Whether you have an old wooden chair sitting in your garage that’s seen better days or you were able to snag an old rocking chair while hitting up garage sales, there are plenty of creative ways to give new life and repurpose old chairs.
And don’t just turn up your nose at first glance if the chair you see at a yard sale has a broken seat or the legs of a chair are missing because what just looks like a piece of wood could easily turn into a bathroom towel rack, a cute flower pot holder, or a coat rack.
There are so many options for a DIY project involving wooden chairs, some wood glue, a fresh coat of paint, and a staple gun.
So the next time you’re headed to the thrift store or flea market, keep your eyes peeled for old dining chairs, a wooden folding chair, or even vintage chair backs (it doesn’t have to be an entire chair).
With a little bit of new fabric, wood stain, a few simple steps, and a great idea, you’re well on your way to giving repurposed life to old furniture using these upcycling ideas.
What can you make out of old chairs?
Of course the obvious thing to do with a chair that has seen better days is to paint and/or reupholster it. But if you feel like it’s past that point there are still lots of things you can do with them!
Below is a great list of chair projects and great uses for giving new purpose to an old piece of furniture (including links to tutorials). There is no end to creative ideas when it comes to upcycling old chairs.
Here are a few more easy DIY ideas in addition to the ones linked to below:
- a storage bench to store blankets or throw pillows
- a towel rack for your bathroom
- dog bowl chairs
- a porch swing
- a sweet little bench for your porch
- wooden garden boxes or a garden bench
- a photo hanger from the back of a chair
- garden planter
- pet beds
And if you’re trying to do this on a budget, don’t worry! There are plenty of ways to get free furniture.
13 Ideas for Upcyling Old Chairs
This creative list of upcycled chair projects is the perfect example of how you can turn trash to treasure by giving an old wooden dining chair, or soft armchair a new lease of life.
If you think you need new chairs for your home, check these out as you may be able to still do something with the old ones to keep them out of the landfill.
If you have an old chair that need some new life and some old blue jeans – voila!
How to update an old dining room chair by reupholstering it!
There's never enough shelf space in a bathroom.
Here's how to remedy that with an old chair.
This one is great for a chair that may have old chair legs or broken ones.
Learn how to paint a wooden chair.
Take a seriously neglected and worse for wear wooden chair and give it a furniture makeover into something gorgeous to add to your home decor or make money flipping furniture!
A great way to repurpose old chairs and have a lasting memory from vacation. First step – go on that trip!
Give that old rocking chair a much-deserved fresh new look and start living your best country life.
Guide to using chalk paint to upcycle an old velour armchair and transform it into a more modern look.
The back of the chair makes a great addition as extra storage space in your kitchen.
Two methods for upcycling your broken chairs into DIY Chair Planters! Add some character and fun to your garden this summer by repurposing your old junk!
This one is incredibly festive but the use of this planter doesn't end when Christmas is over. Use this chair planter year-round with other plants.
The good news is that swivel chairs will never stop being fun, but maybe it's time to give yours an updated new look.
The number of different things you can do to upcycle old chairs is practically endless.
If your chair project involves reupholstering, check out my guide for fabric upholstery and for reupholstering an armchair.
Are you new to upcycling? Here is our bumper guide to upcycling and all the different things you can upcycle.