Hello, lovelies! One of my favorite ways to update a singular wooden chair is with a simple paint job. Painting a chair in a cute color can do so much to update it! Today, I have a yellow painted chair to share with you!
I found this chair at the thrift store for only $6.99:
It was in perfect condition! That begs the question…what happened to the rest of the chairs? Surely, it was part of a set right?
I love finding these lone chairs because there is so much you can do to update a lone chair like this, but it always amazes me what paint alone can do!
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Clean
I started this makeover off like I do all of my furniture makeovers, with a good cleaning with White Lightning:
These terry cloth applicator pads work perfectly for this job! I use them over and over again and then just toss them in the wash.
Once I had this piece clean, I swapped out my water for clean water and wiped down once more.
Prime
This step is not necessary at all, but I started going in one direction with the color, and for that I wanted a quick first coat of white. To do that, I spray primed with Rustoleum Flat White Primer:
Again, if you are using chalk mineral paint, priming is not a necessary step!
Paint
I had plans to go with a different color, however, while working on Tuesday’s sweet table makeover, I mixed up too much of this custom yellow for the drawer:
This is Daisy by Dixie Belle mixed 50/50 with Cotton to create this lovely, warm yellow. Instead of letting it go to waste, why not use it on this chair!
Sand
Once the paint had dried, I lightly sanded all over. But, this chair seemed like it needed more, so I pulled out my Corner Cat sander and went heavier using 220 grit sandpaper:
If you’ve been with me for a while, you know I rarely go heavy like this when distressing. A little goes a long way for me, but I just couldn’t stop myself with this one ha ha!
I still seemed like it needed something more though, so I then added a grain sack stripe down the center:
I slept on it and the next morning, guess what?
I added something else lol!
I pulled out this cute stencil and added the “L’abeille” portion which is french for “the bee”…
I used a bit of blue sponge to apply it here which left the stippling that I don’t love when applying the paint to a stencil this way, but sanding it after smoothed it out nicely.
And do you think I was done now??
Not quite. The design was complete, but I wasn’t loving where I sanded down to the raw wood in several places, so I hit those areas with some Voodoo Gel stain in Tobacco Rd using a small brush:
Seal
And finally, I was done! I then sealed with Clear Coat in Satin using my blue sponge applicator, giving it two coats.
Yellow Painted Chair Reveal
Here is how the final product came out:
A simple yellow painted chair!
I love that the leftover yellow paint from my last project didn’t go to waste!
This would have been just as cute without the distressing, but I was seeing this on a fall or summer porch for some reason, so I just went with the worn look!
I think it gives it some character.
How about the writing on the back? “The bee” is fitting, right?
And here it is with nothing on it…
The simple stripe adds so much…
This chair would add a little sunshine to any corner of the house!
Here’s another one from a few years ago where paint worked miracles:
See what color it ended up HERE!
And that is one more crossed off the list!
See everything I’ve completed so far at the links below:
Trashed $10 Thrift Store Table Makeover
Round Wooden Storage Case
Washstand Cabinet Makeover
Vintage Mahogany Dresser Makeover
I’ll be working on a round of smalls for Tuesday…these smalls:
UPDATE: See what I did with them all HERE!
See ya then!
XOXO,
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Mary Kaiser says
Oh it is adorable! I love the grain sack stripes on the seat. It is so cute!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! I thought it might be so cute on a summer porch! XOXO
nancy says
I am old school and I’m 81, so I would have cleaned that dear chair, maybe put a vintage pillow on the seat or propped it against the back and wonder who loved it in days past, but, that’s just me.
Now, I have redone many things, in my day, ie, old quilt pieces into big ole fluffy pillows, with history, if I know it, etc. So many repurposed things to pass on to my kiddos and their kiddos and maybe, one day their kiddos.
I have just pulled out of a closet, a vintage wooden chair that folds up, not sure what it’s called, can’t even remember where I got it, but, gave it a good cleaning and it is sweet, no paint needed, in my opinion. Guess I just like to preserve the original patina and history, but, then again, I’m not in the market to sell these rescued jewels and that’s okay as I’ve also sold many repurposed things over the years.
I do wonder why you use so much white paint? Art is in the eye of everyone’s eye. I just cherish the things from the past that speaks of the past.
Good wishes to your recycling art.
Christy says
I appreciate your thoughts, Nancy! XO
marjorie carter-keaser says
Yes it’s a lovely shade of yellow. It also brings a ray of sunshine in this dismal winter so far. Great job. Still wishing I lived closer.
Christy says
Thank you, Marjorie! We could all use a little bit of sunshine! XOXO
Karen C. says
Christy,
I love this chair! ❤️
It is so sunny and cheerful! I can just see it on a porch welcoming someone to come and relax. I’m just surprised you didn’t add a little bee transfer. 😉 So cute!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Karen! I tried to add a little bee, but the only bee I had left was a side view, and he just didn’t look right no matter where I tried to put him lol! XOXO
Cecilia says
It’s so cheerful, Christy! I can see it sitting on a porch with a big mum on it or even in a sunny kitchen corner. Actually, I can see it in my kitchen as I have Fiestaware plates in bright colors, with bright yellow being one. I keep thinking I’ll paint my chairs in bright colors so I love it. And I didn’t guess yellow although I didn’t think you used white, lol.
😊Cecilia
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! Yes! I can totally see that too! It sounds like it would be very happy in your kitchen. I thought most of y’all would guess blue ha ha! XOXO
Aren Stevens says
I love it as always!! In the pictures the white text is a little hard to read in contrast to the bright yellow. It might have been more visible in a color more similar to the Tabacco Road voodoo stain gel.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Aren! I agree! It is a bit hard to read in bright light but easier in indirect light. XOXO
Jackie C says
Oh, I love it. Especially the grain sack stripes! So the gel stain won’t discolor the paint? I’m assuming you apply it and wipe it right off? A tiny bee on the long part of the L would be really cute.
Christy says
Thank you, my friend! The Voodoo stain is water-based, so when wiping it back it didn’t stain the paint. I did try to add a bee somewhere as I had one small bee transfer left but it wasn’t the cutest bee and it was a sideways view of him. I wish I had a prettier one though! XOXO
Pauline Elliott says
Hi , as always I spend way to much time wondering where you find the inspo for each piece! Though you have a “style” you find a way to let each piece guide your transformations. I would have so added a small bee transfer somewhere on the chair for buyers to discover!
Loving this autumn weather in Virginia!
Pauline
Christy says
Aww thank you, Pauline! I do usually start in a direction, but yes, the makeover guides me as I go lol! I did have one small bee transfer left that I tried to add, but it was a side view of the bee and not the cutest one. That would have been really cute! XOXO
Janice Redden says
Christy, such a cheery shade of yellow! Surely, it will brighten a spot in someone’s home – it says “happy” ! BTW, maybe the other “mates” to these random chairs we find are with all those lost socks!
Christy says
It is so cheery, for sure! And yes, ha ha…and in my house…all the chip clips lol! XOXO
Denise - Salvaged Inspirations says
I’m loving the cheery yellow! Beautiful! xoxo
Christy says
Thank you so much, my friend! I love painting with yellow. I just dropped it off at my booth, so we’ll see how quickly it sells lol! XOXO
Caye says
I guessed that you would paint it blue or aqua, so this was a delightful sunny surprise. Great idea to add cheer and use up the “toomucha” (as my former Italian neighbor would say). I could see this in a corner of a kitchen during the winter and then on a porch in the summer.
Have a super weekend! XXOO
Christy says
That is what I figured most of y’all would guess, because if you know me well, that is exactly what I would normally do lol! Glad you like the yellow! And yes you gotta use up the toomucha! Thank you, my friend! XOXO
Rose Lefebvre says
SUCH A BRIGHT SPLASH OF COLOR FOR A LITTLE ROOM! LOVELY!
Christy says
Thank you, Rose! We could all use a little splash of sunshine! XOXO