How Do You Make Old Dining Chairs Look Modern?

Old dining chairs usually look dated because of three things: an orange toned frame finish, patterned or tired seat fabric and a heavy leg profile. Address any one and the chair moves forward, address all three and it reads as genuinely contemporary. Reupholstering a drop in seat pad in a plain textured weave is the single most effective change, followed by refinishing the frame in a flat matt colour such as soft black, mushroom or muted green. Legs can sometimes be swapped, and where they cannot, a single flat paint colour calms turned detailing. Mixing two chair designs around one table works well provided one element repeats. This guide covers assessment, reupholstery, refinishing, leg changes and knowing when replacement is the better decision....