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Grain Sack Antique Chairs ~ DIY Tutorial

“I’m back in the saddle again…” It’s time for Round 4 of my curbside haul #trashure adventure. Yahoo! If you’re wondering what I’m talking about, you’ll want to catch up to speed by heading to my first post and working through my DIY fun. Today, my focus is that lovely duo on the left. I’m going to turn them into grain sack antique chairs and show you how too.

Curbside Haul Makeover Part 3 by Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com

I mentioned before that when I need a chair to complete a project, I can’t find one for anything. I’ll shop all over the place and come up empty-handed. However, it is quite the norm that when I have no need (nor room) for a chair, I will find not one, but two. ahem.

Pair of Antique Chairs Found on the Curb by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com

First, let me say that I normally would have grabbed these just to save them from the trash and gave them to a thrift store, etc. This time around, however, I decided since I had a set that they deserved to get a new lease on life. They are in great shape with damage to the caning and wear on those gorgeous legs. Certainly no need to throw them away, right?

DIY FUN

To get my DIY party started turning these into grain sack antique chairs, I used my putty knife to remove all the broken caning.

Removing Damaged Caning from Antique Dining Chairs | prodigalpieces.com

*post sponsored by HomeRight (see full disclosure)

I could have replaced the caning because this was a simple design, but kinda wanted to do a different vibe this time around. Once I had the caning removed, I sanded it all down with my sander, and made minor repairs. Also, I removed the seats and set those aside for later.

PAINT TIME

Next. I originally wanted to spray outside, but our crazy weather wasn’t having it in the first part of the day, so I set up inside. Notice, I’m also using my DIY furniture turntable which makes my job a breeze. Get the turntable tutorial HERE.

Antique Chair Ready for Paint in HomeRight Medium Spray Shelter | Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com

You can also view my video demo of this set below as well.

Upcycled Map Chest of Drawers Video Tutorial by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

BACK AT IT

Okay, so back to my chairs. After I did a coat of Kilz primer as a stain blocker (use if you are covering up mahogany or cherry stains), I was able to move my spray setup outside. Yay!

Spraying First Coat of Paint with HomeRight Super Finish Max Extra by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces #diy #home #homedecor #furniture #tools

At this point, I’m giving it the first coat of my custom-mixed color. You can see my video demo how to set it all up HERE.

HomeRight Super Finish Max Extra Sprayer for Primer, Paint, Poly, & Stain as demonstrated by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces #diy #furniture #home #homedecor #tools

UPHOLSTERY

Then, in between coats of primer and paint, I tackled the upholstery. Those seats were so stinky and wet with some blucky stuff. eeewwww… However, I was so thankful that there were staples used instead of those upholstery tacks so that I could use my handy staple puller to get them out lickety-split.

Using Staple Puller to Remove Old Upholstery by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

This little tool is only about $6 and has save my wrists and hands oodles of owies. This chair came apart with no issues and was a simple piece of plywood. The second one, however, was a bit of a hot mess.

Broken Antique Chair Seat Frame (aka. hot mess) | prodigalpieces.com

I don’t know the story, but I do know someone jerry-rigged this seat together. You can see the empty wooden frame kept together with electrical tape, then they nailed on a super thin piece of ply to the back of that. I even found another layer of a different upholstery under there. Weird.

Needless to say, I yanked everything apart and put most of that in my burn pile. Then, I used the good seat to make a tracing so I could cut out a new one with my jigsaw. Once everything was ready to go, I covered them with new foam, batting, and then a gorgeous linen upholstery leftover from my channel back chair redo.

Before I moved onto the upper back, I glazed the paint with my homemade glaze.

Glazed vs. Non-Glazed Antique Chairs | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces #furniture #diy #home #homedecor

ALMOST DONE

Next, it’s time to tackle that open back. My K.I.S.S. part of my brain (keep it simple, stupid) kept telling me to fill in where the cane was with wood filler, sand it down, paint, and be done. But noooo…my lets-make-the-job-harder-as-if-we-don’t-have-anything-better-to-do part of my brain trumped my K.I.S.S. side. I am always up for a challenge. {{head smack}}

I chose to fill in the void with some upholstery fun. First, I tacked in a layer of gray ticking stripe with my stapler so you could see it from the back.

Adding Ticking Stripe Upholstery to Grain Sack Antique Chairs with Ryobi Stapler by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces #diy #home #homedecor #furniture #tools

Then, I added webbing for extra support.

Adding Upholstery Webbing to Chair Back | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

Last I used some scrap fabric and Feed Sack Art Stencil to create a panel to cover the center. If case you didn’t know, you can use basic acrylic paint and add a textile medium to make it fabric worthy. Just follow manufacturer instructions.

Using Grain Sack Stencil for Antique Chairs | Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces #diy #furniture

THE REVEAL

Now I can finally say my grain sack antique chairs are complete. Yay!

Broken Cane Chairs Made into Grain Sack Dining Chairs by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces #furniture #home #farmhouse #homedecor #diy

French Chic Dining Chairs with Linen and Grain Sack Details by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces #diy #home #furniture #homedecor #vintage

The broken cane afforded me the chance to change up their whole look with upholstery. I’m glad I didn’t K.I.S.S so that my vision could come to life. The linen seats, the ticking backing, and the faux grain sack all gel beautifully together.

DIY Linen Upholstery with Grain Sack Antique Chairs by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces #furniture #home #homedecor #diy

Chippy White Antique Dining Chair by Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces #diy #furniture

Ticking Stripe French Dining Chairs by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces #diy #home #homedecor #furniture #farmhouse

So, did you think those cast-off chairs would turn out like this? It’s always fun to envision someone’s trash made new…#trashure.

Pair of Antique Dining Chairs Upholstered in Linen and Grain Sack by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces #diy #furniture #home #homedecor

French Farmhouse Dining Chair with Grain Sack Details by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces #diy #home #furniture #farmhouse #homedecor

And…did you notice I staged it with the same pie crust table I recently restored from that same curbside haul?

Faux Grain Sack Antique Chairs with Upholstered Linen and Pie Crust Table by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces #furniture #home #homedecor #shopping

Shabby Chic Grain Sack Antique Chairs by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces #home #furniture #diy #homedecor

If you’d like to own this set, both chairs and table, plus much more are available in my online shop.

Shop Prodigal Pieces Furniture, Vintage Finds, Handmade Goods, & Supplies for your home | shop.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

DIY Grain Sack Antique Chairs Upholstery Tutorial by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces #furniture #diy #home #homedecor

SHARE

Additionally, pin and share these grain sack antique chairs and their new look. Pinning means you can save it for later AND inspire others to see the potential in their pieces too.

Broken Cane Chairs Found Curbside Get a New Lease on Life by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | Check out this DIY Grain Sack Chair Tutorial by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces #diy #home #furniture #homedecor

Up next, the last of my #trashure haul makeovers is the drop-leaf coffee table. Any guess as to what it will become? See its new look HERE.

Curbside Haul #4 Makeover by Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com

To get these DIY tips & tricks in your inbox, be sure to sign up for my FREE newsletter. PLUS, you will get your free Furniture Buying Checklist and special discount to my shop. Until next time!
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Also, more upholstery projects like these grain sack antique chairs:

Feed Sack Footstool from Outdated Thrifted Find by Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.comVintage Chair Gets Feed Sack Makeover by Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com

Comments

  1. Debra says

    What a transformation. I would not believe it if I hadn’t seen it.

      • Lori Sawyer says

        The chairs are beautiful and look awesome with the pie crust table

  2. ColleenB.-Tx. says

    WOW, I love what you had done to the chairs. They turned out Great.
    Oh, how I could really use a paint sprayer. Will makes thing so much easier and quicker. That spray tent would also be Very handy; especially for hubby seeing how we now have blue grass in certain area of our yard. Without thinking he decided to paint our outside table blue without putting nothing underneath so along with our green lawn it is now white (primer) and blue. Right now I have a couple of chairs along with a curb find, small, 3 drawer dresser that needs a whole new make-over.
    Thank You for this wonderful giveaway opportunity

    • Larissa says

      Thanks!! I had such a blast recreating these. I know you will love this set, Colleen. It is a must for this DIYer. 😀

  3. Bonnie Kleindl says

    This would be a dream come true to win this. I love doing Diy projects. Taking something and making something else out of it.

    • Larissa says

      You will love it, Bonnie. I hope you like my work shared today too. 🙂

  4. Ginny says

    Love the white paint on the chairs. Very elegant!
    Oh how a sprayer and shelter would help with two pieces of furniture, a dresser and a coffee table, that need paint transformations! They are both bigger pieces of furniture and a sprayer would make this process so much easier!!! Thanks for the chance to win this giveaway!

    • Larissa says

      Thank you, Ginny. It made the whole design gel better that way. Yes, the sprayer and shelter are my favorite tools.

  5. Diana Segura says

    Another awesome transformation that speaks for your talent! I love the way you can take something from almost nothing to beautiful again.
    I have a several pieces of furniture accumulated over the years that someday I will have the opportunity to renew. The sprayer and tent would help prompt me to start sooner than not!

    • Larissa says

      Diana, you’ve made me smile from ear to ear. 😀 Thank you! Isn’t it funny how some things will give us a kick in the pants to get started? haha!

    • Lynne Gaylor says

      Love what you did with those chairs! Im always trying to think outside the box and look for creative ways to repurpose things. Thrift store shopping is so fun!! I never knew those spray tents even existed until I found your site!! I would love to find/repurpose a piece of furniture like you did. Winning the sprayer and spray tent would be so cool! Thanks for sharing! ???

      • Larissa says

        They are one of my favorite things! So handy and storage space is key for me. I wish I had a set to give everyone. 🙂

  6. Alison S says

    I have some chairs I would paint. Thanks for the chance to win!

      • Barb says

        I too have chairs to paint and having the sprayer and tent would make all the difference! It would take them from drab to fab! Love your chair makeover too. You’re always so inspiring. And my guess on the coffee table would be to update but still use as a coffee table, maybe for use on a cute summer porch.

        • Larissa says

          You ain’t kiddin’! Chairs are my least favorite thing to paint in multiples. This sprayer and shelter rock! 😀 Thank you for loving on my work. Good guess too. 😉

  7. Kimberly Taylor says

    HI Larissa! You have so many good ideas and such a vision for each project! Beautiful work! 🙂

    • Larissa says

      Hi Kimberly! Thank you so much for your encouraging words. I do appreciate it.

  8. Robin Fishburn says

    I’d use the sprayer on a piece that I’m making over. A nice curved glass curio/ secretary combo that will be painted because the veneer is in bad shape. And the shelter will save my backnporch from another coat of spray paint from my many projects. Lol.

  9. Jan Donley says

    I love the chairs, and I’m very glad you added the extra wonderfulness on the back of the chairs! A little bit of ticking helps most things!!!
    I would use the sprayer to pint a bench I’m making from an old headboard and footboard-if it would just quit raining on the weekends!!!

    • Larissa says

      Thank you for getting my thinking. It needed a peek-a-boo. hee hee! Love those kinds of benches too! 😀

  10. Jauquetta Schmiedeskamp says

    These are amazing! What a great transformation. You up dated them without losing the wonderful vintage vibe. Well done!

  11. Denise Vrooman says

    Lol…I would have stuck with KISS & missed out on an elegant result! Thanks for sharing your unique creative ideas & expertise with us!

    • Larissa says

      Too funny! I am such a sucker for punishment, but it usually turns out well despite it all. Thanks so much, Denise.

  12. Rebecca Drake says

    Love the makeover! I could use the sprayer on my kitchen cabinets. It is going to take me a long to paint by hand!
    Thanks for the giveaway!

  13. Jonnie says

    Love the look of these chairs! I would use the sprayer and shelter to help transform our old change table into something more useful now that everyone is out of diapers.

    • Larissa says

      How fun to hear, Jonnie, Thanks! Sounds like some DIY fun headed your way. I’ve redone a few of those for different reasons too. One is my potting table you can see here on my blog.

  14. Amy Giannini says

    I was anxious to see what you did with those chairs, and you outdid my expectations! They are lovely! Thanks for showing so clearly how to fix damaged cane-backs–that may come in handy someday!

    • Larissa says

      Wahoo!!! That is super fun to hear, Amy. Thank you! It’s the same for seats too, just the webbing would need to be beefed up more.

  15. Sherry Riggs says

    Yay! What will you think of next!

  16. Lorraine Hartman says

    Love this makeover. You are so creative. I would love to win a sprayer. I have never used one and would love to try it out.

    • Larissa says

      Thanks! You will love it for it’s ease in painting and cleanup.

  17. Kimberly says

    Thanks, Larissa! You have given me motivation to fix chairs with broken caning that I have been leery of.

  18. Audra Taliaferro says

    The chairs look awesome! Very clever to put the ticking in the back and create an upholstered center – I never would’ve thought of that!

    I have a buffet in my dining room that is in need of a redo, so that would be the first thing I would use with the sprayer and shelter.

    Thanks so much for the chance!

    • Larissa says

      Thanks! Replacing the caning just wasn’t feasible and this was, in essences, easier. You will love this tool set! 😀

  19. MoeWest says

    Your chairs look wonderful now! I have a set of dining chairs with similar legs that I would refinish if I win the sprayer.

  20. Anne says

    Wow! Great job on the chairs. I would love the sprayer to use on a couple of wooden footstools.

  21. gwen says

    love the transformation! i always shy away from broken caning, but this gives me some inspiration! i would love to spray some chairs in a new shelter with an actual sprayer – it would make any ‘job’ easier and more fun!

    • Larissa says

      yahoo!! That’s what I love to hear, Gwen. Thank you! You will love this tool set.

  22. Dale Cundy says

    I love these chairs….the grain sack stenciling is awesome. I may have to try it! I have wanted the Home Right sprayer and the Spray tents for so long! They would certainly make life so much easier here.?

    • Larissa says

      I hope you do! This store has many designs and I’m smitten. Thanks for the love, Dale.

  23. Renee Pedersen says

    Cute idea for the chairs! They would make a very nice vignette where ever it would be placed in your home! Nice job Larissa! I have wanted a Home Right Sprayer and Spray Tents for as long as I can remember! Right now, I have no place to spray my furniture. I have to pick a perfectly still day and set everything up outside and hope that I don’t get any bugs on my projects. Do you know how many perfectly still days there are in Iowa? Maybe 2 a year!! That cuts painting time waaaaaaay down!!! Anyway, it would be awesome to win this! Thanks Larissa!

    • Larissa says

      So glad you think so, Renee. Thanks! You sound like me back in the day. I used to get so frustrated! I hope you win!

  24. Jenifer Scherlin says

    I’d love to see the faces of the people who dumped those chairs!!

  25. Jana M Bendawald says

    You rocked this makover!

  26. Cindy says

    Oh my goodness I can’t believe I missed this and I am happy your brain didn’t listen to K.I .S.S. idea. Did I get that right?

    These are amazing and your brain must be on overload from the ideas you come up with.

    By the way I’m showing hubby the tents. Super genius and take up no space to store. Pinning for sure.
    Always a joy.

    Cindy

    • Larissa says

      You got it! 😀 Thanks for the encouraging words. My mind does run all.the.time. You will love these shelters…seriously!

  27. dianne anderson says

    What a great giveaway, Homeright products look amazing. What timesavers.

    • Larissa says

      They are not only wonderful products, but a wonderful company. Win-win.

  28. Kelly D says

    I love the way this turned out. I would paint my coffee table.

  29. linda says

    Great project and great results. I would love to tackle my deck chairs.

    • Kelly Young says

      Great Job!!! Love the design. The things people throw away!?!? I am always on the lookout!! I have a project list a mile long AND an 1888 farmhouse to redo!

      • Larissa says

        Thanks, Kelly. Around here they know someone, even the Amish, will pick it up. haha. Sounds like DIY fun!

        • Angie says

          These turned out so great. You amaze me with how you take trash and make it beautiful!!

  30. Abby says

    Those chairs are lovely!!!! I have some similar dining room chairs (without caning part) that need attention again… I covered the seats with cute fabric years ago, but it’s sooo gross now after years of kids spilling on them 😛 I think I want to just put new wood seats on all of them and skip the fabric! My next spray painting project will probably be 2 lamps 🙂

  31. Mary says

    You are wonderfully dedicated to your craft and it shows in everything you do. Wonderful job, the chairs look great!

  32. Kaycee says

    Larissa, what a beautiful table and chair set!! I think that these 3 pieces work perfectly together!!! Now ticking, linen, grain sack – WOW!! I love that you did not stick with the K.I.S.S., lol, these chairs needed to be saved by you to become this gorgeous!

    • Larissa says

      Isn’t it crazy they all came from the same curb? woot! Thanks so much for the K.I.S.S. affirmation. tee hee!

  33. nickie says

    Wow! Great job on the chairs. I would love the sprayer to use on a couple of wooden stools.

  34. Kathleen says

    Love that you went light on these and thanks for the KILZ primer advice!

    • Larissa says

      They just looked to heavy for me dark. Thanks for the love.

  35. Deborah L Mildenstein says

    You are amazing! Such vision and talent. I love seeing your transformations. I am trying to redo a few pieces of furniture myself. You give me a lot of ideas! Would love these tools to give me the confidence to press ahead!

    • Larissa says

      Thanks so much! I work hard to share my ideas and I so appreciate you letting me know they are helping. Thank you!

  36. Elle says

    I would love to paint 2 dressers in a bedroom. They are currently white and older and I’d love to make them more of a heather gray.

  37. Erin says

    I have 2 antique birdcages I’d like to turn into lamps.

  38. Mary Milnarich says

    What a wonderful new life you have given to those chairs. I love the backs of the chairs with a surprise fabric. The spray shelter would be a great gift to win as I am starting to strip an old dresser and need it to spray paint it later. You are such an inspiration with all your projects. Keep em coming as I have learned so much from you.

    • Larissa says

      Thank you for the sweet words, Mary. It means much. 😀

  39. Marilyn Nawara says

    I have a set of barstools that I would like to re-paint and then put new fabric on the seats.

  40. Glo. says

    The chairs look great now! What a transformation. A sprayer would make painting a 10’x2′ shelf for my son a whole lot easier!

    • Larissa says

      Thanks! It sounds like you have quite the project to tackle. Fun!

  41. donna porter says

    Your chairs turned out wonderful. I would first transform my dresser if I won the HomeRight Super Finish Max Paint Sprayer and Spray Shelter. This dresser was mine as a child so it is 54 years old and I would love to bring it back to life. I have been wanting to tackle this for more years than I can remember!

    • Larissa says

      Thank you, Donna. I would love to see it when you’re done. 😉

  42. Ladonna Wilson says

    I want to refinish my dining room table and this would be perfect

  43. Amanda Whitley says

    i love your project. i would paint my breakfast nook.

  44. Cassandra D says

    With my HomeRight Super Finish Max Paint Sprayer and Spray Shelter, I would tackle the vintage vanity set in the garage.

  45. Mary says

    Well done Larissa. I also got a set of fancy chairs and I am debating what to do with them since the rest of the room is very MCM ish. I’m thinking maybe just make them natural to tone them down a bit? What do you think?

    • Larissa says

      Thank you, Mary. I don’t see why not. Feel free to send me a pic. I hope you win!

  46. Eileen Boyce says

    I have a desk I would like to paint.

  47. Kelsey Vinson says

    You did awesome! Those chairs look amazing. We close on our house next week and my husband had a building that he is going to completely remodel so I’m sure this would come in super handy!

    • Larissa says

      Why, thank ya, Kelsey. I had fun! 😀 You guys will have a blast with it.

  48. sam m says

    I always love every piece you make or restore. I have been a follower for a long time now and have never been disappointed!

  49. Gretta Hurst says

    I love this! You always inspire me. Great job!

  50. Jen says

    The left-on-the-curb chairs turned out stunningly beautiful. I rescued an old ladder back country French chair from certain death and need some advice. I’d like to send a photo so you can see it, I want to paint and lightly distress it and then glaze it. I haven’t had good experience with chalk paint and prefer regular old latex paint. I don’t mind sanding,
    cleaning, priming, brushing, glazing
    if I know it’ll be pretty. What type of glaze would you recommend? What type of sealer would you recommend? Thank you!

    • Larissa says

      Thank you so much, Jen. I tend to mostly use latex too, as I did on these chairs. It just depends on the project. I make my own glaze as mentioned above. I just slightly thin down the color of paint I want. Also, for sealer, it depends on the project and function. Sometimes I use wax, poly, hemp oil, etc. Feel free to email.

  51. Kim Banko says

    Larissa, I love everything about these! So pretty!

    • Larissa says

      Thank you, Kim. 🙂 I just couldn’t let them go to waste in a landfill.

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