Now that 2009 has officially begun, we're already mulling over simple projects to take care of certain things that we never got around to in 2008. For example: Caulking the bathtub. Another example: Figuring out what to do with our dining chairs. While searching for some inspiration, we found three DIY solutions that can reinvigorate matched AND mismatched dining chair sets, thanks to a few coats of bright paint (or wood stains). These solutions are ideal for chairs that are either unfinished wood or need some love after years of wear and tear. Check 'em out after the jump...
Mix It Up: Dining Chairs
Solution 1: For mismatched chairs, paint them all the same color. This will give the dining room a unified look, but each chair retains its personality with its varying shapes and lines.
Solution 2: For matched chairs, paint them all different colors. We like the look of strong primary colors (red, yellow, blue) with black and white for a graphic, Mondrian-inspired look. Or, if you'd prefer to stick to one color but want a little bit of diversity, pick 4-5 different shades to create a subtle, Pantone-esque gradient of chairs around the table.
Solution 3: For mismatched chairs, stick to a tight range of shades. This particular example has a hodge podge of chairs and stools, all in a range of light blonde to a dark walnut wood finish. If you're not a fan of the painted look, this is certainly a more natural-looking solution although it might take a bit more elbow grease with prepping and sealing. We'd suggest narrowing the color selection by using one wood stain for every two chairs to keep the look balanced.
[ Photos from Emmas Blogg and Living Etc ]
Tags
dining room, painting, fixing & repairs, DIY, DIY, dining chairs, matched dining chairs, painting dining chairsRelated Links
- Mix It Up: Dining Chairs
- Classic Tableware: Eva Zeisel's Century Collection
- 5 More Tips For Your Dining Room
Metropolitan Home - Look: Grassy Tablecloth
Victoria - IvyStyle33's Clean White Inviting Space
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Great post ! Thanks so much...on an unrelated note...do you have any idea who makes that light in the first photo? I can't tell if it's a pendant or track lighting...it looks so cool in that room!
view JSward's profile
Strange to see that last picture, in what I can only imagine to be a very expensive home, an IKEA step stool used as a dining room chair.
view shlacking's profile
shlacking: they spent all the money on the house and couldn't afford furniture. To each his own.
view whytephoenix's profile
I love this reminder of how to approach working a "bone collection" into decor, whether it's chairs, picture frames, boxes/vases, etc. And it reminds me why mixed styles of furniture, all in white, look so fabu together.
view kimg924's profile
i found a set of 6 chairs at the Goodwill down the street from my home over the weekend and plan to paint them all the same colour. the fun part will be finding fabric to cover the seats!
view rouquinne's profile
I feel sorry for the sucker who has to sit on the stool over the course of a long dinner party.
view proper's profile
that is a sweet light fixture in the 2nd photo.
anyone have info on it?
view orangepaperbike's profile
Anyone know where the long white table is from? (The one with the different colored chairs?) It's hard to find a white table that is long enough to seat 4 down each side. Thanks!
view littleruke's profile
littleruke, the table (and chairs!) in that photo are by Piet Hein Eek.
view Anna at D16's profile
p.s. If you're on a budget, ithe 105" white Norden table from IKEA is long enough to seat four on each side with the leaf in place.
view Anna at D16's profile
The turquoise chairs are absolutely adorable! Love the branch and bauble centrepiece... thing, too.
view ryttu3k's profile