Try these two easy ways to update a plain chair with colour and fun prints
Reproduced from January 08 issue of Good Homes magazine. Subscribe now and save 40 per cent
Comic strip
This transformation is so simple to do and looks great - the kids will love it! What you'll need
- Old comics
- PVA glue
- Clear matt acrylic varnish
- Brushes
- Scissors
Step 1: Cut out small strips from your comics and stick them in place on the chair using a PVA glue, which has been diluted with water to turn it into a thin liquid. Cover the chair completely, making sure the pieces are smooth and flat with no loose edges or gaps, then leave to dry.
Step 2: Apply several coats of clear matt acrylic varnish over the comic strips. Make sure you leave each coat to dry thoroughly before applying the next, to ensure a hard-wearing, protective coating.
Brighten up your kitchen
Add a vintage feel to your kitchen with this distressed painted chair.
What you'll need
- Two contrasting colours of water-based furniture paint
- Medium-grade sandpaper
- Brushes
Step 1: Apply your first chosen paint colour as a base coat and leave to dry.
Step 2: Coat the chair with your second colour and leave to dry. You may need to apply two to three coats of each paint alternately for good coverage.
Step 3: When dry, use sandpaper to roughly rub away the paint on the edges and surfaces, until the first colour and bare wood show through. The effect should be random - rub off the paint as little or as much as you want until you're happy with the effect. Use mediumgrade sandpaper and gentle strokes to create the desired effect.