DIY Inspiration: Colorfully Upholstered Folding Chairs

At just under $200 each at Anthropologie, we think that these folding chairs might be a good candidate for a budget-saving diy project. We like the look - they are colorful, a bit rustic, and would add a sense of style to the extra seating for your next party...

We especially like them mismatched - a grouping of a few different styles together adds to the eclectic, patchwork feel.

It seems like a fairly simple diy consisting of adding a well stuffed padded seat and a lightly padded square back panel to a simple folding chair. We found some inexpensive wooden seats here (4 for $143) that might work as a base. Has anyone attempted a similar project?

Chairs shown from Anthropologie: Top pic, left to right: Cleopatra, Asian, Floral Tapestry
Bottom pic, left to right: Floral Stripe, Zigzag

Comments (9)

Yes!

posted by ModHomeEcTeacher on February 20th 2009 at 11:58am
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Fun and funky. Great use of fabric remmenants.

posted by Seaside on February 20th 2009 at 12:20pm
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I think that looks like a ton of fun to DIY, but my question would be how to make the back look neat when you attach it to the chair.

posted by stegersaurus on February 20th 2009 at 12:56pm
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"I think that looks like a ton of fun to DIY, but my question would be how to make the back look neat when you attach it to the chair."

I think you could do this w/ a regular wooden folding chair and wrap the back slats with foam, batting and fabric - and use decorative upholstery nails at the top to affix the ends.

posted by bepsf on February 20th 2009 at 1:35pm
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I saw these chairs at anthropologis yesterday and thought the same thing about it being a good diy project. Does anyone have ideas about where to find fabric similar to this?

posted by smckinney on February 20th 2009 at 4:40pm
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I've been trying to figure out a good solution to DIYing these. SMckinney is right though...I think it's fairly simply, but upholstering the back would be a challenge.

posted by CHGAM on February 20th 2009 at 4:44pm
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200 each? seriously? definite DIY material.

posted by twitteringbirdie on February 20th 2009 at 4:50pm
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anthropologie's prices are out of control.

posted by kristykreem on February 20th 2009 at 5:15pm
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Where to get fabric? It depends on the weight of the fabric -- if it's kind of heavy, just a bit thinner than blue jeans, it's probably decorator fabric and you'd get it in any store that sells upholstery fabric. The patterns look like they could be quilt fabric, though, or dress goods. Same stores, different departments. Some of the prints look ethnic, which could mean reprints in the dress goods or quilting sections or actual imports, which might be sturdier.

I'd try to get the same weight fabric for both the seat and back, even if you go with different patterns. It will wear better. Also, slightly heavier fabric is less likely to stretch and sag over time than thinner stuff. But that depends on the level of use. Finally, if you add too much padding to the seats and backs of folding chairs, they might not fold properly any more, so you might want to test that before discovering you have no place to store them. (I'd fold up a towel and place it on the seat and try to fold the chair -- even in the store before you pay for it! If the padding makes it not close, might not be a good idea to proceed.)

posted by SherryBinNH on February 21st 2009 at 3:55pm
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