Upcycle a Ho-Hum Chair with Hearts & Tassels
Give a ho-hum chair a hearty transformation. Repurposed paper hearts, a rainbow of colorful tassels, and a bright, newly recovered seat all add up to a look that will make your heart skip a beat (or two).
Consider upcycling a chair like this as a gift to yourself—or your sweetie—for Valentine’s Day. It lasts longer than flowers and is definitely healthier than a big box of chocolates!
Here’s How:
1. Get on solid footing with great finds at Goodwill
Step away from the ice and snow and into a warm, welcoming Goodwill nonprofit retail store. The deals alone will warm you up as you browse aisles filled with interesting and unexpected finds. A solo side chair with a padded seat practically called out for a makeover, so home she came with me.
Be sure to explore the sections with dresses, curtains, and other fabric items—you’ll often discover excellent materials to brighten up an upholstered seat. Books are also fantastic for cutting and collaging, and the decorative items section is a treasure trove for tassels, belts, trims, and other accessories to embellish your chair.
2. Remove the seat, then clean up, repair scuffs
Depending on your chair’s look and condition, you may choose to paint it entirely or refresh certain areas. While I love painting wooden furniture—especially dated pieces—the sleek lines and warm wood of this chair felt worth preserving.
Start by removing the upholstered seat, placing screws or bolts in a safe spot. Wipe the chair down with warm, soapy water to remove dust and grime.
Dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.
To minimize scuffs and scratches on wood furniture, use a wood scratch cover or furniture polish (like Old English Scratch Cover).
Apply with a paper towel, rubbing it into worn areas, then buff away any excess with a clean towel. This step not only disguises scuffs but also restores the wood’s glow.
Honestly, this part was so satisfying—the chair immediately looked refreshed and brought back to life.
3. Style your seat
Fabric is an inexpensive and easy way to transform a chair with an upholstered seat. I had three bold options on hand:
- Red sequined fabric from a dress
- Raspberry fabric from a men’s shirt
- Multi-colored fabric from a tablecloth
The winner? The multi-colored fabric—perfect for creating the happiest chair in the room.
Iron your fabric if needed for a crisp finish. Lay it flat on your work surface, place the seat on top, and cut generously so there’s enough fabric to wrap around the edges. Pay attention to the fabric’s pattern and orientation. Since my tablecloth had straight lines and color blocks, I made sure everything lined up just right.
Flip the seat over.
Pull the fabric taut and staple it in place, starting at one side, then the opposite side, and finally each remaining side.
Once centered and secure, continue stapling around the edges, folding the fabric neatly as you go.
Expert Tip:
Be mindful of where the screws will reattach the seat to the chair frame. Keep those areas clear by trimming fabric if needed. Also, trim away excess fabric so nothing hangs below the seat.
4. Cut out your hearts
To add whimsy and personality to the chair’s back, I cut out a collection of hearts from paper in my stash.
Take a look at what you already have—magazine pages, maps, craft paper, calendars, or sheet music all work beautifully.
Choose papers that echo the colors in your seat fabric. Cut one heart to the desired size, then use it as a template. Painter’s tape is excellent for temporarily positioning the hearts so you can preview the arrangement. I’m glad I did this, as it inspired me to add a heart cut from a calendar page with warm yellows and oranges to pull out those tones from the fabric.
Once satisfied, adhere the hearts using Mod Podge, craft glue, or school glue with a brush.
Expert Tip:
After the glue dries, protect your hearts by brushing on a couple of light coats of satin or semi-gloss polyurethane over the chair back. This seals everything and adds durability.
5. Transform it with tassels
One reason I loved the tablecloth fabric so much was that its colors perfectly matched a roll of tassels I picked up at a recent art supply swap co-hosted by Finding Your Good and Tim Kime Art. (Mark your calendar for the next one: Tuesday, March 10, from 6–8 PM at Brookland’s Art Walk!)
As fate would have it, the colors in the fabric, tassels, and paper hearts all worked together beautifully.
Lay the chair on its side and staple the tassel band in place, keeping it tight and straight.
Rotate the chair and continue stapling until the tassels wrap fully around. Trim away excess fabric and secure the end with an extra staple.
Design Idea:
Consider leaving a strip of exposed wood between the seat and the tassels to create visual balance. I did this to highlight the chair’s structure and give the colors room to shine. I also placed staples vertically so they blended into the design. If desired, you can touch up visible staples with craft paint that matches the tassel band.
6. Style it to inspire a sit
Your heart-covered, tasseled chair is a guaranteed conversation starter. Brighten a quiet corner by pairing it with a small accent table and lamp, also often available at Goodwill, for reading. Slide it up to your desk for inspired writing—or even bill paying.
Use it as extra seating in your living room, where it’s sure to become the most popular spot in the house.
However you place it, this joyful chair is meant to be seen, loved, and enjoyed! Thanks to Finding Your Good & Goodwill of Greater Washington for ensuring all in our community are seen and loved, too!
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Tim Kime
Artist, Motivational Speaker, Life Coach
