair using a thrifted leather skirt!
Before
Learn how to upcycle a chair using a thrifted leather skirt!
Almost everything I upcycle starts with cleaning using Krud Kutter and Scotts green scrubbing pad. This usually takes care of the grime and the cleaned surface then directs the next step. Depending on the condition of the surface revealed, I may need to sand or strip paint, remove rust or repair damaged wood surfaces. 
Learn how to upcycle a chair using a thrifted leather skirt!
Learn how to upcycle a chair using a thrifted leather skirt!
The cleaned surface of the wrought iron was in good condition and only needed to be painted. The veneer on the other hand needed repair. Since I have no experience repairing veneer, I decided to fill the damage with Bondo, let dry, sand and then spray the entire chair with oil rubbed bronze paint. 
Learn how to upcycle a chair using a thrifted leather skirt!
Learn how to upcycle a chair using a thrifted leather skirt!
Learn how to upcycle a chair using a thrifted leather skirt!
Learn how to upcycle a chair using a thrifted leather skirt!
​The cushion was removed, stripped, then fitted with new foam which came from an upcycled memory foam bed topper. I used spray glue to temporarily tack the foam to the chair bottom and then the leather to the top of the foam. 
Learn how to upcycle a chair using a thrifted leather skirt!
Learn how to upcycle a chair using a thrifted leather skirt!
See that title of the post--were you wondering what a leather skirt had to do with anything? Well, the leather skirt was used as the upholstery for the seat. It was a perfect fit. I was able to utilize the front two seams into an interesting placement on the seat. The seat was flipped over and I used an electric staple gun to attach the leather to the seat bottom. Perfect!

​The last addition was purchasing new rubber tips for the legs. 
Learn how to upcycle a chair using a thrifted leather skirt!
Learn how to upcycle a chair using a thrifted leather skirt!
This little lady is all ready in her LBD and shoes ready to welcome guests for another half century!

Do you have a chair you could do this with? What other items could you upholstery a chair with besides a skirt? Let us know in the comments below!


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6 Comments
Mike Williamson
2/23/2017 10:22:07 am

Nice job on your chair! I refinished my dad's old desk chair for use in my house. For the upholstery, I chose black denim with additional batting underneath. If you'd like to see the before & after, tell me how to submit pics to you.
I

Reply
Vikki
2/23/2017 09:01:49 pm

I love the chair, great job!

Reply
Steph
2/25/2017 03:14:25 pm

Thanks Vikki!

Steph
2/25/2017 03:14:06 pm

Sounds like a great project! Would love to see pics- you can email them to us at mdprojects2@gmail.com

Reply
Joni
5/17/2017 04:52:16 pm

I'm laughing about this one - I kept wondering where the "skirt" is around the seat. I kept thinking about something hanging down, off the bottom of the chair. What a cute way to up-cycle and also what an smart way to repair the veneer!

Reply
Steph
5/17/2017 08:57:44 pm

haha...thanks Joni!

Reply



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