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Dining Chair Makeover

Last Updated on October 12, 2012 by Kristi Linauer

Remember these dining chairs that I got for John & Alice’s breakfast area?

dining chair before

With some new paint and new(ish) fabric, they now look like this..

dining chair after

Isn’t that fabric great?!  I’m such a sucker for stripes, and this fabric couldn’t be more perfect!!

dining chair after 2

The funny thing is that it’s actually a shower curtain that I purchased from Goodwill for $3.99.

I didn’t set out looking for cheap fabric.  I actually searched all over my city looking for fabric that would coordinate with the drapery fabric and paint colors.  But after several searches, I had nothin’.  NadaZilch.  I didn’t even find a fabric that might possibly work.  Nothing that would even come close.

So the other day, I was on Craigslist, and I saw a piece of furniture that Goodwill had listed.  I was interested, so I hopped in my car and headed that direction.  The piece of furniture had sold, but the lady said she would call the other locations in the city to see if they had one.

While I was waiting, I decided to look at the other furniture.  It was all junk, so I wandered to the next aisle and started flipping through the bedding, drapery panels, etc.  And lo and behold, there it was!  The most perfect coordinating fabric in the form of a shower curtain, with three shades of blue to coordinate with the wall color and drapery color, the dark brown which ties in with the dark wood mantle, gallery wall, and woven shades, and the white and gray that brings in the kitchen cabinet colors.  It couldn’t be more perfect!!

  
I was able to do all four chairs (with the same stripes on all four chairs), plus have fabric left over for throw pillows for the sofa.  Perfect!!

So have you ever come across the perfect fabric in Goodwill or another thrift store, after searching all over in “real” fabric stores and coming up empty handed?  Have you ever used a shower curtain to upholster chairs?  This was my first time for both of those things.

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26 Comments

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  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Mary McDuffie
    June 16, 2011 at 2:49 pm

     I absolutely love the chair makeover.  What was the paint color you used?

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Kristi @ Addicted 2 Decorating
    June 16, 2011 at 3:36 pm

    It's called Arrowroot, a Martha Stewart color from Home Depot.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Angela N
    June 16, 2011 at 4:35 pm

    The chairs look great.  I love the stripes too.

    I completely did my daughter's whole bed from GW.  All in PB bedding and a custom skirt that matched her existing custom drapes for $10!!  I was so excited!!  I couldn't even buy the fabric that matched her drapes for $10.  It was such a random score!  I check the bedding area every time now.  I love my local GW!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Jean
    June 16, 2011 at 5:46 pm

    Looks great!  Just perfect for the room.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Ashley @ DesignBuildLove.co
    June 16, 2011 at 6:34 pm

    HUGE transformation on those chairs!  LOVE the color and the fabric!!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Amelia @ Home Decor
    June 16, 2011 at 8:09 pm

    Hi Kristi. Why did you changed the chair's cover? I think the old cover will look more stunning with the new turquoise color. The stripes are great too but the old one is the perfect match. 

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Anya
    June 16, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    Wow the after looks amazing! I love that color for the chair and that fabric goes perfectly!! 

    luckysparkle.blogspot.com~Anya

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    [email protected]
    June 16, 2011 at 10:45 pm

    These look great! I often look in shops for shower curtains or tablecloths to use for fabric but I ga duet to find anything perfect for the particular job I'm working on. Lucky you! Love the back on those chairs too.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    megan
    June 17, 2011 at 2:17 pm

    Wow! I am REALLY loving those stripes!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Courageous Designs
    June 17, 2011 at 3:26 pm

    They were transformed from ery traditional to very modern and chic. Just beautiful.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Tricia A.
    June 18, 2011 at 12:17 am

    Wow, I am so impressed by this! I wouldn't have ever thought to paint it blue. Great job!!

    (visiting from Tatertots and Jello)

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Laura Novobilsky
    June 18, 2011 at 2:17 am

    Ooh, so pretty!  I'm lucky enough to have a Goodwill practically right across the street and I always scope out the clothes, handbags, and furniture, but I never thought to look at the bedding and curtains for fun fabrics.  Great idea.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Vicky
    June 19, 2011 at 1:38 pm

    Very nice transformation I love the of blue that you chose!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    nicole
    June 19, 2011 at 6:37 pm

    I love stripes too and that fabric rocks! What a great color for the chairs, I am in the middle (more like staring in mild panic) of a couple chair projects too. I hope mine turn out even half as well as yours!
    I came over from Flamingo Toes

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Mary
    June 20, 2011 at 12:18 am

    Thank you so much for the info.  I bought an antique dresser for $35 and I think this color will be perfect.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Jessica Nelson
    June 20, 2011 at 1:12 am

    Love the colors! This chair makeover turned out great!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Shopannies
    June 20, 2011 at 2:09 am

    love the new look lighter colors makes it a fresher look to me come visit me at http://shopannies.blogspot.com

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Gina Jordan
    June 24, 2011 at 2:20 pm

    I recognize that fabric…it is the shower curtain I used as inspiration when re-doing my bathroom! I bought it from Wal-Mart about four years ago. I first used it to inspire a very simple makeover for my main bathroom, and kept it this year when we did a major renovation of the bathroom. Here is a link to the photos, if you are interested. I love your blog!

    https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150198551852076.306840.565292075&l=e7619ee645

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Katrinka Jane
    June 26, 2011 at 3:33 am

    Goodwills and other thrift stores are my favorite places to scpe out cheap fabric.  You can get a lot of fabric for a few dollars (from bedsheet cotton to feltable wool sweaters to men's shirting) to repurpose into something else!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Smith Williams
    June 29, 2011 at 10:52 am

    Wow ! what an interesting blog.Thanks for sharing this
    information.Your information is really informative for us.
    Nice blog on Dining
    Chair.
    Keep sharing more & more…..
     

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    How To Shop At A Garage Sale
    April 3, 2012 at 9:13 am

    […] Painted and reupholstered second hand dining chairs for John & Alice family room makeover. […]

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    20 Inspiring Dining Chair Makeovers
    August 1, 2012 at 9:49 am

    […] One of my more recent dining chair makeovers […]

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Mallory B
    August 16, 2012 at 2:09 pm

    I use bedsheets from thrift stores for all kinds of things! I love to use kids’ sheets to make dresses for little girls and pillows for both boys and girls! I’m looking to cover the wicker on my dining chairs, thanks for the idea!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Nita
    September 11, 2012 at 10:22 am

    *blink* *blink* I have that shower curtain. I’ve been using it for the last few years, just changing the coordinating fabrics around it. This year, my bathroom is cream and a light aqua color that perfectly matches the light blue in the curtain. But now I know what I can do with that curtain when I’m through with it. It’s nice heavy fabric, and it’s not like a shower curtain gets a lot of wear….

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Renee
    January 4, 2013 at 8:49 pm

    Question- how has the chair held up w/the shower curtain? I have a dining room set that I want to reupholster b/c the kids have destroyed the seats and I was thinking of using a shower curtain to save money. Does it clean/wipe down easily?

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Janae
    April 13, 2014 at 10:07 am

    Great job! I have a 2.5 year old and I am looking for a durable chair fabric for recovering. Do these wipe down easily? Have they held up ok? We have been through 2 different fabrics since he was born! Thanks!