Animal Print DIY Chair Makeover
I always enjoy a quick, hands-on project that pulls me away from my computer. I decided to refinish a pair of chairs I grabbed at a yard sale a few of years ago. They needed some serious help though. These chairs had been collecting dust and taking up space (Emmett was begging me to get rid of them). I originally rescued them with every intention of giving them a second life. I’m pretty sure they were headed for the dumpster before I snagged them at the yard sale. This animal print DIY chair makeover turned out to be one of the easiest furniture updates I’ve tackled in a long time. A coat of black paint and bold upholstery completely changed their aesthetic. Click through to see the before and after, how they evolved, and I’ll link some of my furniture and upholstery tutorials within this post as well!
Reupholstering the seat of a chair is a great entry level DIY makeover. If you’re looking for a bigger upholstery challenge, check out this post… how to make a custom upholstered bed. In an effort to repurpose a bed that didn’t fit the aesthetic of our remodeled celadon guest bedroom, we worked with what we had and used the same frame and rails. All of the details are in the post- it turned out gorgeous! Anyway, onto the animal print chains…
The Before: Two Tired Chairs
This is what the chairs looked like before. When I found them, the silhouette immediately caught my eye. The frames had beautiful curves and nice proportions, but they were pretty banged up, dirty, and were begging for a makeover!
Why I Went With Animal Print Upholstery
Before committing to fabric I shared two options in an Instagram poll… animal print or a wavy textural fabric. Most people, 70%, voted for the wavy fabric and the remaining 30% voted for the animal print. Funny how those polls sometimes clarify what you actually want. Sometimes it takes asking or someone choosing the thing you DON’T want to realize what you DO want. Sorry to the majority who voted for the beautiful wavy fabric. The more I looked at the options, the more I realized the animal print was the move. It had personality and felt a bit more designerly- it was the right move for these chairs and our home.
Painting the Chair Frames
It was time to give the frames a new finish. I used Krylon Specialty Lacquer in black because I had it leftover from another project. I like a glossy black finish because it highlights the chair’s curves and creates strong contrast against the fabric. I have tons of paint and stain tutorials, if you’re looking for a detailed look at the process. I suggest lightly sanding beforehand, but sometimes I’m lazy and skip that step (that was the case here)… no regrets so far. Painting furniture is a project where patience really pays off. I built the finish slowly with several light coats instead of trying to cover everything at once. The process was simple:
- Lightly clean the chair frames and remove the dust.
- Apply several thin, even coats of spray paint.
- Allow each coat to dry completely before the next.
- Rotate the chair as you paint so every angle is covered evenly.
- Move onto upholstery…
How to Reupholster a Chair Seat
Next it was time to upholster the seat. Here is my tried and true tutorial for how to upholster the seat of a chair. If you’ve never attempted upholstery, this is a great starting point! I checked the fabric one last time and remained convinced the animal print fabric was the right move for these chairs, so I moved forward with the plan. I had a lot of questions about the fabric source, and this one came from a local shop- although I’ll link a very similar one, here.
The seat cushions on these chairs detach from the frame, which makes the process straightforward. After removing the seats I pulled off the original fabric and staples. The old fabric worked perfectly as a template for cutting the new. Once the animal print fabric was centered and stretched across the cushion, I stapled it securely to the underside of the seat. Upholstery is my favorite part of the process because the transformation happens instantly.
The Finished Animal Print Accent Chairs
They look so much better. The black frames highlight the elegant shape of the chairs while the animal print upholstery adds just enough pattern to make them interesting. I feel like they have more style and personality. Small projects like this are a good reminder that furniture does not always need to be replaced. Sometimes it simply needs a fresh perspective.
How to Style Animal Print Chairs
Animal print can sound bold, but it actually behaves more like a neutral when used thoughtfully. I like pairing it with simple textures and classic materials so the pattern feels balanced rather than overwhelming. These chairs work beautifully with linen upholstery, warm wood tones, and layered textiles. A patterned chair instantly adds personality to a room without taking over the entire vignette.
Lessons From This Chair Makeover
Many of you messaged, pleading for me to restore the wood. While I love the idea and the wood tone is visually appealing… these felt too far gone for the amount of time and energy I had to put into them. I tried furniture polish, oil, and my stain pens, but nothing seemed to revive the wood. There was chipping, minor splitting, and scuffs- and honestly I just didn’t feel like putting that many hours into these chairs. I stuck to my original paint plan to keep things moving forward. I wanted to paint the chair frame black to really emphasize the beautiful curvy shape.
Questions?
Spray enamel, lacquer spray paint, or dedicated furniture paint all work well. Thin coats applied in layers and proper drying time will give you the most durable finish. Check my designer guide for choosing the best paint sheen or finish.
Most dining or accent chair seats require about half a yard of upholstery fabric. Larger cushions may require closer to one yard.
I actually shared a post on exactly that… here are 25 new furniture finds that could pass as antique!
Animal print is always in style! I use these patterns as a neutral. A little leopard, a subtle zebra, even a tiny moment on a pillow or a bench. Animal print has been used in classic interiors for decades and isn’t going anywhere.
Related Posts
Looking for more fun and easy furniture makeovers? Here are some reader favorites I’ve recently shared…
- How to Paint a Dresser Like a Pro
- A Quick Sofa Table Makeover
- Vintage Hutch Transformation… Our Built-In Bar Cabinet
- Small Coffee Table Makeover
- Patio Chair Makeover
- How to Order Custom Upholstery Like a Pro
- How to Reupholster Antique Chairs (Step-by-Step Tutorial)
- How to Make a Basic Ottoman Look Custom and High-End
- 5 Ways to Score Quality, High-End Furniture On a Budget
- A Brass Chiavari Chair Upholstery Makeover
What do you think? Are you into the fabric? I know animal print isn’t for everyone. This little project reminded me why I love a good furniture makeover. These chairs went from forgotten and dusty to something that actually adds character to the room. The entire update took just a few hours and a small amount of materials. If you have a piece of furniture hiding in the garage or tucked away in storage, take another look before letting it go. A little paint and fresh fabric can completely change how it feels in your home.
Love ’em! I continue to be amazed at the finish you get with spray paint! That black looks fantastic! It really highlights the lovely shape. I was team animal print all the way! Isn’t that a hilarious phenomenon about choices? Sometimes you really do need someone else’s opinion before you’re certain of your own. Haha, it can make you seem contrary though. A fast creative project always reenergizes me! I usually tackle them when I have the most to do, so, for me, they’re actually productive procrastination. Here’s to more of that! Especially when the result is a sweet pair of chairs. (They looked smashing in your IG drapery sneak peek!) Last week of January…GO!💜
I swear by this handy little paint gadget. It’s makes the pressing the nozzle so much easier, so I can get even coats. Team animal print!! I feel bad for polling the audience and going completely astray, but it took that for me to realize what I actually wanted. Haha! The animal print just felt right. I’m with you on the fast creative projects leading to new energy, and I’m also in agreement that I often do these in the worst times- productive procrastination is my specialty. No complaints about new pretty chairs, though. Hope you have an amazing last week of January! xox
Wow! Just wow! I love what you did to the chairs, Sarah. They look very expensive and glamorous. I always enjoy your furniture makeovers! Keep’em coming. :)
Thank you, Laura! I’m very into the furniture makeovers, too. I’ll have to find more things to restore in the year ahead :) Have a great week!
Stunning! Think of the $$$ you saved, these would have been so expensive. Beauty AND brains should help motivate you to step away from the computer more this year. Food for the soul too.
Thank you, Pamela! These were a fun project and indeed- it’s always wonderful to save money :) Thanks so much for the encouragement! xo
Holy cow Sarah, these are incredible!! The animal print was 100% the way to go. You’ve inspired me to keep my eyes peeled for some furniture to flip.
Thank you, Brianna! I really do love the animal print. Happy furniture hunting :) my fingers area crossed for you!!
They look gorgeous – very high end! It’s amazing what a new coat of paint will do!
Thank you so much, Lynn! I’m always amazed by the transformative power of paint :)
Team animal print for the win! I was so excited you chose that fabric. The wavy fabric is beautiful, but you’re absolutely right; it didn’t feel like you. Against the drapery these chairs just look dreamy. It’s a quite hilarious conundrum about choices like that, and it happens to me all the time! The end result is stunning! You’ll be happy to know I made it to SW on Friday and was able to pick up a Nylox brush, a cut-in brush, some roller covers and a ton of paint samples! Jeff will be in your neck of the woods later this week and I plan on painting while he’s gone. We are getting snow today, and it’s the last week of January! I hope it’s a great week for you! Xo
It’s such a beautiful fabric! It really is funny how those decisions come to fruition. I’m glad you can relate! Haha! Amazing work on grabbing yourself some awesome paint tools :) Jeff is arriving to Salt Lake at the perfect time. We finally got a bunch of snow this week, so it’s looking more beautiful than ever. So fun that you’re getting snow, too! Have a wonderful week, Lauren! xox
So cute- love how these turned out!
Thanks, Jennifer :)
I too am impressed with the power of spray paint on wood furniture. I think it may be in part to your technique (making note to go back and look at your tutorial). Love the animal print, black color and design of the chairs. I did vote for the lighter fabric only because I thought that might be the direction you were going. Animal print is always good! Glad you saw the potential in the wood chairs and saved them. I have a few things to spray paint for the house this week (nothing exciting just vent covers) since we are finally getting some warmer temps and sun. Getting anxious to see your design board for the office. I haven’t missed it have I?
Speaking of paint, are the paint swatches/sheets something that you could share coming up? I have had friends, painters and our local Sherwin Williams store asking where I got them because they loved the idea of those. Have a good Monday!
It really does make an incredible difference! There was really no wrong fabric choice :) Both are so beautiful in person. I’m sure I’ll find a use for that gorgeous wavy white fabric in the future. You have not missed the office design board! I’m still finalizing some things and putting the final touches on the built-in design- I changed a couple things. I’ll be sharing it soon! The paint swatches are so handy, aren’t they?! I’m really happy you liked those. They’re for designers and trade members who have Sherwin-Williams accounts. They’re made for presenting and sharing with clients. I have to order them online through my wholesale platform. I’m not sure if consumers are able to buy them or order, but I can definitely look into it for you! Have an awesome week, Danna – and happy painting!! xox
Omg Sarah! Your chair project is stunning 🤩 where are you going to put those beauties? I can’t wait to see your exquisite styling and I wait in anticipation to see them perfectly placed in your beautiful home. You certainly do have the knack for salvaging and bringing out the hidden attributes of diamonds in the rough. Well done! Another gorgeous restoration project to inspire us all. Thanks for sharing as always ❤️
Thank you so much, Colleen! We finally setup a desk for Emmett at home, and my plan was to use one there, but I’m thinking I’ll keep both of these for my office once it’s finished. Haha!! I’ll have to hunt for some more furniture to restore in the coming year :) Thanks again for your kind words. I hope your week is off to an awesome start. xo
Stunning! Love them. I’m always so impressed with your style. Your post is timely as I am looking to do something similar with chairs that were my mother’s. I tried to watch your video, but it isn’t working for me. Not sure if others are having any issues. Also, I know the fabric is from a local store, but what type of fabric should I look for when I’m sourcing mine? Any guidance would be helpful!
Thank you, Stephanie! You can try opening the videos in Instagram (it’s saved to a highlight called “chair makeover” on my profile). As for the fabric, you’ll want to find a heavy upholstery weight fabric. Check out this post for additional insight- https://roomfortuesday.com/designer-trick-choosing-fabric/
No surprise that these chairs turned out so beautifully. You have such mad skills! BTW, I have a chair very similar but with arms, so I knew the animal print was the best choice :). Can’t wait to see where to use them.
Thank you so much, Teri! These were a fun, fast project for me :) I’m really happy with the end result. Have a great day!
I voted for the wavy (felt like a print that would fit in my home) but my gut feeling told me you would go with animal print either way! Since you’re the one living with it, you have to go with what will make you happy! Thanks for the inspiration.
The chairs turned out great!! I’m a huge fan of animal print and always chuckle when someone says animal print is back in style again. Ummm, it’s always in style for me! The timing of your post is perfect because I just ordered animal print fabric to recover three bar stools.