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Home, Home Decor

Office Chair Facelift

by Nikkala · on February 22, 2012 · 74 Comments ·

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Office Chair FaceliftOur poor office chair went under the knife (and stapler–but no sewing!) to give it a new look. I picked this chair up for $15 a couple years ago when an office was updating their furniture. So it was a little worn when I brought it home, but add on a few years and it was plain nasty. Perfectly comfortable and in great working condition, just old and dirty. Instead of replacing it, I decided to give it a facelift.

office chair facelift

I’m sorry I’m even exposing you to these pictures but want you to see just how bad it was…the bottom right has pink highlighter drawn all over it and the then the dirty seat above. My 6 year old loves to spin around and around in this chair and I think what you see is the result of too many dirty shoes on the seat.

Office Chair FaceliftWhen I found this duvet cover on sale ($17 for a queen duvet cover=a lot of fabric for not a lot of money!) I knew it would work for our “new” chair.

Office Chair Facelift

The first step was to remove all of the old staples–and there were a lot! I flipped the chair over and using a screwdriver and pliers I started taking out the staples.

Pulling Staples

Furniture factories are very liberal with their use of staples. It took a while to get them all removed.

Old Seat new Pattern

After all the staples were out I peeled the original fabric off to use as a pattern. The foam and the fabric were stuck together. My 3 year old asked why I was skinning our chair! I traced around the old one and cut out the new.

Recoving Office Chair

Tried it over the cushion to be sure it would be the right size before I started stapling. I should mention that the chair’s foam was still in good condition so I didn’t have to add or replace any of it.

Recovering Chair

Then I did the reverse of the first step and started adding staples! The trick is to pull the fabric tight while stapling. It would have been nice to have another person helping, but never fear somehow T-Rex ended up right there cheering me on!

Recovering Office ChairThe top of the chair pops in and out of the black plastic back so you can remove the staples, staple the new fabric back on, and pop it back into place. And again, the before and after:

Office Chair Makeover

I’m loving the results, but thinking I should ScotchGuard it just so I don’t have to do it all over again any sooner than I have to!

This was my maiden furniture recovering experience, what about you–have you tried your hand at recovering furniture?

 

If you want to update your office even more check out:

Office Craft Room Tour

Office Desk

Office Make Over Filing CabinetsFiling cabinet update

How to recover an office chair

About Nikkala

is the author of this post. Want to know more about the Chicks? Click here. :)

Comments

  1. Trish says

    February 22, 2012 at 6:17 am

    I think it looks awesome! I’ve not tried to recover any furniture but I have an ugly old ottoman that’s really begging for it. I guess I’ll have to break down and actually do it!

    Reply
  2. Heather R. says

    February 22, 2012 at 6:44 am

    Love how this turned out. That green is one of my favorite colors too. Just beautiful!

    Reply
  3. Anastasia says

    February 22, 2012 at 7:28 am

    Nice job! I recovered all my office chairs. PLUS I discovered that spray paint made for plastic is a great solution. My sewing chair is white now. 🙂

    Reply
  4. Brooke says

    February 22, 2012 at 8:47 am

    What a huge difference! I love that fabric—awesome job! This makes me want to tackle such a project. 🙂

    Reply
  5. ella says

    February 22, 2012 at 9:14 am

    where did you find that duvet??? I need one for my screen porch bed!!!
    love the chair!

    Reply
    • Nikkala says

      February 22, 2012 at 9:19 am

      Ella, I found it at a local store that sells overstocks from Overstock.com (I know, who would’ve thought!) Any way I looked it up on Overstock.com http://www.overstock.com/Bedding-Bath/Green-Scroll-3-piece-Full-Queen-size-Duvet-Cover-Set/5249729/product.html It is out of stock right now, but might come back 🙂

      Reply
  6. kellie says

    February 22, 2012 at 9:15 am

    Great job! What a difference. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
  7. Amee says

    February 22, 2012 at 11:52 am

    I so LOVE this fantastic creative idea!!! It looks so easy I think I could even do this.
    Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  8. Janette says

    February 22, 2012 at 12:56 pm

    Oh my goodness, that looks great! I have an office chair that looks horrible but I didn’t know what to do with because the foam and chair are perfect aside from the gross fabric. Now I know what to do. AND it will go into my craft room so I can make it as girly as I like. 🙂 Great deal on the duvet cover, I love finds like that!

    Reply
  9. Molly says

    February 23, 2012 at 9:12 am

    I just found you and this project from Pinterest, and I LOVE your chair! I’ve recovered chairs before, but I never considered an office chair makeover, what a great idea!
    I’d love for you to come link your project up to my *Get Creative* party this week
    http://www.justalittlecreativity.blogspot.com/2012/02/get-creative-linky-party-and-features.html
    Hope to see you there!
    Molly

    Reply
  10. Tracy says

    February 23, 2012 at 6:24 pm

    I have an office chair that came with my house. It has to be from the 70’s but it’s got a big seat and arms and it is so comfortable I don’t want to get rid of it. It is just so ugly!
    You made this look so easy I just might try it.

    Thanks

    Reply
  11. BP says

    February 28, 2012 at 11:42 pm

    Thank you so much for this post. I’ve been complaining about my office chair for too long and I’m going out and getting a duvet cover tomorrow!!!

    Reply
    • Nikkala says

      February 29, 2012 at 7:43 am

      Just so you know, you don’t have to use a duvet cover that’s just what I happened to find. Any fabric you like will work. Just be sure it is a high quality so it won’t rip!

      Reply
  12. Kayla Tomeny says

    February 29, 2012 at 11:54 am

    I love this!! Hobby Lobby always has remnants of upholstery fabric in their clearance section or you can catch it when it’s on sale 50% off!! Saw some cute stuff the other day but didn’t know what to do with it! Going to get it today to make over a yucky office chair!

    Reply
  13. mary says

    February 29, 2012 at 12:47 pm

    I absolutely love this. I will be doing this soon. I found this on pinterest!!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  14. Lex Malla Books says

    March 2, 2012 at 12:39 pm

    The chair looks great and comfortable. I’ll have to try this.

    Reply
  15. Melodie says

    March 4, 2012 at 11:14 am

    I love the front of the chair and the bottom wouldn’t show but what about the back of the chair? How do you hide the staples?

    Reply
  16. Nikkala says

    March 11, 2012 at 1:52 pm

    You can see the plastic chair back in one of the top photos that covers up the staples.

    Reply
  17. Kayla says

    March 13, 2012 at 11:35 am

    I totally used your idea and ran with it. Thank you for the inspiration!!!!

    http://allforoliver.blogspot.com/2012/03/re-upholstered-computer-chair.html

    Reply
  18. Cyndy LaFont says

    March 14, 2012 at 8:48 pm

    Great job! I have one of these chairs from a second had business furniture store. Not too dirty but a yucky shade of satiny blueish color. Hard to describe color along with that odd embossed print they put on that kind of stuff.

    Reply
  19. Regina says

    March 25, 2012 at 3:54 pm

    My husband is not happy that I found this website! But I’m getting all kind of ideas! He did like this one though. His office chair is pretty nasty looking, but is still in otherwise good condition. So….

    Reply
  20. Emily says

    June 13, 2012 at 7:59 pm

    Can you use regular upholstery fabric instead of a duvet cover?

    Reply
    • Valeria says

      July 30, 2013 at 10:58 am

      I think not only you certainly CAN, but also it will last a lot more than a thin (or even a thick) duvet cover fabric. I have yet to do my office chair, which is begging for it, but I’ll use some good, thick fabric. My poor office chair has to endure a lot!

      Reply
  21. Joyce says

    June 14, 2012 at 11:11 am

    LOVE it!!!! Fantastic instructions and very inspirational!

    Reply
  22. Emily says

    June 24, 2012 at 4:28 pm

    Love it! If you were to use regular fabric, about how much do you think it would take? 2 yards, or more?

    Reply
    • Nikkala says

      June 25, 2012 at 6:21 am

      Emily, it really depends on the shape and size of your chair. But I’d guess around 1.5-2 yds

      Reply
  23. Korre Karmela says

    June 25, 2012 at 7:06 am

    Thanks to you I have reupholstered my office chair and it looks fabulous. It was a find that my husband brought home and it was free!! I didn’t like it so I thought, I’ll buy another chair, but then I saw this blog and didn’t have any idea you could reupholster this chair. I was easy, the upper part of the chair was a bear to separate from the plastic piece, but once I start something there is no turning back. Wish I could send a pic, it looks great!! Thank you for all the GREAT ideas! 🙂

    Reply
  24. Monica says

    June 26, 2012 at 10:43 pm

    This is awesome – I never would have thought of giving new life to an office chair. Gonna hit the thrift stores tomorrow looking for one to transform!

    Reply
  25. Kristen says

    July 12, 2012 at 2:53 pm

    Absolutely LOVE this!!! Any suggestions for one of those office chairs with a black mesh back… we leave in a VERY hot climate, and my hubby loves the idea of the mesh back, but I want to spice it up!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      February 14, 2014 at 9:39 pm

      I was thinking the same thing! I’m considering fabric spray paint for the mesh back! I’ve never tried it, but, hey! What’s the worst that could happen??
      http://www.fabricspraypaint.com/page/Paint_Products.html

      Reply
  26. Katie says

    July 12, 2012 at 3:08 pm

    Looks great! Can’t wait to recover my desk chair! 🙂

    Reply
  27. Shavan says

    July 13, 2012 at 10:17 am

    Looks great, I am totally going to recover my chair!!

    Reply
  28. Some One says

    August 5, 2012 at 10:48 am

    this only works when there is a wooden base. If you have a chair with a metal base, you cannot staple the covering one!

    Reply
    • kellabeck says

      April 12, 2013 at 9:12 am

      If you can sew you could take a couple of yards of fabric, cut pieces a few inches bigger. Then fold down and pin casings slightly wider than the elastic you will be using. Sew it, thread it, sew the elastic and last, the opening in the casing. Slip it onto the seat and the back! That’s how I did mine.

      Reply
  29. Lynne says

    September 14, 2012 at 5:44 pm

    I love this idea. I use the bottom seat part of the office chairs my children have broken. This way I can roll around my classroom when I am working with a group of students. I definitely will be doing this the purple chair I just added to my room. It is full of stains also and is in need of a make over. I can’t wait to go look for some fabric. Do you suggest any particular type of fabric?

    Reply
  30. Angela Swanson says

    December 13, 2012 at 11:33 pm

    This is the best remake of an old basic desk chair I have seen. I have often wondered how to do this but it looks fairly easy. I will do this for my teens remodel of her study room.

    Reply
  31. fay says

    January 2, 2013 at 1:48 am

    I have dining room chairs that were off white (children!) I was planning on redoing them myself but was some what apprehensive! Not anymore! Thank you for the step by step!

    Reply
  32. taniblue says

    January 31, 2013 at 6:21 am

    Hey! Fantastic. I would love to re-post this to my blog with full credits and linkage when it is up and running (I currently am here, but am changing my site . I reupholster furniture among a million different craft/art things and totally wee’d my pants when I saw this. Took under 30 mins. So happy, I hated my chair, have another to do but need to get a stronger staple gun first. Genius project, thankyou!

    Reply
  33. taniblue says

    January 31, 2013 at 6:29 am

    woops. forgot to show you my site, it has rude words (warning!) but is good fun. Check it out. Eventually I will close this and open a bigger better one, but it gives you an idea of what I do.

    http://ijustinvented.blogspot.com.au/

    Cheers Tani

    Reply
  34. Ashley says

    March 7, 2013 at 12:01 pm

    I love that green print! I reupholstered an office chair yesterday, although the shape is much different.

    http://designwaffle.com/2013/03/07/office-chair-makeover/

    Reply
  35. Julie says

    April 5, 2013 at 3:29 pm

    Thank you for posting this. I am so going to do this to our chair. Your chair looks amazing! Love the fabric!!!!

    Reply
  36. Patti Beasley says

    April 7, 2013 at 8:20 pm

    Nice job. I’m inspired to recove my sewing studio chair and start looking for a second chair to add for students. I was looking at my current chair and I think they used a spray adhesive between the fabric and foam cushion. I think that is what keeps the fabric from rolling and wrinkling when you sit on it. I found a great blue and gold upholstery fabric at a yard sale for $1. I think it is about 3 yards. BARGIN! Love knowing there are other out there who enjoy DYI.

    Reply
  37. Shannon Quinn says

    April 26, 2013 at 10:22 am

    I’m actually trying a very similar project right now & that’s how I found this post:) Thanks!

    Reply
  38. christine says

    May 23, 2013 at 4:29 am

    Was the back of the chair a challenge? Are there any pics of the back?

    Reply
  39. Kathie says

    June 16, 2013 at 9:45 am

    My concern is taking the back off the chair and redoing it. You didn’t show pics of how it was done.
    The chair looks great! Thanks for sharing. 🙂

    Reply
  40. Melody Gardner says

    July 13, 2013 at 5:07 pm

    Love the chair, and what a great idea as I look at this tacky ancient chair in my sewing room. BTW, I have three dinoes sitting here on my table in my sewing room.

    Reply
  41. Dina's Mom says

    August 16, 2013 at 12:33 am

    Good on ya! Looks great.

    Reply
  42. Joanne says

    November 13, 2013 at 10:30 pm

    I just covered a desk chair for my friend and it came out amazing. This is the second time I have done this. I used an expensive fabric that had been discontinued at a designer show room so it was free! These styles of chairs are fairly easy to take apart and reupholster. My desk chair in my craft room is another story a little more complicated. I’m hoping I can find a site to help me out. Doesn’t a little fun colored and patterned fabric make a world of difference?
    Love your chairs!!!!

    Reply
  43. Park Royal Office Furniture says

    July 15, 2014 at 5:46 am

    Wow!!!! There is a big difference between before & after chair. I like your idea so much. I think after reading this post, everyone will try this simple idea to remodel their chair.

    Reply
  44. Janice says

    November 22, 2014 at 8:59 am

    How do you get the back of the chair to pop out of its plastic back? Looks great, BTW.

    Reply
  45. erika says

    December 23, 2014 at 4:20 pm

    how did she do the top part? the chair that i want to make over has plastic covering the bottom so I’m just wondering how i would do that

    Reply
  46. Philips Reyes says

    May 7, 2022 at 5:12 am

    I have similar office chairs I would like to reupholster. I am curious as to how they came apart and went back together. I looked earlier today and they do not have any visible screws. I’m just curious what you found when you took them apart.

    Reply

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2471 shares