apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Cover chairs in fabric...at least the seat-parts and back-parts. Cover the table top with contact paper (Target has them cheap and they come in cool designs, including cork, wood print and if you're really daring, suede.) Otherwise, there's always spray paint for plastics...super easy, super quick. My hubbie made over our bland white spice rack by spray painting it fire engine red and it looks totally cool now.

If you are looking for something really easy, you could lay a length of fabric over the back and add a few stitches to keep it from slipping off. I'm not sure if this is the kind of look you are going for but it certainly gives you many options for color and pattern. You can make the project as easy or complicated as you like.

I second the spray paint. And maybe some thin pads/cushions to (literally) soften them up a bit.

What kind of look are you going for? There's always linens--i.e., cute chair cushions and table runners/cloths.
Also, I suppose you could spray paint the metal legs.

Also... you could take advantage of the holes along the back-rest and wrap some fabric/ribbon/string etc. A runner along the table will help as well.

The materials will de-institutionalize the chairs but you will need to use a discerning eye to keep it from becoming too "ikea goes country."

i went to Ikea this weekend in Elizabeth, NJ and saw this dining set. There's a reason why they are selling this as a set :) Dining table is what attracted me to it but then i asked what the heck am i going to go with this so so chairs?

Maybe sell them at Craigslist. You never know!

I remember seeing those chairs in green. Hope you are able to replace with them. If not, make covers for them.

Chair cushions would help these a LOT! Something solid like a bold apple green would look good.

Or there's always Craigslist! I've had good luck getting rid of stuff on there and then I use the money to help put towards something that's closer to my style.

I'm going to take a wild guess here for sizing and ease - buy 4 pillowcases in a pattern you like. Cut the ends off to fit over the tops of the chairs ala a slip cover (you can iron and hem the bottom by hand so it's not a frayed edge.) Buy four square pieces of foam to act as cushions and cover those with the remaining parts of the pillowcases. Again, you could get away with hand sewing the edges - won't take too long. You could attach some nice shoe laces at the ends so you can tie the cushions to the chairs.

You could also paint a stencil design in white and greys on the black of the chairs to make them have a pattern too.

These slipcovers would soften the chairs and you could paint or iron on something on the back.

http://www.surefit.net/shop/category/dining---folding-chair-slipcovers/cottonduck-folding-chair-cover.cfm?sku=13961&view=0

~Lorrie @ mydesignsecrets.com.

Sell the whole set and get something else on Craigslist or from a yardsale where lots of folks are moving out of their foreclosed homes and are desperate for cash.

Instead of trying to de-institutionalize the set with slipcovers or other camouflage – which all too often ends up looking just like what it is, a lame attempt at covering something up – maybe you could try working with its utilitarian nature instead. Try injecting a little whimsy, either via simple, bold accessories for the table itself or for the room that it’s in.

For example, I think the chairs might look cute with an oversized frilly white bow or fabric flower – something like a giant carnation – attached to the back. Work with them instead of trying to cover them up and you’ll probably get better results.

I think that you need to accept the chairs for what they are, and not try to disguise them. The only modification that I might do is create a band of fabric in a colour to work with the table accents or dishes. This would be a little like a belt and would slip through the two holes in the chair back and be closed with velcro. You could even have several sets in different colours.

I guess my opinion isn't too helpful - I think the set is attractive as is. I think the chairs unaltered would like nice in a minimalist setting - they seem contemporary, but understated enough to work well in a variety of styles. I like the chairs just as they are.

If you really want to alter the chairs I would agree with those who recommend paint. I would suggest that you not paint the entire chair or frame, but rather that you buy or make a stencil and embellish the existing design with a color that compliments the room. For example, adding a thin stripe (or a simple repeating design like a greek key or other geometric border) to the top and bottom of the back of the backrest or possibly stenciling a symbol (such as an ohm or a celtic cross or your last initial in a cool font) on the seat.

I think the set is attractive enough without any embellishment. Nevertheless, I hope you can find a way to make your furniture more appealing to you so that it makes you happy to see and use it.

Ikea has all things put together.. So disassemble and SPRAY PAINT chairs a a funky GREEN or other color plastic paint by Krylon. Then you could also paint the bottom of the table a color say white? Or paint with glass paint or do a mirror finish with Krylon "looking glass" Mirror Paint.
http://www.krylon.com/products/looking_glass_mirror_like_paint/

Decoupage the black part!

Thanks so much, guys! I'm the asker, and I really like these options- ribbon seems SO simple and like it'll make a big difference. Why didn't I think of this? Thanks again!!