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Craftivity Designs

You are here: Home / DIY & Decor / Furniture Makeovers / How to make a DIY Farmhouse Chair

October 26, 2017 · 24 Comments

How to make a DIY Farmhouse Chair

Furniture Makeovers

Learn how to make a DIY Farmhouse Chair. Update an old chair with linen canvas, white paint, and farmhouse details.

Disclosure: Products for this post were provided by DecoArt. All opinions are mine alone.


My house would not be a home without my mom’s handiwork. From pillows to curtains and cushions {just to name a few}, she has helped me create a home by sharing her sewing skills.

Given all she has done for me {oh, and you know, raising me *wink*}, I was more than excited to transform a thrifted wooden chair into a Farmhouse Chair — for her.

How to make a DIY Farmhouse Chair. Furniture Makeover. How to print on canvas. Hydrangea on Canvas. #repurpose, #farmhouse

This project is my sixth Thrift Store Decor Upcycle Challenge {check out the projects from past months}. Don’t remember how it works? Here’s a refresher:

The Rules:
1. Upcycle an item(s) from a thrift store, resale store, or garage sale into a new piece of decor.
2. There’s no monthly theme.
3. There’s no budget to stick to.

Meet the Hosts

Michelle | Our Crafty Mom
Vicki and Jennifer | 2 Bees in a Pod Pili | My Sweet Things
Angela | Simply Beautiful by Angela Kim | Made in a Day
Lindsay | Crazy Organized Marie | DIY Adulation Ann | Duct Tape and Denim
Denise | My Thrifty House Jeanie | Create and Babble Debra | Shoppe No. 5
Shirley | Intelligent Domestications Victoria | Dazzle While Frazzled Lora | Craftivity Designs
Jeanee | Centsably Creative
Florence | Vintage Southern Picks Deborah | Salvage Sister & Mister

Make sure you follow our board on Pinterest for more upcycled decor inspiration!


DIY Farmhouse Chair: Supplies

  • Chair
  • Sand Paper
  • Clean Rags
  • HomeRight Finish Max HVLP Sprayer
  • DecoArt Everlasting Chalky Finish Paint
  • Finishing Wax
  • Canvas Dropcloth
  • Fabric Scissors
  • Hydrangea Image Download
  • Iron-On Transfers for Inkjet Printer Paper
  • Regular Scissors
  • Printer & Ink
  • Iron
  • Staple Gun & Staples

DIY Farmhouse Chair: Instructions

Begin by removing the upholstered seat from the chair. Next, give the paint {or stain} a quick sanding in order to rough up the finish. If you are using a chalk finish paint, like DecoArt Everlasting Chalky Finish Paint, there is no need to do any more than a light sanding. Once the finish has been sanded, wipe off dust with a clean rug.

I set up my project in our garage, surrounded by a DIY Paint Booth, so that I don’t have to worry about the weather outside or making a mess inside. A HomeRight Sprayer and paint booth make furniture makeovers quicker and simpler. 

How to spray paint indoors! Build a DIY Spray Paint Booth in your garage. It's a portable, any size, easy setup, option for spraying paint indoors. Great for furniture, cabinetry, projects and more. Click the image to get the tutorial.
Typically, I’ll apply 3 coats of chalky finish paint from DecoArt {the color is Everlasting}. If you use a sprayer, each coat will only take minutes — literally — minutes. Can you tell I’m a fan? It’s just, I used to dread furniture makeovers and the tedious brush painting. Owning a paint sprayer has changed my entire attitude toward painted furniture makeovers.

While the paint is drying, download a Farmhouse Style image file. I chose a Hydrangea Blossom, but don’t feel limited to that design. If the image you choose has any letters or words, you will need to flip it with this simple online tool.

More Farmhouse Style images:
  • Feed Sack with BumbleBee
  • Grain Sack with Wheat
  • French Winemaker Label
  • Magnolia Flower
  • Mason Jar
  • Daisies
  • Bicycle
  • Cow
  • Pig on Sign

Print the file onto Iron-On Transfer Paper and cut out the image with scissors. Stay close to the edge of the image when cutting. Leave only 1/2″ or less of excess transfer paper around the image.


Cut out a section of canvas dropcloth that is large enough to cover the seat of the chair. Iron the canvas, if needed, and find the center point of the fabric before applying the image. Follow the ironing instructions included with the Iron-On Transfer Paper to apply the image to fabric.

Of course, you don’t have to use canvas dropcloth. Any neutral, light-colored, iron-friendly fabric will work. I chose canvas dropcloth because it is affordable and can be used for many craft and DIY projects {check out 50+ Drop Cloth Ideas}.  

Attach the finished fabric to the chair seat with an upholstery staple gun. Make sure to fold corners in and pull the fabric tight while stapling. This is a skill I’ve not yet mastered, but it’s very forgiving. You can always pop staples out, pull the fabric tighter, and staple again.

If the paint is dry, apply a finishing wax with a clean rag. This step is critical to any painted furniture makeover. Don’t let all your hard work go to waste — protect it with a sealer!

Now, you’re ready for the crowning jewel — reattaching the upholstered seat. Isn’t it a pretty Farmhouse Chair?

Want to make your own DIY Farmhouse Chair? Pin it!How to make a DIY Farmhouse Chair. Furniture Makeover. How to print on canvas. Hydrangea on Canvas. #repurpose, #farmhouse

And now… more thrifty goodness! Check out what my fellow upcyclers created below!

An InLinkz Link-up


More Iron-On Transfer Farmhouse Projects
  • DIY Farmer’s Market Tote Bag with Iron-On Botanical Transfer
  • Iron-On Transfer Dish Towels
  • Make a Pretty Pillow with Iron-On Transfers

About Lora Green

Lora is the Owner and Creative Director of Craftivity Designs, where she seeks to Create a Home that is simple, functional, and beautiful. With an eye for practical solutions, she designs multi-purpose rooms which pack a storage punch. As a busy mom of 2, she shares crafts that are quick and easy, without sacrificing style. For fun, she loves to go on a homemade scavenger hunt and plan trips to Disney.

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Comments

  1. Vicki and Jenn 2 Bees in a Pod says

    October 26, 2017 at 8:31 am

    Lora – your chair looks gorgeous!. We love the paint finish and that hydrangea is super cute. great job!

    Reply
    • Lora Green says

      October 26, 2017 at 12:46 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  2. Jeannee says

    October 26, 2017 at 12:37 pm

    So easy and so pretty! Thanks!
    [email protected]

    Reply
    • Lora Green says

      October 26, 2017 at 12:46 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  3. Deborah says

    October 26, 2017 at 12:51 pm

    Who wouldn’t love that? Gorgeous!!!

    Reply
    • Lora Green says

      November 1, 2017 at 6:20 pm

      Thanks, Deborah!

      Reply
  4. Victoria @DazzleWhileFrazzled says

    October 26, 2017 at 1:22 pm

    Great transformation! Much calmer chair cushion than how it started, lol. Visiting from Thrift Store Upcycle.

    Reply
    • Lora Green says

      November 1, 2017 at 6:19 pm

      Yep, a bit 🙂

      Reply
  5. Angela @ Simply Beautiful By Angela says

    October 26, 2017 at 4:48 pm

    This turned out so pretty! I have never heard of printing out on iron transfer paper–that is absolutely genious. I’ll be checking that out for sure 🙂

    Reply
    • Lora Green says

      November 1, 2017 at 6:19 pm

      Thanks!! It’s handy — I’ve used it on several projects.

      Reply
  6. Ann says

    October 26, 2017 at 8:10 pm

    I agree with you about the sprayer. I hate painting chairs!

    Reply
    • Lora Green says

      November 1, 2017 at 6:19 pm

      Yes! Chairs are the worst.

      Reply
  7. Kim~madeinaday says

    October 27, 2017 at 12:33 pm

    Great makeover and I so need that paint spray room you put up in the garage! So clever! You chose such a pretty flower for the center too!
    Kim

    Reply
    • Lora Green says

      November 1, 2017 at 6:19 pm

      It’s awesome — makes painting so much easier.

      Reply
  8. Florence says

    October 27, 2017 at 7:45 pm

    Lora, if that’s not the cutest chair! I’m sure your Mother will love it! I appreciate the step-by-step tutorial, which sounds clear. Gosh, I need one of those paint sprayers! Not to mention a tent. Thanks for the tip on the “flipapicture” web site. Didn’t know about that one. I usually do it with paint. Looking forward to trying this one out. Great post & pinned. (Visiting from the Challenge)

    Reply
    • Lora Green says

      November 1, 2017 at 5:59 pm

      Thanks, Florence! Yes, that flipapicture site is a quick trick 🙂

      Reply
  9. Debrashoppeno5 says

    October 27, 2017 at 8:24 pm

    The chair looks so fresh and updated. I bet your mother is thrilled with it. I love the hydrangea on the seat, That is a nice touch.

    Reply
    • Lora Green says

      November 1, 2017 at 5:58 pm

      Thanks! She loved it 🙂

      Reply
  10. Shirley says

    October 29, 2017 at 4:21 pm

    LOVE the hydrangea! You Mom is probably very happy to have her new chair. Great makeover, so pretty.

    Reply
    • Lora Green says

      November 1, 2017 at 5:58 pm

      Thanks, Shirley!

      Reply
  11. Molly Grubbs says

    November 2, 2017 at 4:27 pm

    Yes her Mom loves it and couldn’t wait to show it off to some friends! (Said Lora’s Mom!)

    Reply
    • Lora Green says

      November 6, 2017 at 8:34 pm

      Woohoo!

      Reply
  12. Maria says

    February 19, 2018 at 7:54 pm

    Such a pretty idea! Love the hydrangea which is my favorite flower.
    Maria

    Reply
    • Lora Green says

      February 20, 2018 at 11:39 am

      Thank you, Maria!

      Reply

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Meet Lora

Lora is the Owner and Creative Director of Craftivity Designs, where she seeks to Create a Home that is simple, functional, and beautiful. With an eye for practical solutions... Read More…

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