Some time ago I was visiting my sister’s house and noticed that she had what I would call a statement chair in her living room. The chair was not a match to any of the other furnishings in the room. It stood on its own as a featured piece in the room. I loved how it seemed to be the star of her well-designed room. This is how I recreated that effect in my own home. This L/H is all about how I created a DIY Statement Chair on a budget.
My DIY Statement Chair
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I’m one of those people that pull a vision together on the fly. Sometimes I have no idea how a project will turn out until I get all the components. My version of my sister’s statement chair is just such a project. It started out as an idea or a concept that I wanted to recreate, but I didn’t really know how I was going to accomplish it. Keep reading to see how it all came together.
Skin in the Game
I am so fortunate to live in Los Angeles. There is such a wealth of inspiration and resources right in my own backyard. I happen to frequent downtown LA a lot, probably too much. Anyway, on one such trip, I noticed a stylized cow skin at one of my favorite fabric stores. The skin was unique because it seemed to have an intricate almost etched-like design woven into the fabric. Now I know that I paid way too much for this skin. But it was one of those things I just had to have! Sometimes you just got to go for it, you know?
I had no idea what I would use this skin for at that moment. I just knew I loved it. I had never seen anything like it before. So without a vision for a project in mind, I shamelessly added the beautiful skin to my fabric stash.
Inspiration Hits
I had almost forgotten about my sister’s statement chair when walking through a Ross store I spotted a chair that reminded me of her beautiful piece. Although it was a little different in shape and lines, it reminded me of an expensive designer piece I had spotted and loved by Barbara Barry in a magazine.
Clearance = In my budget!
Here’s the best part; it was on clearance! That’s right that magical “C” word! Clearance = In my budget! My chair was marked down to $69.00. Even though it was covered in a dusty blue damask, I could see the potential. So you know what I did right? Of course, I got it! I carefully shoved the chair in my little compact car and headed home. Driving home I hatched my design plan of attack.
It’s U-G-L-Y
Feeling victorious I carried my soon-to-be designer chair into the house only to be met with my husband’s disapproving look. He said, “where is that going”? I shrugged off his comment and proudly placed the chair in a corner in the living room. I informed my less than visionary better half that it was not an “ugly chair” but rather pre-transformation. I now knew that my “before” chair was to be dressed in that skin I had found weeks before.
TIP: Find a local upholsterer and make them your best friend.
I wish I could say that my DIY skills are at the level where I tackled reupholstering my chair. THEY ARE NOT! But that’s ok! I have a wonderful upholsterer who I love to call on. Mostly because he really appreciates my aesthetic and is always down for whatever I throw at him. Oh and as you will soon see, he does beautiful work.
TaDa!
Before long my chair was back from the upholsterer transformed into a beautiful chair I had desired ever since admiring my sister’s piece. So drum roll, please! Here it is …
Can you stand it? I L-O-V-E it! I can’t even tell you how satisfying it is to take a piece and transform it into a one-of-a-kind piece that you will love for a long time. Just because you envisioned it!
How To Replicate My DIY Statement Chair
Keep Designing –
So what do you think of my chair? Have you transformed a piece of ugly duckling furniture into a beauty? I would love to see it. Please share in a comment below and don’t forget to send pics.
Want to remember this “LOW cost/HIGH style: How To Create A Statement Chair”, to your favorite Pinterest boards or social media channels?
