Nature Inspired: $2 Chair Makeover With Rub-On Transfers

You will love this folding chair makeover if you like bold colors and decorative rub-on transfers. The chair definitely has personality now. 

A few weeks ago, I bought four folding chairs at an online auction for $2 each. Three of the chairs were slatted, and I sold those in my booth at the shop here in town. I kept this one with the solid wood seat and back to paint. 

I wanted the color of the chair to be bold yellow and I had a deep, dark yellow paint from Dixie Belle. I mixed it with white paint, thinking it would make a pretty color. But it didn’t. The color was dull.

I went back to my paint shelf and found a plastic container of paint from an earlier project. This yellow is much better.

A friend gave me this Re-Design with Prima Decor Transfer named My Findings, and I’ve been waiting for the perfect project. The folding chair makeover is going to be extreme!

The bold yellow on the chair is just the right backdrop for the earth-tone, nature-inspired transfers. I laid the chair on top of a table to apply the transfers to the front side of the back. 

I cut and placed the transfer just so on the back and then rubbed and rubbed over the transfer to adhere it to the chair. The photo above shows the butterfly transfer on the chair. When the top vinyl layer is removed, the transfers have a matte appearance. 

Once I have some of the transfer adhered to the project surface, I will periodically trim away the clear vinyl where I have pulled it away from the transfer. I find it easier to work this way. 

I do not use the wooden sticks included in the transfer package to apply the transfers. I find a paint can key and a short wooden paint stirrer work best. The short paint stirrers have some give to them whereas the included wood stick is too rigid. 

That is one cool chair. Now that I have a little experience working with rub-on transfers, I’m hooked. Transfers do take a bit of elbow grease and patience! 

Since I focused heavily on the transfers for the back of the chair, I just added a couple of designs to the seat.

The transfers are not like decals where you just pull the backing from the decal and stick it to your project. 

I think this folding chair is the perfect Summertime piece for the front porch or patio. Do you like the bold yellow color as much as I do? How about the rub-on transfers? Have you tried them?

I have more transfer projects here….How To Apply Re-Design By Prima Rub On Floral Transfers To Furniture and here… How to Decorate Furniture Drawers With Rub On Transfers

Thanks for being here, Kathy