My First Reupholstering Job

(Before)

We were in need of some extra seating for a holiday gathering and I found these chairs for $5 each on Craigslist. I know they're technically dining room chairs (I also know we don't technically have a dining room) but I saw the potential to give them a more modern makeover and have them fit in with our traditional yet modern style. Plus I've always wanted to take a stab at reupholstering and for $10 it seemed like a good time to experiment.

Luckily, this was a simple reupholster job. After watching a three-minute tutorial on YouTube, I was good to go. I unscrewed the chair cushion, pulled out the staples that held the old, stained rooster fabric in place and uncovered the original tan leather seat cushion--still in usable shape, just scratched up, but I could cover that with new fabric.

(After)

I repainted the chipped black paint with my ever-lasting mocha (Espresso Bean paint from Behr) and went to Joann Fabrics to pick out a new seat pattern. Joann Fabrics has a good selection but they are by far the most inefficient and disorganized shop I have ever been in. Next time I think I'll go to a small shop or check on Etsy for fabric.
The finished chairs have a nature, graphic design pattern on them that Tommie and I both like and it fits in our living room a lot better than the dirty roosters. The colors also go with the other earthy tones in the room. All in all, I would say it was a successful first attempt at reupholstering.