How to convert old chairs into fun end tables and extra seating – Eat Drink and Be Merry!

Jun 20 2016
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When I was cleaning out the old play house and converting it to my new Tack Shack I ran into these three old chairs and a light bulb went off in my head. What I needed most on my deck was not extra seating (I was already working on that) but Ireally needed some end tables. I’ve just been putting my glasses down on the deck and, quite frankly, it was a tad inconvenient so I brought the old chairs down to the garage and got to work taking them a part. The backs and the seats look so much less gross in the picture then they actually were because they were NASTY.

(Hey guys, have you heard of DIYideacenter.com? Go check out one of my Dresser makeovers!)

How to convert old chairs into fun end tables and extra seating with barn wood and stenciling, make them look like old signs - eat, drink and be merry!How to convert old chairs into fun end tables and extra seating with barn wood and stenciling, make them look like old signs - eat, drink and be merry!

I was glad to see that the bases were in decent shape and steel which was why I was excited about these for my deck – I knew with a little spray paint they would look brand new! I took the bases to my hose and scrubbed them down with steel wool and got them as clean and dry as I could before I proceeded with spray paint. I gave a heavy coat of white Rustoleum then I headed to the barn for barn wood for the seats and backs.

How to convert old chairs into fun end tables and extra seating with barn wood and stenciling, make them look like old signs - eat, drink and be merry!

After cleaning up the wood with steel wool and sand paper I cut them to 15″ and then I stained them all to match with Dark Walnut. I chose the thicker pieces for the “seats” so I could easily just screw up into them with 1 1/2″ screws without worrying about them going through or my having to buy bolts and nuts etc. After the stain I white washed them with Kilz primer because that was what I had on hand.

How to convert old chairs into fun end tables and extra seating with barn wood and stenciling, make them look like old signs - eat, drink and be merry!

With the pieces dry my husband volunteered to make me some stencils out of card board because, during lunch together that Saturday, I was lamenting how to paint these. I don’t have a single creative bone in my body when it comes to “calligraphy” or hand painting anything like that so I knew I would be using a stencil. So, my wonderful husband got to work while I headed out to the garage and put a good layer of outdoor sealant on the seats, then I taped the stencils to the backs and spray painted them.

How to convert old chairs into fun end tables and extra seating with barn wood and stenciling, make them look like old signs - eat, drink and be merry!

I was thinking about those old “watering hole” signs that I used to see on the sides of the road when I was growing up. I was also thinking of just old signs in general and I think they came out just wonky enough that I managed to create something fun but not something typical. Hard to believe they’re the same old chairs I pulled out of my tack shack!

How to convert old chairs into fun end tables and extra seating with barn wood and stenciling, make them look like old signs - eat, drink and be merry!

Next week I have something really awesome to show you guys that I am just STOKED about! I finished the chair, coffee table and sofa finally for my deck!! With these new little end tables in place I finally have some comfortable seating out there – so excited!

How to convert old chairs into fun end tables and extra seating with barn wood and stenciling, make them look like old signs - eat, drink and be merry!eat drink and be merry diy do it yourself tutorial turn old nasty chairs into fun extra seating and end tables using spray paint, pipe clamps and barn wood working

Comments

  1. June 21, 2016 at 11:02 am

    Love this. Haven’t tried the white wash over dark stain but it looks great. Cheers!

  2. June 26, 2016 at 1:21 pm

    How wonderful are those? Oh my goodness I absolutely love them. What a perfect idea! I think they turned out super cute, and I know you’ll enjoy using those for tables or seating. Great job!

    • June 27, 2016 at 2:46 pm

      Martie thank you so much! We’ve already put them to good use and they’re just so nice and handy to have around the deck, I’ve used them several times now as a “step stool” to help me fill our bird feeders!

  3. July 1, 2016 at 2:45 pm

    I seriously love these! I get so giddy when I see a re-purpose like this. You saw potential in a way few people would. I’m pinning, pinning, and pinning 😀 Thanks for the outside of the box idea!

  4. July 21, 2016 at 11:38 pm

    How clever you are! This makeover was a total surprise and I’m loving it. I’ll have to try your wash technique. Thanks so much for linking to Friday’s Furniture Fix. We are so thriled to share your work with our readers. Susie from The Chelsea Project

  5. November 3, 2016 at 1:56 pm

    What a fun idea!! Thanks for sharing on the Pleasures of the NW’s DIY party!

  6. November 3, 2016 at 8:58 pm

    Turning the old chairs into cool looking tables is a great idea!! They look awesome!!

  7. November 11, 2016 at 1:30 pm

    Love how you made your own stencils. Neat idea with the chairs they look great!!

  8. November 17, 2016 at 10:14 am

    Cleaver idea and I love the stencils. Thank you for sharing at Dishing it and Digging it link party. It’s fun to see what you have been up too. See you this Sunday for another fun party.

  9. Jann Olson
    November 23, 2016 at 4:59 am

    What a fun idea! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

  10. November 27, 2016 at 9:51 pm

    What a great idea. These look amazing !!

    Thanks for linking up to Creative Mondays last week, you are one of this weeks features 🙂

    • November 28, 2016 at 4:20 pm

      Thank you so much Claire!!!!

  11. November 30, 2016 at 2:05 pm

    These look great! & super easy! Love the idea, thanks for sharing!

  12. December 1, 2016 at 7:22 pm

    Those look like a lot of fun! I love the white wash effect and the stencil. Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!

  13. December 4, 2016 at 6:07 pm

    Oh these are too cute!!

    I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

  14. December 6, 2016 at 6:33 pm

    What a great idea! I just love how you upcycle older things and make them new again. These end tables are perfect! xo

  15. December 13, 2016 at 9:19 am

    Oh that’s seriously so cool Tarah, I love how they turned out.

  16. January 21, 2017 at 8:25 am

    You don’t waste anything! These chairs look great and useful too.

    Kathleen
    Bloggers Pit Stop

  17. Sue Tait
    February 13, 2017 at 3:18 pm

    You come up with the wildest ideas and they always turn out so great. I didn’t know what in the world you were gonna do with these old chairs, but as always you made something great and unexpected out of something someone else would have just added to the landfill. You amaze me with your creativity! Great job, and such a cute idea. Good for YOU. And thanks for sharing, you are always an inspiration to the rest of us~~~

    • February 13, 2017 at 5:12 pm

      Thank you Sue! 🙂 These were definitely out of left field and I don’t know how long they’ll last but they did their job great all last summer!

  18. August 27, 2017 at 10:51 pm

    Tara Lynn, great project and you have a definite sense of humor. You are always so creative. Thanks for sharing at Happiness is Homemade.

  19. August 28, 2017 at 4:11 pm

    Super cute clever idea! Saw this on the Happiness is Homemade link party!

    • August 28, 2017 at 4:47 pm

      Oh thank you for coming by and checking them out!

  20. September 4, 2017 at 6:14 pm

    These are really fun Tarah. I love the sayings. Don’t you wish they made things like the use to. I love those old steel chair legs.

  21. September 6, 2017 at 9:33 pm

    These are so cute! And yes, they do look like the roadside signs that you’d see when traveling.
    🙂 gwingal

  22. September 10, 2017 at 5:02 pm

    You’ve done an amazing job on these chairs! What a great way to recycle. Thank you so much for sharing, Tarahlynn, and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link party.

  23. January 22, 2018 at 9:37 pm

    Those are very cute and fun. The will be a great conversation piece at your gatherings. Visiting from the Really Crafty Link Party.

    • January 22, 2018 at 9:38 pm

      Thanks Donna, have a great week!

  24. January 24, 2018 at 11:35 am

    That’s a great idea, very useful. You did a great job with those old chairs, most people would have considered them trash…Thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party this week. Pinned!

    • January 24, 2018 at 3:52 pm

      Thanks so much Teresa, have a great week!

  25. January 27, 2018 at 9:35 pm

    Those chairs look brilliant. It’s such a good idea in general, but I think your end result just goes to show what can be done with a bit of imagination. I’m pretty sure most folk round here would pay a small fortune for something like that. Thanks for joining us for the #DreamTeam x

    • January 29, 2018 at 4:05 pm

      Oh Annette, thank you so much for coming by and commenting, have a great week!

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