Before you throw out that tired old chair relegated years ago to the basement teen hangout, consider this weekend redo. This particular chair was procured from the Mile High Marketplace’s outdoor flea market for $20. While its structure was sound and the cushion still held its shape, the chair was all beige and lacked personality. So: Bye-bye, beige. Stacey Johnson, Special to The Denver Post
Total time: 2 hours
Total project cost: $35
DIRECTIONS
1. Shop your neighborhood secondhand furniture store (or even your own basement!) for a chair that suits your needs. This piece was intended to be a bedroom or patio reading chair — perfect for any spot where someone might relax with a refreshing beverage.
2. Play around with color combinations that work with your room’s decor. A red and black motif was selected for this chair because that color combination seems to dress up any piece, no matter how casual the original.
3. Give the piece a good cleaning using a damp cloth, and remove any dust, dirt, grime or the occasional spiderweb.
4. Apply a coat of glossy black spray paint to the chair to achieve this particular look. Wicker is super easy to cover with spray paint because it doesn’t need to be sanded and usually requires only one application. (It is best to sand wood before painting it.) When spray-painting furniture, glossy paint tends to result in a more together look than satin or flat-finish paint, which can look dull on furniture.
Helpful hint: Consider keeping a box of disposable gloves on hand for weekend painting projects like this one. Never spray paint without them!
5. Now the fun part — reupholstery. Start by measuring your cushions, both front and back, with a tape measure to make sure you buy enough fabric. (Don’t worry about buying too much fabric, as you can always find another use for any extra.) Bargain-hunters can make regular stops at their neighborhood fabric store to see what upholstery pieces are on sale. There’s almost always a bargain or remnants bin. Most stores deeply discount the last 3 or 4 yards of a bolt, which means do-it-yourselfers can get designer upholstery fabrics for a steal. This beautiful red toile was about $10 for 3 yards.
6. This fabric was simply pulled around the cushion and tucked in to save time. But it can be secured with a quick, hidden hand stitch. Skilled do-it-yourselfers may prefer the more finished look of a hand-sewn slipcover. Check do-it-yourself websites such as for easy-to-follow, homemade slipcover instructions.
Stacey Johnson, a longtime hunter of secondhand treasures and an expert in “artful upcycling,” is the creative director at A Paris Apartment, one of roughly 400 shops at Mile High Marketplace, located near Interstate 76 and East 88th Avenue. Information at .
