$8 Ladder Back Chair Makeover (simple wood update!)

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Furniture makeovers don’t have to be difficult. Sometime’s all it takes is one simple product! This $8 ladder back chair got a simple, brand new look.

$8 Ladder Back Chair Makeover with Gel Stain and Gel Topcoat...SO SIMPLE!!!! artsychicksrule.com #ladderbackchair #gelstain #geltopcoat #stainedfurnituremakeover

Hey friends! It’s time to mark another one off this haul.

For those that might be new around here, I recently went thrift store shopping and picked up all of these:

$8 Ladder Back Chair Makeover with Gel Stain and Gel Topcoat...SO SIMPLE!!!! artsychicksrule.com #ladderbackchair #gelstain #geltopcoat #stainedfurnituremakeover

I’ve already made over 2 of the items here and today I’m making over the ladder back chair.

If you missed the other two, you can see them here:

Today’s makeover is this $8 ladder back chair…

$8 Ladder Back Chair Makeover with Gel Stain and Gel Topcoat...SO SIMPLE!!!! artsychicksrule.com #ladderbackchair #gelstain #geltopcoat #stainedfurnituremakeover

$8 Ladder Back Chair Makeover with Gel Stain and Gel Topcoat...SO SIMPLE!!!! artsychicksrule.com #ladderbackchair #gelstain #geltopcoat #stainedfurnituremakeover

Y’all….this might be THE simplest furniture makeover I’ve done on the blog…ever.

SO simple. Really.

And how can you pass by a solid wood chair like this for $8? Even if it’s a little worn out looking and the wood stain is maybe not your thing.
It’s not my thing! Well the color of the stain, that is.

But oh so easily fixed.

As you well know by now, right?? ;)

I only used TWO products for this makeover. 

I started out by wiping it down well to clean it up before staining.

Then using a T-shirt rag, I applied the gel stain all over.
You can see the difference in color below…

$8 Ladder Back Chair Makeover with Gel Stain and Gel Topcoat...SO SIMPLE!!!! artsychicksrule.com #ladderbackchair #gelstain #geltopcoat #stainedfurnituremakeover

It just darkens it up nicely and gets rid of that old, worn look.

This is the same gel stain I used on our stairs >>> here.

After that sat for a day, I came back and applied the gel topcoat with another rag.

AND DONE!

$8 Ladder Back Chair Makeover with Gel Stain and Gel Topcoat...SO SIMPLE!!!! artsychicksrule.com #ladderbackchair #gelstain #geltopcoat #stainedfurnituremakeover

See? Simple I tell ya!

(Want to see even more of my favorite furniture makeover supplies??? Take a look in my very own curated shop, here!)

$8 Ladder Back Chair Makeover with Gel Stain and Gel Topcoat...SO SIMPLE!!!! artsychicksrule.com #ladderbackchair #gelstain #geltopcoat #stainedfurnituremakeover

And a completely different look.

$8 Ladder Back Chair Makeover with Gel Stain and Gel Topcoat...SO SIMPLE!!!! artsychicksrule.com #ladderbackchair #gelstain #geltopcoat #stainedfurnituremakeover

You can find information about the following projects pictured above:

$8 Ladder Back Chair Makeover with Gel Stain and Gel Topcoat...SO SIMPLE!!!! artsychicksrule.com #ladderbackchair #gelstain #geltopcoat #stainedfurnituremakeover

$8 Ladder Back Chair Makeover with Gel Stain and Gel Topcoat...SO SIMPLE!!!! artsychicksrule.com #ladderbackchair #gelstain #geltopcoat #stainedfurnituremakeover

Betcha can’t tell I’m ready for spring…even if it brings more rain! lol

$8 Ladder Back Chair Makeover with Gel Stain and Gel Topcoat...SO SIMPLE!!!! artsychicksrule.com #ladderbackchair #gelstain #geltopcoat #stainedfurnituremakeover

I think I may take this one to the beach condo. We’ll see.
If I can find a place for it, I’d like to keep it.

$8 Ladder Back Chair Makeover with Gel Stain and Gel Topcoat...SO SIMPLE!!!! artsychicksrule.com #ladderbackchair #gelstain #geltopcoat #stainedfurnituremakeover

Not as much to say about this one. It was just that simple to do.

Find something you love at the thrift store and it’s not the right shade? Bring it home and change it up!

PIN this for later!

$8 Ladder Back Chair Makeover with Gel Stain and Gel Topcoat...SO SIMPLE!!!! artsychicksrule.com #ladderbackchair #gelstain #geltopcoat #stainedfurnituremakeover

I’ll be sharing this furniture makeover next!

UPDATE!! See it now, here!

Have a wonderful weekend (and Valentine’s too!)!

If you missed any of the rest of this haul’s makeovers, you can see them all right here:

xoxo


21 Comments

  1. Such a charming chair you rescued! It looks so peaceful, warm and welcoming now! You are so right, simple and so pretty now! Thanks!!

  2. the chair looks great and it was so easy! in the right setting i’m sure you’ll make a profit!
    yes, ready for Spring here in Wyoming – rain will be nice after all this snow!

    1. We’ve had so much rain lately! No snow this year though but we sometimes get hit for a day or so in March. We’ll see! ;) xo

  3. Sooooo. Was it an unsealed wood chair, so no sanding required ?
    Or – does gel stain adhere to old sealer ? (My confusion showing )

    I do like the ease of gel stain. Great results.
    Nice to have an easy peasy project. ;)
    p

    1. My question too. I have a piece I want to use a darker stain on and really don’t want to remove the existing finish. Hope we get an answer.

      1. Yes, you don’t really have to remove the existing finish UNLESS it’s super shiny and thick, etc. Most of the pieces I do are worn, older pieces that most of the finish is gone on. When I’ve come across a finish that I feel is too slick, I will lightly sand with fine sandpaper to remove the shine just a bit. This is what I did on the stair treads in our house when I used gel stain on them last year.

    2. Eh, pretty much. The finish was old and worn. You typically don’t want a really shiny finish when using gel stain, it won’t work well. So in that case, you’d want to very lightly sand, just enough to remove a bit of shine (like I did on our stair treads). Most of the times I use gel stain, the finish is mostly gone. :) xo

  4. Sad to fab! Nice to have an easy project once in a while, and the dark stain really brought this chair back to life.

  5. Love the simplicity! What do you use to clean old wood? I have a gorgeous window frame but I can tell it’s pretty dirty.

    1. You know, I mostly clean with Windex or just a damp paper towel….depending on how dirty something is. I will sometimes wipe down with denatured alcohol if it needs a little more. :)

  6. Iā€™m glad you enhanced the wood on this chair! It just needed someone to care! Have a Happy Valentines Day!

  7. These style chairs have a real charm; everyone loves ā¤ļø them. No sanding, no stripping! It doesnā€™t get any better than that for a DIYer. Keep on surprising us, Lauren.

  8. I love your chair, nicely done. My mom had six of these chairs, five of my sisters and I each got one. I put my chair, in front of an old dresser that was in my husband family. each time I go into our guest room, i look at the chair, think of my mom, smile, and my love (if that’s possible) grows stronger for her.
    Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful find with us. You nailed this project.
    Happy V-Day, and stay warm.

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