How to Refinish Chairs

Chairs take more abuse than almost any other piece of furniture — they're sat on, dragged across floors, and exposed to spills daily. But a worn chair doesn't need to be replaced. With the right approach, you can refinish a chair to look better than new. Here's how.

What You'll Need

• Chemical stripper: Citristrip Paint & Varnish Stripping Gel
• Sandpaper: Atosun 45PCS Sandpaper Set (120–5000 grit)
• Sanding sponges: Romeda 8-Pack Sanding Sponge
• Tack cloth: Dura-Gold Pure Gold Tack Cloth, 12-Pack
• Wood stain: Minwax Wood Finish, Dark Walnut
• All-in-one paint: Heirloom Traditions ALL-IN-ONE Paint
• Chalk paint brushes: Chalk Paint Brushes 5-Piece Set
• Topcoat: General Finishes High Performance Water Based Topcoat, Satin
• Drop cloth: GREEN LIFESTYLE Canvas Drop Cloth
• Wood glue: Titebond II Premium Wood Glue

Step 1: Inspect and Repair First

Before refinishing, check all joints. Chairs are prone to loose rungs and wobbly legs. Apply Titebond wood glue to any loose joints, clamp, and let cure fully before proceeding. Refinishing a structurally unsound chair is a waste of time.

Step 2: Remove Any Upholstery

If the chair has an upholstered seat, remove it now. Usually the seat is held by screws from underneath — unscrew and set aside. You can reupholster it separately while the frame dries.

Step 3: Strip the Old Finish

Apply Citristrip generously to all surfaces. Chairs have lots of curves, spindles, and turned legs — use an old paintbrush to work the stripper into all the details. Let sit 30–60 minutes, then scrape off with a plastic scraper. Use a brass brush or toothbrush for intricate areas.

Step 4: Sand All Surfaces

Chairs require more hand sanding than flat furniture. Use sanding sponges to conform to curved surfaces and spindles. Work through 80, 120, and 220-grit. For flat areas like the seat, use the sandpaper set with a sanding block.

Step 5: Clean with Tack Cloth

Wipe every surface — including all the spindles and turned details — with a tack cloth. Dust hides in the grooves of turned legs, so be thorough.

Step 6A: Stain the Chair

Apply Minwax Dark Walnut stain with a foam brush or cloth, working it into all the details. Wipe off excess after 5–15 minutes. Follow with 2 coats of General Finishes Topcoat.

Step 6B: Paint the Chair

For a painted finish, use Heirloom Traditions ALL-IN-ONE Paint with a chalk paint brush. The brush's natural bristles work beautifully into all the curves and details. Apply 2 coats.

Step 7: Reattach the Seat

Once the frame is fully cured, screw the seat back on. If the seat fabric is worn, this is the perfect time to reupholster it with fresh fabric before reattaching.

Pro Tips

• Work on multiple chairs at once — the drying time between steps lets you rotate through them efficiently.
• Hang spindle-back chairs upside down to paint the legs without drips pooling on flat surfaces.
• A set of matching refinished chairs looks stunning — consider doing the whole dining set at once.