A Spoonful of Sugar

Make. Bake. Create.

Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Press
    • FAQ
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Contact Us
  • Crafts
    • Crochet
    • DIY
    • Embroidery/Cross stitch
    • Gift Wrapping
    • Knitting
    • Miscellaneous
    • Paper Crafts
  • Holidays
    • New Year’s
    • Australia Day
    • Back to School
    • Valentines Day
    • Easter
    • ANZAC Day
    • Mother’s Day
    • Father’s Day
    • Halloween
    • Christmas
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Bars & Slices
    • Bread & Pastries
    • Cakes
    • Cookies
    • Confectionery
    • Cupcakes & Muffins
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Ice Cream
    • Jams/Preserves
    • Main Meals
  • Sewing
    • Sewing Tutorials
    • Quilting
    • Sewing & Quilting Patterns
  • Family
    • Back to School
    • Family Fun
    • Our Home
    • Parenting
    • Travel
  • Shop
    • Pattern Store
    • Etsy Store

DIY: Transform an Old Wooden Chair (Part 1)

March 21, 2014 By A Spoonful of Sugar - 6 Comments

(Sponsored by White Knight Paints)

A couple of weeks ago we had the bulk rubbish collection in our neighbourhood. Generally people seem to get rid of green waste, old white goods, outdated televisions, and broken bits and pieces. Every so often you can discover a real gem waiting for a bit of love and a transformation. We hit the jackpot when we discovered an old wooden chair in the colonial/country style that was in vogue in the 1990’s. It is structurally sound and has a few scratches and splashes of paint on it.  We are going to give it a new lease of life by spray painting the wooden chair.

We found plenty of inspiration for painted furniture on Pinterest. There are so many colourful painted chairs. It is great how you can take someone’s trash and turn it into treasure – it really is recycling at its best! The hardest part was deciding what colour to paint the chair. After much deliberation we have settled on a vivid red. It will look fantastic as a prop in our photos.

Painted Chair Collage Source:   (Clockwise from top left ) Chatelaine,  House to Home, HGTV, Skonahem, Sew Much Ado, In My Own Style.

To find an old chair, keep an eye out when your suburb is having its bulk rubbish collection. Otherwise you could look on Gumtree or in Op Shops for wooden furniture. You may even have something around the house that it is need of a makeover.

Chair 1

To get started, we enlisted the help of the Man of the House. We love a volunteer and DIY projects are even quicker and easier when you delegate. We used a fine grade sandpaper and lightly sanded all over. This removed the shine from the chair and the paint spots.

Chair 2

Next  we gave the chair a good clean with a damp cloth to remove the dirt, dust and contaminants. Finally we used White Knight Rust Guard All Purpose Primer.  What we love about this primer is that it is a one step primer and undercoat application. It comes in a spray can so was super easy to apply.

Chair 3

All this preparation was done in around an hour.

The final stage will be painting the chair. Check out our red chair on DIY: Transform a Wooden Chair (Part 2)

Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Our Home Tagged With: spray paint

« Basil Butter
Lime and Mint Ice Cubes »

Comments

  1. Vanessa says

    March 21, 2014 at 9:56 am

    I love this. Thanks for sharing. I love re-purposed furniture. I have a large family and family gatherings often result in borrowed chairs. What a great way to make a functional item an aesthetically pleasing piece around the house (not just around the dining table). I’m looking forward to seeing your new chair.
    HappyNess

    Reply
    • A Spoonful of Sugar says

      March 22, 2014 at 11:30 am

      Colourful furniture is so much fun. For the price of some spray paint, you can turn an old chair into a useful statement piece.

      Reply
  2. Lisa McGriff says

    March 22, 2014 at 4:35 am

    I inherited a dining room table and 6 chairs that are very similar to your chair except they are so dark they are almost black. I can’t wait to see what you do! I need some I-N-S-P-I-R-A-T-I-O-N!

    Reply
    • A Spoonful of Sugar says

      March 22, 2014 at 11:26 am

      An entire dining table setting would be fantastic to revamp! Our chair was pretty dark but the white primer/undercoat took care of that. We did use a whole can of primer on the chair. We will be showing our finished chair soon.

      Reply
  3. A Spoonful of Sugar says

    March 22, 2014 at 11:28 am

    Thanks Marina – it was a fun DIY project. I think the red chair willb e useful as a prop in so many of our photos. May have to do a whole dining setting next time.

    Reply
  4. A Spoonful of Sugar says

    March 23, 2014 at 7:11 am

    Thanks Marysabel.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Threads
  • TikTok
SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER
×

Categories

Archives

PURCHASE PDF PATTERNS

We offer over 100 affordable PDF sewing patterns available for download from our store website or Etsy store. Each pattern includes detailed instructions, numerous photos, and templates.

WEB STORE ETSY STORE

Instagram

The Mini Fabric Basket is one of my most‑loved qui The Mini Fabric Basket is one of my most‑loved quick‑sew projects — perfect for scraps, gifting, organising, and using up those little pieces you can’t bear to throw away. I’ve made so many versions over the years, and they’re always such a satisfying finish.🌟 It's our pattern of the week and is 25% off this week only.Sew one in under an hour ✂️ Beginner‑friendly, scrap‑friendly, and endlessly useful.✨ Comment MFB and I’ll send you the pattern link.#minifabricbasket #beginnersewing #sewingroom #sewingcommunity #sewfun
Stars are everywhere right now — in quilts, pouche Stars are everywhere right now — in quilts, pouches, table décor, and summer sewing — so I pulled together 7 of my favourite star‑themed projects to inspire your next make. These designs are bright, modern, scrap‑friendly, and perfect for weekend sewing or handmade gifting.From bold table runners to sweet little pincushions, these star projects are fun to sew and add a cheerful pop to your home.✨ Comment PATTERNS for a link to our pattern store where you’ll find all of these star designs.Which one would you sew first ⭐#starsewingproject #patchworkstars #quiltinginspiration #scrapfriendlysewing #aspoonfulofsugardesigns
One pattern, endless possibilities ✨ The All Seaso One pattern, endless possibilities ✨ The All Seasons Gift Tote is my go‑to for birthdays, Father’s Day, Christmas, and last‑minute gifting.Scrap‑friendly, quick to sew, and includes 4 seasonal gift tags to personalise every present.Which version is your favourite?Pattern available in my Pattern Store + Etsy Shop.Comment SEASONS and I'll send you a pattern link.#allseasonsgifttote #giftstosew #beginnersewing #scrapfriendly #sewingcommunity
Pretty storage for your sewing room ✨ The Mini Dra Pretty storage for your sewing room ✨ The Mini Drawstring Gift Bag is one of our most‑loved patterns — quick to sew, beginner‑friendly, and perfect for holding clips, pins, needles and all those tiny tools that need a pretty home.It’s a sweet little project for the weekend and a great way to use your favourite fabric scraps.Comment MINI and I’ll send you the pattern link. One of our most popular designs for a reason.#minidrawstringgiftbag #sewingroomstorage #scrapfriendlysewing #beginnersewingpatterns #aspoonfulofsugardesigns
Two sweet pouches that work beautifully together ✨ Two sweet pouches that work beautifully together ✨ The Handy Drawstring Pouch + Mini Treat Pouch are both quick to sew, beginner‑friendly, and perfect for using up your favourite fabric scraps.They’re sweet on their own — but even better as a pair. Great for gifting, organising, or adding a little handmade charm to your sewing table.You also save 25% when you buy the bundle — a thank you for supporting two of my most‑loved pouch patterns.Which one would you sew first — Handy Drawstring or Mini Treat?Comment BAGDUO and I’ll send the bundle link straight to you.Fabric: Tilda Songbird collection — thank you @tilda_australia.#beginnersewingpatterns #scrapbustingsewing #handmadegifts #sewingprojects #aspoonfulofsugardesigns
A sweet little sewing kit — perfect for your sewin A sweet little sewing kit — perfect for your sewing table or as a handmade gift. The Sewing Buddy Pincushion sits on top and the pocket holds all the tiny tools you reach for most: scissors, clips, pins, needles and more.It’s quick to sew, scrap‑friendly, and one of my favourite small projects.Comment Buddy for a link to the pattern.Pattern: Sewing Buddy Pincushion Sewing Pattern - available in my Pattern Store and Etsy Shop.Fabric: Tilda Something Blue @tilda_australia#sewingbuddy #pincushionpattern #scrapbustingsewing #aspoonfulofsugardesigns #tildasomethingblue
Follow on Instagram

Featured Pattern

Travel Sewing Kit Pattern

Featured Tutorial

Retro Drawstring Bag

Featured Recipe

Lemon Pound Cake

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Threads
  • TikTok
SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER
×

Popular Posts

  • Cord Cosy
  • Fabric Scrap Crafts: No Sewing Required
  • Crafting Care Packages: A Sewists Guide to Thoughtful Giving
  • What To Do With Selvedges (and Why I Save Every One)
  • Liberty Tissue Cover
  • Fiesta Potholder
  • Crayon Box Baby Quilt

Copyright © 2026 Lisa. K. Cox - A Spoonful of Sugar