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...

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 ]