DIY decoupage chair and stool

In the attic or in the basement there is always some old unnecessary furniture, such as wooden stools or chairs. For various reasons, sometimes I do not want to throw such items away. But you can give the old chair a new life in a modern style.

This can be done using decoupage technique.

Let's take a step-by-step look at how you can transform furniture from the attic using the example of a chair and a stool using decoupage.

We will analyze in detail the update of a wooden stool.

Start by removing the old paintwork. Try to use a grinder first. Hard-to-reach areas should be cleaned manually with sandpaper. Using a small cutter, you can get rid of the paint in the gaps.

Paint the stool seat with white paint.

Cut the cloth in the corners and remove the extra layers of cloth.

Lubricate the seat with decoupage glue and gently glue the tissue. Smooth it so that there are no wrinkles. Then apply at least 2 coats of varnish to the seat.

The legs of the stool should be protected with clean wax, which will beautifully highlight the structure of the tree without changing color.

For decoupage of chairs with pure wooden seats, the same materials and technologies are used as for stools. Decoupage cards and napkins are used as a pattern.

The whole process consists of several stages.

1. Clean all surfaces, remove unnecessary nails or screws. Metal (often rusty) elements are removed using a nail clipper or pliers. At this stage, we also remove the old chair upholstery - we remove the rusty staples and carefully remove the upper fabric. We check the condition of the seats and evaluate what needs to be replaced.
2. More often than not, if the chair is only a few decades old, we replace the old batting with new foam rubber, cut to fit the seat. It is important to choose similar hardware if, in addition to its technical function, it was a decorative element. It is best to buy it in a specialized upholstery workshop, bringing original products as a model.
3. After removing the upholstery, care must be taken of the wooden structure. To effectively and at the same time gently clean the top layer of a wooden stool (the most prone to contamination and damage), we need a solution of white spirit (500 ml) and denatured alcohol (250 ml). After wetting the cloth with a solution (lint-free), thoroughly wipe the wooden frame of the chair so as to clean it of dirt and wax accumulation. If the piece of furniture has been varnished, it is better to remove the top layer of varnish with a scraper so that a new varnish of the selected color can be applied to the cleaned wood.
4. Under the upholstery we will see all the damage to the old chair. It is always necessary to strengthen and glue wooden structures at the joints: legs, backs and others. Usually, parts of the chair are glued with resin glue so that, with possible restoration errors, our activity is completely reversible. Then the antique chair will not lose its true shape. This glue is ideal for this operation. However, the procedure requires a long drying time (at least 12 hours) and high accuracy during application (the glue cools quickly; it must be heated and then managed to be used before it cools down). Apply glue with a syringe to the joints of furniture. Secure with a clamp until the glue dries.
5. After removing the top layer of varnish from the chair, apply polish to the untreated wood. This is a lengthy process that takes about two days, but the effect is worth it. If you do not want to wait long, cover the tree with varnish or paint of the selected color. Or protect the product with wax for wooden furniture.
6. Apply varnish in thin layers. Leave each layer for 2-3 hours to dry. The more layers of varnish we manage to apply, the more beautiful and more reliable the texture will turn out.
7. We pass to the final stage - the creation of a new upholstery. Before replacing foam, first of all, take care of the base of the seat. This is usually a wooden seat. But there may be a braid from the upholstery tape.
8. In the second case, we cut the tape into 3-4 sections, laid crosswise depending on the width of the seat. Then we fix the tapes with a furniture stapler on a wooden frame from both ends. Next, we connect the sections of the upholstery tape so that we get two layers of material. The stripes should be intertwined with each other in such a way as to make a “chessboard”. We fasten the edges with a stapler for upholstery.
9. On a basis prepared in this way, place a soft sponge, batting or natural filling (sea grass, bristles, coconut fibers). However, keep in mind that natural seat filling is recommended in the case of antiques. And then additional procedures may be required. For ordinary needs, the safest filling will be foam rubber (sponge).
10. A sponge cut to fit the seat is covered with the selected decoupage material. Lighter decoupage fabrics will look better, as they reduce wrinkles on the item used. Make sure the fabric fits snugly and gradually press it against the surface of the chair or stool. Be sure to smooth the fabric you use before adding glue to avoid wrinkles. Add glue to the fabric and let it dry. After drying, add more glue to seal the structure.Be sure to apply acrylic sealant to protect your renovated furniture.
11. Attach a decoupage-patterned sponge to the seat and mask the visible stitch with decorative upholstery tape, securing it with fabric glue or decorative upholstery pins.

A chair decoupage master class is presented in the following video:

You can use different materials for decoupage.

You can use almost any paper. The type of paper you use will depend heavily on the project you are creating. For items that will be used more often, it is better to use stronger paper, such as images from magazines or your own photos. For a highchair, you can use images of cartoon characters.

• To attach your own photos to the project, just use the photo as plain paper. And then add more polish on top to align and protect the image.
• Use decoupage kits. They are soft, flexible, thin and light, with many stylish design options.
• Quite often use paper napkins. Because this paper is lighter than regular paper, it can easily bend at the corners and is less likely to bubble. Its translucent surface may well pass for painting, unlike other types of paper. Cut the pattern before disassembling the layers of tissue. And then use one layer for decoupage.
• You can also use decoupage to transfer photos to another surface. When printing with photographs, make sure that they are taken from a laser, not an inkjet printer, since the photograph from the inkjet printer may leak out during operation.

If there are unnecessary beautiful fabrics in the house, you can make a decoupage of not only upholstered furniture, but also stairs, cabinets and other household items.

To facilitate decoupage, you can use:

• scrapbooking scissors - facilitate the cutting of intricate patterns;
• foam brushes - useful for applying decoupage finish, they are easier to clean than conventional brushes;
• stationery knife - allows you to leave more even edges when cutting;
• special glaze - create brighter colors, help create interesting shapes;
• roller applicator - Use to obtain a more even coating, especially on large surfaces.

And a few more tips from the masters.

• Use die cuttingto create an intricate design with less labor. This technique is great for people who are just starting decoupage, or for those who have a special design.

• It is possible to level surfaces with hands. If you are worried that fingerprints may remain on your project, use gloves.

• Great for decoupage the use of glue with sparkles, sand or other suspensions.

• To finish a large surface, it is better to use thicker paper. To fold the paper easily, immerse it in water and hold it until it becomes plastic. Glue the paper and let it dry. After drying, apply varnish to the furniture. You can use 3 to 5 layers to provide reliable coverage. For complete furniture protection, apply sealant and polyurethane.