Old and worn-out chairs don't fit in with anyone interior. It is embarrassing to offer them to guests, but it seems a pity to throw them away, especially if they are still suitable for sitting. Of course, you can repaint them or knit beautiful covers for them, but there is a more interesting way - decoupage. With the help of simple and affordable materials, you can turn an unremarkable chair into an exclusive one, and this process will take very little time.
Using decoupage technique, you can give old chairs an updated look, as well as a unique design.
Decorating materials and tools
The basis of decoupage is colored pictures,which are glued to the surface of the chair. Most often, paper napkins are used as pictures, but you can also use photos printed on a printer. It is very important to choose the right picture so that the chair matches the rest of the decor. In addition to napkins, you will need the following for the work:
For decoupage you will need brushes, paint, drawings, glue, and napkins.
- sandpaper;
- putty;
- a primer for wood;
- acrylic paint;
- PVA glue;
- varnish.
The only tools needed are brushesfor applying paint and varnish, as well as a small spatula for filling cracks. In addition, a clean cloth and sponge may be useful during the work. Before work, the chair or stool must be inspected: secure loose parts, make sure it is strong. There is no point in decorating a piece of furniture if it cannot be used. Return to contents</a>
Decoration process
starts with surface preparation.To do this, take sandpaper and process the entire chair with it, paying special attention to those areas where the picture will be. After sanding, there should be no small irregularities, roughness or other defects. If there are cracks or recesses, they should be filled with putty. After the putty dries, it is recommended to prime the chair so that the paint lays down more evenly. The next step is painting. Sometimes it is necessary to apply 2-3 layers of paint so that the base has an even color. In this case, it is imperative to wait until each layer is completely dry before applying a new one. It is advisable to choose white for the base, then the picture looks clearer. When the surface is ready, proceed directly to decoupage.
Figure 1.Decoupage can be done using paints or bright stickers. Cut out a picture from a napkin, separate the lower layers and put them aside, spread glue on the chair and apply the picture. Dip the brush in glue again and begin to smooth out the picture carefully. The brush should move from the center to the edges. When the surface dries, it should be covered with a layer of acrylic varnish. This DIY chair treatment does not require any special skill or expertise; imagination and creativity are more important here. For example, you can cover not only the seat with pictures, but also the back and legs of the chair. You can decorate the entire surface or stick on individual fragments, and also give the product a certain style. Return to contents</a>
Options for design of chairs
It is very easy to decorate a chair for a child, because children love everything unusual and bright. Such decoupage of a chair is done in a few hours and requires such materials as:
- a large napkin with a picture of a toy or animal;
- paint;
- varnish;
- PVA glue;
- sandpaper and brush.
So, a step-by-step description of the process:The chair is sanded, cleaned of dust and painted white. While the paint dries, the top layer with the pattern is separated from the napkin and all the excess is cut off. The large image should be placed on the seat of the chair, and to decorate the back and legs, it is recommended to use small separate fragments: images of sweets, flowers or cars.
Figure 2.A layer of varnish can be applied to the finished painted chair, which will protect the paint from external influences. The dried seat is lightly greased with glue and the picture is applied to it, and then smoothed out with a brush. The brush must be dipped in glue. In the same way, the pictures are glued to the back and legs of the chair, after which the product is allowed to dry. The final stage is applying varnish. The updated chair will be a good gift for the baby and will decorate the nursery (Fig. 1). A chair in the Viennese style looks beautiful. For decoration, you will need to prepare:
- sandpaper;
- putty for wood;
- multicolored acrylic paint;
- Crackle lacquer.
This method of decorating a chair with your own hands is a littleis more difficult than the others, as it requires drawing the background around the pictures. The surface is sanded, all cracks and unevenness are filled, and sanded again. Next, separate areas on the seat, back and legs of the chair are smeared with glue and the cut-out images are applied. The drawings are carefully smoothed out, allowed to dry, and then the background is applied with a small sponge. After drying, the chair is covered with a layer of acrylic varnish, then craquelure. The resulting cracks need to be rubbed with dark paint, and the floral motifs in the drawing can be emphasized with a golden outline. Finally, the product is covered with another layer of acrylic varnish. When it dries, the chair can take pride of place in the living room (Fig. 2). Chairs and other furniture in a romantic or vintage style are decorated in a similar way, turning ordinary things into masterpieces. Mastering the decoupage technique is not at all difficult, and all the necessary materials are now available for sale in a large assortment. The process itself is very exciting and gives a lot of positive emotions.</ ul>
