Decorate an old chair for a teenager. We make a highchair with our own hands: drawings, dimensions, diagrams

Reminds us of childhood. Perhaps in your house there is a shabby old highchair with peeling paint. If it’s a pity to throw it in the trash, but it doesn’t fit into the interior, it can be updated with simple steps. Repainting is the easiest option, but you can also do it. Let's talk about it.

materials

For work you will need:

• the chair itself;
• white paint for walls and ceilings, water-based or acrylic;
• green acrylic paint;
• soft brush;
• sponge for washing dishes and a clothespin;
• building acrylic varnish;
• PVA glue;
• putty and plastic card;
• napkin with a matching image.

Work order

First, inspect your chair. The remains of the old paint must be removed with sandpaper. The quality and durability of the new coating will depend on this.
The second step is to level the surface. Take a putty for decorative work, apply it in a very thin layer. For this, not a rubber spatula is suitable, but an ordinary plastic card: its even sides will smooth the paste well on the chair, even grinding is not required.

Let the surface dry: best of all, a day, in extreme cases, you can dry the chair with a hairdryer and continue working.
Cut off a piece of a clean dishwashing sponge, about 2 by 2 cm, use a clothespin to make a kind of handle: this will be our foam sponge. Start applying white paint with this tool to the surface of the chair and its back (start from the inside, then go to the front side, and it is better not to touch the lower part of the chair). You need to apply the paint with blotting movements, as if trying to burst the air bubbles that form during this.

Let the layer dry or use a hair dryer. Now it's time to choose the background for the chair. In this case, we take a light green color (white plus dark green). In the same way, with the help of a sponge, we apply successively two layers of paint.

After the chair is dry, you can start leveling the surface. Please note: the paint is applied as if in dots, and the chair is not even, but as if velvet. But you can not see the stains from the brush and unpainted areas. Take fine sandpaper and sand the surface. It will take quite a lot of paper: particles of paint get stuck on it.

Dilute the PVA glue with water so that it is liquid.
Decoupage is the placement of a colorful layer of a serving napkin on an object. In stores you can find a wide selection of them. At the same time, it is better to tear out motifs from a napkin than to cut them out (so they will better merge with the surface). But in the event that the pattern has clear edges, you can carefully cut it along the contour with sharp nail scissors.
We have a napkin with butterflies. We cut out the butterflies, even if the motif is incomplete (we will place it on the side).

First, glue the central motif on the seat (three butterflies). To do this, place the drawing in the right place, start applying glue with a soft brush, starting from the middle of the image. Gradually adding glue, carefully smooth the napkin, aligning the image. Be careful not to tear the paper. If you are just starting to learn the decoupage technique, then take small motives: they are easier to handle.

In the same way, we place all the butterflies on the seat of the chair and its back.

Old furniture does not always need decor, there are still many cases when it will be appropriate. Dyeing or tailoring covers will help update the interior or fit old chairs into a new style. On the eve of the holidays, the decor of chairs with flowers, ribbons, themed capes will help create the appropriate atmosphere. To return the furniture to its former attractiveness and even make it even better, you need a little: desire and inspiration.

Old heroes in a new color

Staining is the easiest and fastest way to update old chairs. Will the new furniture be single-colored, multi-colored or with a pattern depends on the imagination and preferences. The only question left is which color to choose.

• The stain will perfectly emphasize the beauty of the old tree. It comes in different shades, but for restoration it is still better to give preference to dark ones.
• Milky natural paints are absolutely harmless, they give the surface a charming matte and vintage look. Masking tape will help create a contrasting striped pattern or pattern on the chairs.
• Latex or oil paints will provide rich, vibrant color. Stools will become more modern if you paint the legs in different colors.
• Spray paint makes it possible to create any pattern through a stencil. Alternatively, you can put a lace napkin on the seat, back, chair arms and apply paint through it. The result is a gentle rustic pattern.

Work is carried out in the following order:

• Remove the old coating from the surface with sandpaper.
• Degrease, primer.
• After drying, they are painted in one or more layers with paint or stain, and then varnished.

Decoupage

A very popular technique, which is also used to update old furniture. Decoupage is the process of gluing images (printed on a napkin or very thin paper) onto a surface.

Various techniques allow you to get the desired texture or visual effect: gilding, aging (brushing, crackle, shabby), artistic or three-dimensional drawing. It is not uncommon to use a combination of several decorative effects. The choice of picture and technique depends primarily on the style of the interior. The chair, updated with appropriate drawings, will perfectly fit into the interior of ethno, military, country, Provence, loft, shabby chic, eclecticism.

Updating the chair is carried out in several stages. The furniture is cleaned from the old coating, varnish or paint, degreased and primed. Next, the main background is applied with acrylic paint. After drying, a pattern is glued to the surface, processed with paints, additional elements and varnished.

Cases: for all occasions

Chair covers are not only a way to decorate old, and in general, new furniture, they are much more functional: they serve as protection against pollution, damage, help to fit furniture into a given interior style or simply update the atmosphere, there are everyday and solemn ones.

It is most convenient to make patterns for a cover using a dummy. The chair is pasted over with newspapers or tracing paper, then the homemade cover is cut with scissors into separate elements. The accuracy of the pattern depends on correctly taken measurements. And of course, one should not forget about allowances, cut errors, fabric shrinkage after washing.

fabric covers

Covers can be easily made by hand. For ordinary chairs with a back, you will need about 1.5-2 meters of fabric. It should be noted that the decor of the chair should match the style of the interior, emphasize and complement it.

• Cotton fabrics will be appropriate in Provence or country styles. For the first, pastel colors with a pattern in a small flower are chosen, and a large cell is best complemented by ethnicity.
• Eco-style will help to emphasize capes made of coarse burlap. To give them a modern touch, you can complement the cover with patches made of denim, which also goes well with wood.
• In classic interiors, more durable fabrics with a large pattern, matte or satin sheen, such as gabardine, are used.

You can use almost any fabric for sewing a cover or combine several. Chairs with faux fur covers, with the same "socks" on the legs will look very interesting.

Knitted covers

Knitted covers will be especially appropriate in the winter, they will be associated with warmth and comfort. Knitted things look very interesting, as if a huge sweater was pulled over a frozen chair. A large three-dimensional pattern of a thick pastel-colored thread will be optimal. Of course, if the soul so requires, you can choose brighter shades.

An unusual addition will be socks for the legs. Chairs dressed in “shoes” look original and will never scratch the flooring. Crocheted openwork capes are usually knitted, filled with summer lightness and coolness. In addition, original handmade items will make the atmosphere calm and truly homely.

Festive felt cases

Felt is familiar to every needlewoman. This material is very easy to work with, so it is often used in holiday decor. In anticipation of any event, chair back covers made of felt, made in the theme of the holiday, will be a great addition and decoration.

On New Year's Eve, mittens or capes in the form of Santa Claus hats can also be sewn on the backs. In general, there are countless options, everything is limited only by the imagination of the master.

Non-standard ideas

If you delve deeper into the issue of decorating chairs, there is no doubt that a wide variety of, sometimes unexpected materials can be used. You won’t surprise anyone with simple coloring; rods, ropes, flowers, sweets, tree bark and old disks are used.

This option is considered more suitable for massive stools and chairs. Although if you wish, you can try to decorate more sophisticated furniture. The upholstery is removed from the chair and for each individual element (legs, crossbars, handles), pieces of twine of the required length are prepared. This is followed by a simple technique: fix the end of the rope with a stapler or a small carnation and begin to wrap the product tightly. The other end is fixed in the same way. On the backs of the chair, you can perform simple weaving, which will become a noticeable decoration.

The rope can be left plain or decorated as you wish. In general, not only a rope can be used for winding, it can be artificial rattan or shreds of fabric twisted with a bundle.

natural materials

The use of natural materials is relevant not only in school crafts. Even Italian designers (Andrea Magnani and Giovanni Delvezzio from the Re Sign studio) distinguished themselves with a simple but unexpected idea to decorate chairs with bark. Not everyone can buy designer furniture, but anyone can take the idea into service and bring it to life.

Wooden chairs should correspond as closely as possible to the natural material, so they are cleaned of varnish, rubbed with fine sandpaper and left in this form. The maximum that can be done is to cover with a stain to give a shade. The prepared tree bark is glued in a free order, the designers chose one leg and back for gluing.

Another equally interesting approach is to decorate the chairs with flat pebbles. The stone is glued directly to the seat and back. An unusual chair can become a decoration of a bathroom, balcony or garden, especially if there are other marine-themed items nearby.

Mosaic

If, in addition to old chairs at home, there are still unnecessary or damaged disks, you can decorate the furniture element with mosaics. The pattern made of small colored pieces will look original and interesting, and the updated chair will fit perfectly into almost any interior.

The mirror side of the discs is rubbed with fine sandpaper, after which colored glossy paper is glued onto it. Then cut the disk into equal squares (it is more convenient to immediately divide them into colors). The chair also needs to be prepared. The surface is sanded, degreased and primed. Mosaic squares are glued in turn in the form of a selected pattern or randomly. After drying, the gaps between the "tiles" are filled with building putty, and the surface is varnished.

Pompom chair

The decoration of the chair with pompoms is very expensive in terms of material and time, but as a result, the restored chair looks very bright and cozy. It will perfectly complement the children's room, and perhaps become a colorful accent in the bedroom or living room. It is more convenient to fix pompoms on a grid or piece of fabric. At the end of the work, the soft lining is fixed on the seat and back of the chair. If necessary, the decoration can be easily removed and washed. Very interesting pompom seats will look on stools in the kitchen.

The difficulties in caring for children are largely due to the fact that buying everything you need can be quite a task for the family budget. Another question is whether parents manage to find exactly what they would like in stores, or in fact there is nothing ideally suitable among the assortment. Both reasons that prevent the purchase of a particular product, one way or another, suggest that it would be nice to make it yourself. For example, a high chair - if dad has enough experience with various tools, he may well make it with his own hands.

Peculiarities

Contrary to its seeming simplicity, a do-it-yourself highchair is not an easy task to complete without any preparation. Do not start work until you have a clear understanding of how the end result should look like, and what operations will have to be performed to achieve this.

Also, don't ignore the calculations. Any chair should be strong enough to withstand its “passenger”, and the child, although not heavy, will not sit neatly on it, especially since the dimensions of such furniture are also small.

Strength requirements are relevant not only for basic materials, but also for fasteners, be it self-tapping screws, glue or grooves. In addition, the baby is constantly growing, and it makes sense to make a high chair with a margin of at least a couple of years in advance. For all its strength, the product should be comfortable, that is, approximately correspond to the dimensions of the owner.

Also try to ensure the proper lightness of the furniture being made - it should be convenient for the owner to independently move his chair to where he wants to sit at the moment.

Don't forget to stay safe. Furniture, in any case, cannot be traumatic, and children's furniture even more so. No sharp edges are allowed, and if wood is the main material, as happens in most cases, then it must be carefully sanded to avoid peeling splinters. When covering the finished product with varnish or paint, give preference to natural - children tend to put everything in their mouths, and can be poisoned by a toxic coating.

Finally, remember that this chair is for a child. In addition to suitable sizes, it is also desirable for a piece of furniture to be beautiful. If complex decor is not for you, try to at least paint it in bright colors.

Drawings, dimensions, diagrams

Before proceeding directly to the manufacture of parts, it is necessary to draw up a drawing with dimensions - this is the only way all the components will ideally fit one to the other. You can use either one of those ready-made options that are already posted on the World Wide Web, or draw up a diagram yourself. It is important to note here that there are blueprints and instructions on the Internet explaining how to make a standard look table and chair, so they are usually not suitable for those who want to create something original - for example, an elephant chair.

• Drawing a table and chairs, which can be made in the form of a kit, it is not necessary to strictly follow the principles of drawing: there are not so many details in them that they cannot be kept in the head. For us, the main thing is to make sure that all dimensions converge, and the parts fit perfectly with each other, but the ways of connecting individual parts must be present on the drawing. In general, it can be presented schematically, without a high accuracy of the drawing.

• Think over the dimensions (or choose ready-made drawings based on them), based on the convenience of the child. Those chairs are considered comfortable, the seat of which is at the level of the knee or slightly lower. In the case of a highchair, it is recommended to make the seat a little higher, because the child will probably still grow. At the same time, do not overdo it: if it is difficult for the baby to climb onto the seat, then the product can be considered unsuccessful.

• Determining the size of the seat itself, keep in mind that the owner should fit freely on it, but do not make it too big - this will make the chair heavier and difficult to carry. The normal height of the back is about two thirds or three quarters of the wearer's back, making it higher than the neck is already impractical. When determining the thickness of future parts, rely only on the strength of the selected material and the weight of the child.

materials

In terms of ease of processing and environmental friendliness among the materials for the manufacture of children's furniture, wood and its derivatives undoubtedly hold the palm. Therefore, most often you can find a wooden chair. However, you can not choose any tree - here, too, it is worth considering before proceeding with the manufacture. The most popular among all types of wood is beech. They have a strength reminiscent of oak, but are easier to work with and less expensive. In general, it is hardwoods that are considered a priority. Of the inexpensive options, birch is often chosen, you can also consider linden.

From softwood, spruce and pine are suitable for making furniture, but the resin contained in any such wood is dangerous - it can stain clothes, and it can also pose a health hazard. Regardless of the specific species, choose a homogeneous tree, without knots and cracks, with an even texture.

The material of the seat may be similar to the material of the body, or it may be fundamentally different. In order to save money and achieve greater flexibility, the seat is also made from plywood, and even from chipboard. When choosing them, give preference only to the most durable types, but remember that in any case they are inferior in terms of durability to solid natural wood.

For increased softness, the seat can be additionally equipped with a small foam cushion, sheathed with a fabric that is pleasant to the touch.

There is also such an option for sitting as made from plastic bottles - both whole and chopped. Harmful plastic, present in the form of garbage in any apartment and polluting the environment, could get a second life, especially since its strength and durability are very high. This option is still much less common due to the difficulty of securely fastening individual parts, as well as the not very attractive appearance of the finished product.

Colors and decor

For all its practicality and convenience, the baby will definitely not like the chair if it cannot be described with the word “beautiful”. No one makes any special chairs for teenagers, and for young children, brightness and attractiveness are very important. Therefore, do not limit yourself to only one colorless varnish or discreet monochromatic solutions. A solid color is generally acceptable only if a light or very bright shade is chosen - often it is red or yellow, the so-called "warm" tones.

If drawing is not alien to you, please your child with interesting design solutions. You can go the "adult" way, painting the frame in one color, and the seat and back in another, or you can focus on the children's desire for a bright and defiant one. The simplest option is the “rings” on the legs of the chair, any patterns and even just blots are also acceptable - provided that it looks cute and positive. Regardless of how much and what kind of paint you use, do not forget - it should not be toxic.

If you have a creative streak and a desire to complicate the task a little for the common good of the cause, you can perform a more complex decor. As an option, decorate the legs or the back of the chair with carvings, but adults would like this solution more. But for a child, an ornament in the form of one or another animal will be a chic solution. The classic option is when the back is cut out to resemble an elephant, or any other animal that is cute for a child, and then painted to look more like a “cartoon” character.

Covers can also become a kind of decor. In addition to their typical functions, such as simplifying the cleaning of furniture and increasing the comfort of its use, they can also decorate the back of the chair. Ideally, they should depict the child's favorite hero, characters from popular fairy tales, or the same animals. Mom can help with making a cover for dad, especially if she knows how to embroider or has skills in appliqué fabric. If the mother does not have such talents, you can simply change the cover from the clothes on which the necessary pictures were applied by the factory method.

For the youngest children

The youngest children so far sit on the highchair for only one thing - eating. It is important and necessary to teach a child to eat while sitting, and indeed to sit, in particular, at the table. However, the features of its development at this stage do not allow the use of ordinary chairs for this. The problem lies in the fact that a simple chair does not have a back with handles, and a tiny child himself will not be able to sit on it evenly, and will simply fall.

As for highchairs, their dimensions usually do not allow you to choose a normal table for them. In this situation, a special highchair for feeding will be an excellent way out.

Such furniture should be comfortable for both the child and his mother - so far the child cannot eat on his own, so the mother will have to spoon-feed him. For the convenience of this operation, the chair is made at a normal height, or even a little higher - so that the mother does not bend over. The actual period of use of such a chair is about a year, so if you have one child and the family does not plan a second one at all, you can choose not the most durable materials for manufacturing.

In terms of manufacturing, the highchair is perhaps the most complex - it has the largest number of parts. The relatively small seat is raised high above the floor, which makes it necessary to resort to installing additional stiffeners between the legs - for improved structural stability.

Given the specifics of the child of the appropriate age, both the backrest and the railing are simply necessary - they must completely exclude the possibility of the baby falling. Moreover, the barrier should also be in front, although it has another useful function - it plays the role of a countertop on which food will be placed. The space under the tabletop is left free - the baby will stick his legs in there.

Cutting and assembling such a chair is quite simple. First, according to the drawing, two identical side halves are cut out, which are then interconnected by the seat, backrest and stiffeners using grooves, glue or self-tapping screws. Before assembly, all individual parts should be sanded to a perfectly smooth state, the finished product is varnished or painted - ready.

Models for an older child

The peculiarity of highchairs for children who have finally come out of infancy lies in a significant variety of design options, limited only by the creator's imagination. The back is still considered a mandatory attribute, but the railing is no longer there, as are the front barriers. Saving on materials in this situation is not worth it - if the furniture is made with a margin of size, then the child will be able to use his high chair for many years.

The manufacturing process consists of a few simple steps:

• Think over the design to the smallest detail and draw up a drawing. Decide on the number of body parts - whether it will simply consist of two solid halves or from separate legs and separate supports for the seat, whether the backrest base will be a continuation of the rear legs or it is attached separately, and so on. Calculate everything, including the thickness of the seat and legs, provide stiffeners and additional supports for the seat in advance. Provide grooves, designate places for screws.
• If doubts about the correctness of the selected parameters still remain, try to assemble a temporary cardboard chair according to the drawing. Unfortunately, it does not have the same strength to test the product from all sides, and it differs in thickness from wood or plywood, which must also be taken into account when specifying dimensions, but you will get a visual idea of ​​​​the future product.

• Start cutting out individual parts from wood or plywood. It is advised to start with the body. Well, if there are a lot of identical parts in the set, then the subsequent ones can be cut out by simply tracing the already finished first one. If your design allows, don't put off assembly until after you've cut everything out - start as soon as you have at least two pieces that need to be connected. This will help you immediately notice any design flaws, if any. After the parts are ready, sand them to a smooth state.
• When all the elements are ready, proceed to the final assembly. Do not limit yourself to one type of fastener, in particular, glue the grooves - this will significantly strengthen the product and increase its durability. Ensure that the grooves go as deep as possible - tap on the joints with a hammer to make the fastening more reliable.
• The last step is varnishing and staining.

No matter how detailed and intelligible a theoretical explanation is, it is unlikely to be compared in terms of information content with a good example, because it is better to see once than hear a hundred times.

H and the video is one of the best examples of how to make a highchair with your own hands. The master tells literally everything, including the dimensions of the parts he used, so you can even do without a drawing, just repeating what he says. The resulting chair is quite simple in design, but easy to make. You can find many other similar videos on the network, but the models there are always approximately the same, but here the process is shown in great detail and clearly.

Watch a master class on making a highchair with your own hands:

The principle of making a baby highchair, in general, is similar, but it is worth studying in more detail both because of the increased complexity of the design, and simply because another master is already talking, who can reveal some new points.

How to make a baby highchair, see the video:

Disassemble the children's chair with a screwdriver and special furniture keys into the maximum possible number of component parts.

Step 2

Using fine-grained sandpaper, sand the wooden surface of the chair parts.

Step 3

Prime the surface of all parts with acrylic primer and let it dry thoroughly.

Step 4

Cover all parts of the chair with two layers of white acrylic paint to achieve a more dense color. It is important that each layer of acrylic paint dry well.

Step 5

Take a coloring book and select pages with matching drawings. Make several photocopies of selected pages. After cutting out fragments of the desired size from photocopies, stick them on the wooden surface of the chair parts using PVA glue. Once the glue is completely dry, carefully assemble the chair without damaging its “paper” surface.

Step 6

Armed with watercolors and a brush, invite your child to paint his favorite chair on his own. After the paints are dry, cover the surface of the chair with acrylic varnish. Since the varnish is practically odorless, this work can also be entrusted to a child.

Step 7

From the photocopied pages, cut out images of two butterflies and stick them with PVA glue on thin plywood. Let the glue dry.

Step 8

Using a jigsaw, cut out images of butterflies glued to plywood, repeating the drawn contours.

Step 9

Cover the reverse side of the details with butterflies with white paint. Glue the butterflies to the vertical bars on the back of the chair using Super Moment glue.

Step 10

From the green fabric, cut out a 27 x 52 cm rectangular piece. Fold the fabric in half with the right side inward. Insert two double-folded pieces of tape 50 cm long into the part, placing them in the corners on one of the sides. Baste and stitch the part on three sides, leaving a hole of about 6 cm in size on one of them. Turn it inside out and straighten the product.

Decorating furniture is not only about creating spectacular and unique items with your own hands.

Such furniture will give a good mood and emotions to the performer and those who will subsequently use it.

Furniture decor will add individuality, brightness and style to the home of its owner.

You can embody the brightest and most interesting design ideas with the help of decoupage technique, which has recently become increasingly popular. And there are many reasons for that.

What is decoupage

Decoupage is the process of applying an image to an object and fixing it for greater wear resistance using special tools.

The applied image usually has a paper basis. This decoration technique can be used on furniture, dishes, personal items.

Decoration of furniture, in particular, is used if you want to decorate them, give them a new life, bring individuality and a special style to the interior.

Also, the decoupage technique is used in the development of a single design of the room.

Note! For decoupage, you can use not only special napkins, but also postcards, gift paper, wallpaper, magazine clippings, photographs and drawings printed on a printer.

The main types of decoupage

Stages of chair decoupage

The decoupage technique is a process consisting of several successive stages. The result of the work depends on the exact observance of each of them.

Decorating steps:

• idea;
• pre-treatment of the surface of the chair (cleaning, removal of old varnish or paint, degreasing);
• primer;
• applying the main background;
• pattern cutting;
• gluing a pattern;
• work with paints or auxiliary elements for decoration;
• varnish coating.

Note! For pre-treatment of the chair when performing any complexity of decoupage, a primer is required, which is available for retail sale in hardware stores.

Before as to begin directly decorating, it is necessary clear, dry and prime chair surface.

The primer is applied to 1-2 layers and carefully dries out preferably naturally.

After priming, paint the chair. It should be borne in mind that the napkins will be translucent, and if the main background is too saturated or dark, the pattern may lose its colors.

Now you should prepare drawings, pictures, and other decorative elements and visually evaluate the idea.

Then you can start gluing the drawings, drawing paints, felt-tip pens, drawing sequin etc. At this stage, you can still make some changes or amendments in decor.

The final step is application varnish. So much to apply layers coverage, how much is required depending on the decoupage technique or on destination chair. After complete drying varnish chair is ready to use.

Each stage of decoupage should be treated with special attention as inaccuracies in execution may hinder the execution ideas.

Chair Decor Ideas

Depending on the room and interior, for which the chair is decoupage depends directly idea decor. So, for example, a chair can be decorated for:

• children's rooms;
• hall or living room;
• cuisine or dining room.

Decoupage technique, colors and pictures are selected in accordance with the overall style of the interior. This element of decor will perfectly fit into the interior, decorated in such styles as:

• ethno;
• military;
• country;

decorating ideas for living room lots of. The basis should be taken from the fact that the chairs will be used by guests, and, therefore, they must have some kind of appeal or invitation. So, for example, on a chair you can place the inscription Welcome and the image of men or gnomes with flashlights.

Depending on the interior living room you can paint over empty spaces bright dark colors, for example, trendy shades Bordeaux. Also for the living room you can use the image world maps or its individual continents and states.

For cuisine or dining chairs can be decorated with images of the kitchen utensils, vegetables or fruits.

When decorating chairs for children's room fantasy can not be limited by anything: neither when choosing pictures, nor when choosing colors.

As a basis, you can take images of your favorite characters from cartoons or fairy tales. So, it can be Masha and the Bear, heroes from Smeshariki or Luntik. You can make a combination of different fairy tales. The color scheme should match the taste preferences child. Color should not irritate him or discourage him.

Important! When decorating chairs for children, you should carefully consider the choice of materials used: they should not be toxic so as not to cause an allergic reaction in the child.

With this technique, you can decorate or update an old wooden chair. Decoupage is not a complicated process at all. At any stage of the execution of the technique, measures can be taken to correct inaccuracies or errors, and it is also possible to change the design if necessary. Thus, having thought of decorating a chair with your own hands, you will in any case get a positive result.

For details on decorating a chair using decoupage technique, see video: