Garden chairs often have beautiful details.
Save that old metal garden chair from the trash bin. The do-it-yourself decorating movement and the green design trend have proven that you can re-purpose and up-cycle your worn-out pieces into something new, or keep them distressed and weathered for a shabby chic effect. Indoors or outside, old metal chairs lend the space a rustic, old-fashioned quality. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Clean your old garden chair. While rust, peeling paint or a surface with a patina work well for rustic decor, dirt, grime and cobwebs do not. Avoid oil-based cleaners or polishes, which make it difficult to paint and finish the chair. Instead, mix a solution of one part white vinegar to one part warm water. Rub away dirt and stains with a clean rag.
2. Consider paints and finishes for your patio chair. You can stick with a distressed finish but subtly brighten it by adding a thin coat of antique whitewash. For a more polished finish, strip the old paint, scrub away at the rust, and apply a primer and two coats of new paint. Use outdoor grade paint if you plan to keep the metal chair outdoors. Stick with neutrals or natural hues for a classic look, or go bohemian bright with lime green, mango orange, sunny yellow or periwinkle.
3. Embellish the patio chair. Stencils or stamps of ivy, flowers, paisley or fleur-de-lis beautify a basic, metal garden chair. A black tea stain topped with clear varnish gives the chair vintage style. Increase the functionality of a metal chair by adding a cushion. A bright, tropical print has a festive look, while vintage linens in faded paisley, stripes, dots, checks, plaid or florals give the chair a timeworn quality.
4. Place the chair in interesting surroundings. Outside, a refurbished garden chair brightens the deck, patio or garden, particularly when flanked by leafy palm plants, potted bamboo, exotic blossoms or terra-cotta pots filled with succulents. Inside, a metal garden chair paired with a bistro table transforms a forgotten kitchen corner into a breakfast nook. In the bathroom, a patio chair can hold stacks of towels.
5. Extend the look of your decorating scheme. Echo the curves of a scrolled frame patio chair with curlicue patterns on nearby tables or accessories. If your patio chair has a retro look, scour thrift shops and flea markets for pieces from the same era that can give your decor a vintage theme.
Tags: patio chair, garden chair, metal garden, garden chair, metal chair, metal garden chair
