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    Home » House Stuff

    How to Recover a Chair in 5 minutes

    March 18, 2010 by Karen 37 Comments

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    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.

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    1. Lex

      September 09, 2012 at 5:42 pm

      I doubt I could do that.. only because I have now been scared about the possibility of bed bugs on everything!

      Reply
      • Karen

        September 09, 2012 at 6:08 pm

        Ah yes. I got this chair before the bedbug craze. Also it isn't quite as bad in Canada (where I am) but it's definitely getting worse. Hearing stories. Blech. ~ karen

        Reply
    2. Dallas

      June 09, 2012 at 2:43 pm

      Do I spy Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic books on your book shelf?

      Reply
      • Karen

        June 09, 2012 at 2:57 pm

        You do indeed. I read the first couple and loved them, then I started to get bored of them. :( ~ k

        Reply
    3. Cassie Moore

      September 13, 2011 at 12:27 am

      Okay... I too have admired this chair in pictures and video for a long time. I cannot find mongolian lamb anything at homegoods and when I look on the internet (gasp!) they are around $1600!!!! Am I supposed to be looking for faux? stumped..

      Reply
      • Karen

        September 13, 2011 at 12:29 am

        Hi Cassie - No .. it's real Mongolian lamb. Just keep looking. You'll find it eventually. Try to hold out for the real thing. You can *definitely* get it for cheaper than $1600. $200 tops for one that isn't on sale. ~ k

        Reply
    4. Allison Martin of The Budget Maven

      August 01, 2011 at 3:16 pm

      Love this idea! So cheap, but so chic! I can't imagine what you'd probably pay for this at an eclectic furniture store, but your ingenuity and creative eye have definitely paid off with this endeavor.

      Reply
    5. Rayme Wells of A Clean Surface

      July 30, 2011 at 3:51 pm

      Love! My grandparents kept sheep and had some wooly skins they kept over some of their furniture, so this chair cover reminds me of my childhood, only it is far more elegant!

      Reply
    6. Marti

      July 28, 2011 at 7:48 am

      How did it take me so long to come to this page? I've been admiring that chair in your pictures for some time and NOW I find there's a "how-to" for it? The Gods Must Be Crazy!

      Reply
    7. taia

      August 02, 2010 at 3:39 pm

      Trust me...never ever attempt to sew furry fabric...pain in the ass doesn't begin to cover it...

      Reply
    8. Zina

      July 08, 2010 at 9:44 am

      I love this. Totally. We're moving into a new flat at the end of this month and we're going from a furnished house to a completely empty larger flat.

      It'll be perfect either on one single chair, or I may try and find a charity shop two-seat sofa or chaise and sew two throws together to cover that. Fabulous!

      Thanks, Karen!

      Reply
    9. Eleni

      June 23, 2010 at 4:51 am

      Absolutely fantastic!!!I'll wait for the winter to come though...brilliant idea with a fine sense of humour!

      Reply
    10. Melanie

      June 17, 2010 at 8:24 pm

      Ha Ha, Your funny.
      I'm telling my friends about you. ALready linked your Frozen Yoghurt Tampon to a gal in need...for a cure AND a laugh!
      xx

      Reply
    11. Heather

      June 03, 2010 at 1:51 am

      I imagine that that's an amazing blanket to lie under. However, this looks to me like a blanket covering up what's considered to be an ugly chair. I'm disappointed. =/

      Reply
      • Karen

        June 03, 2010 at 7:18 am

        No need for disappointment Heather! :) The blanket is wayyyy to heavy to lie under and as I said in the caption I like my garbage chair. I know it's a nice classic chair, but it was clawed apart by the cats. Plus this was just for fun to show what you could do in 5 minutes.

        Reply
    12. Karen

      April 11, 2010 at 5:56 pm

      Why thank you! Out of curiosity ... how'd ya find me?

      Reply
      • Marisa

        April 30, 2010 at 9:13 pm

        on design sponge-- sorry for the delay. i was just looking at your home's before and after shots-- amazing. i have crap luck with antiques- hmmm... "antique" sofa bought in west phila. that had to be put out for trash day the next morning and shortly after, my apartment was fumigated. then the chair that had so much cat hair on it i had an asthma attack and had to go to the e.r. now i just stick to ikea.

        Reply
    13. Marisa

      April 10, 2010 at 10:03 am

      brilliant! you have such an eye (and wit to boot)!

      Reply
    14. Karo

      April 08, 2010 at 10:35 am

      Love it! I have been looking for a nice solution to cover a rocker chair in the nursery and this could be it!

      Reply
      • Karen

        April 08, 2010 at 3:01 pm

        Thanks Karo! You're right, would be GREAT in a nursery. If you can't find the BIG mongolian lamb throw, get one of the bigger sheepskins from Ikea. They're VERY cozy too.

        Reply
    15. Hannah

      March 26, 2010 at 12:36 pm

      I loveee this! I posted that picture in my blog and wrote a little something about you. U've been looking around your blog and I think you have fantastic taste. I can't wait to see what you inspire me with next :]

      Reply
      • Karen

        March 26, 2010 at 7:14 pm

        Hannah - thanks for the blog mention! Glad you like it. My taste varies ... trust me I have my mishaps. My entirely Dollar Store decorated Christmas tree a few years ago comes to mind!

        Reply
    16. Cassandra

      March 25, 2010 at 9:15 am

      So clever! I love it!
      I'd reeeally like a "sheepskin" chair for myself.

      I'm new around these parts (linked from Design Sponge) and I this is now my new favourite website!

      Reply
      • Karen

        March 25, 2010 at 9:51 am

        OMG. That's a lot of pressure.

        What I mean to say is .. thanks!

        Reply
    17. Design Darling

      March 25, 2010 at 7:28 am

      brilliant and devilishly simple is my kind of project. love this!

      Reply
    18. chellsbells

      March 25, 2010 at 7:34 am

      where oh where did you get that throw, I love it!!!!

      Reply
      • Karen

        March 25, 2010 at 7:40 am

        Hey Chellsbells (is that your given name?) - I got the throw at HomeSense, which I believe is the same as Home Goods in the states. I love it too!

        Reply
        • chellsbells

          March 25, 2010 at 9:05 am

          Bah haha! Its Chela, thanks

    19. Tickled Red

      March 23, 2010 at 7:54 pm

      Hahahahaha classic! That's awesome :)

      Reply
    20. Tricia Rose

      March 18, 2010 at 1:19 pm

      Like your DIY - bet you didn't even break a nail!

      Reply
      • Karen

        March 18, 2010 at 2:12 pm

        Thanks Tricia! Nope ... as it turns out I don't really need that basement full of tools! Well, not today anyway.

        Reply
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