• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Art of Doing Stuff
menu icon
go to homepage
  • HOUSE
  • COOKING
  • GARDEN
  • HOW-TO
  • EXTRA
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • HOUSE
    • COOKING
    • GARDEN
    • HOW-TO
    • EXTRA
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » House Stuff

    How to Recover a Chair in 5 minutes

    March 18, 2010 by Karen 37 Comments

    Pin439
    Share
    Email
    439 Shares

    I got an "Ask Karen" question from Brittney recently.  Brittney wanted to know if she could reupholster chairs even though she'd never done it before.  Um ... yeah!  Of course you can.  You can do anything!!

    My philosophy is always, go ahead and try it.  Where would you be right now if you'd never tried a potato chip or a chocolate milkshake?  Miserable and living in a ditch probably.

    So if you ever think to yourself "I wonder if I could (insert anything here)" just go ahead and try it.   If it doesn't turn out perfectly the first time, you're closer to being able to do it perfectly the next time (this philosophy only becomes problematic for  bomb diffusers and brain surgeons.)

    And if all else fails (I'm talking to you Brittney,) try this trick.

    Materials:

    Chair found abandoned at the side of the road

    Mongolian lamb throw (or anything else that makes your hem frill)

    Would you like to save this stuff?

    We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.

    BEFORE:

    AFTER:

    furry-chair

    The throw I used here is a genuine 100% Mongolian lamb throw which makes you want to sink right into it, but real Mongolian lamb is expensive.  I was lucky, I got this throw on sale.  If you want to make this more affordable absolutely get a faux throw.  If you happen to own genuine Mongolian lamb and are wondering if you can wash it, the answer is YES you can!  You just have to be careful.  Here's how to wash your Mongolian lamb including all the tips and tricks you need to know.

    I literally threw the blanket (hence the term "throw" I guess) over the chair.  No sewing, no stapling, no nothing.  And if you get sick of it you just pull the throw off, at which point I'm sure it could be constructed with very little effort into a prancing goat costume for Halloween.

    So win, win.

    More HOME stuff

    • How to Clean a Crystal Chandelier
    • 67 Spring Cleaning Tips — But Just Pick 5 😆
    • 12 Cleaning Tips You Need To Know
    • How to Stop Your Crisper From Freezing

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

      Recipe Rating




      The maximum upload file size: 512 MB. You can upload: image, audio. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop file here

    1. Erica

      November 24, 2022 at 2:02 pm

      Hi! What size blanket or throw did you use?

      Reply
    2. Jane m Jacobsen

      April 04, 2018 at 1:06 pm

      I bought a GReek Rya rug--long .fluffy white pile like a sheepskin. I spread it out on the floor and my two Siamese kittens came in to see what was happening, spotted the rug and laid down it. They both began to purr and knead with their paws. Looked like Mama's tummy to them!

      Reply
    3. janni

      April 04, 2016 at 5:18 pm

      **a prancing goat costume** ? ? ?

      Reply
      • Jill

        February 10, 2021 at 3:30 pm

        A prancing MONGOLIAN goat, Jennifer, duh!

        Reply
    4. Lynette Tanaka

      March 13, 2013 at 4:02 pm

      Just found your site from a facebook friend who posted your crispy sweet potato fries recipe (which I'm trying tonight). I love your garbage chair, mantel globe lights and stump tables. I recently acquired two "garbage" chairs that was going to attempt to upholster, but now I might just use a fluffy throw on one... attempt upholstering the other. Also, I have a couple of logs drying out in my garage as we speak. Looking forward to coating them. What product did you use on the log table?

      Reply
      • Karen

        March 13, 2013 at 5:51 pm

        Hi Lynette - I can't exactly remember, but it was probably Minwax Polurethane in Clear Satin. If you go through all of the pictures in the post you'll see the can of it. https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/stumped-how-to-make-a-tree-stump-table/ Thanks for taking the time to come over to my site! ~ karen

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Primary Sidebar

    SHOP ON AMAZON

    Use it 👆 to support my work. LEARN MORE

    My name is Karen Bertelsen and I was a television host. In Canada. Which means in terms of notoriety and wealth, I was somewhere on par with the manager of a Sunset Tan in Wisconsin.

    I quit television to start a blog with the goal that I could make my living through blogging and never have to host a television show again. And it’s worked out. I’m making a living blogging. If you’re curious, this is how I do that.

    So I’m doing this in reverse basically. I’m the only blogger who is trying to NOT get a TV show.

    More about me 👋

    Seasonal Articles

    • DIY a Modern Birdbath to Attract Birds
    • The English Cottage Garden Year 8 (Spring)
    • Turtles Can Fly, and Other June Discoveries
    • Garden Tool Handle Repair
    • 👉 14 Common Garden Oddities (and What to Do About Them)
    • How Does a Venus Flytrap Work? Meet Maureen

    Popular Articles

    • This Is Where I Try To Buy Your Love
    • Guaranteed Crispy Sweet Potato Fries & Sriracha Mayo Dip
    • A Year Full of Pots: Win Sarah Raven's New Book
    • The Difference Between People Who Eat Mayo & People Who Eat Miracle Whip
    • Your FIRST look at my new kitchen in Canadian Living Magazine.
    • How to Print an Image on Wood.

    Footer

    as seen in

    About

    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Social

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    439 shares