top of page
Search

From ‘Meh’ to Marvelous!

Our Chiavari chairs receive a major glow-up!


Chiavari chairs stacked up, row after row, against a white metal wall

If you’ve been wondering what we’ve been up to lately at Burlap and Lace Event Rentals…let’s just say it involves a LOT of paint, an inflatable booth, and more shop cloths than we care to admit.


We were able to secure these beautiful Chiavari chairs (pictured above) at a great price, like a really great price. And honestly, there were about 50 or so that looked really good (enough that we felt comfortable renting them for an event). However, some were in pretty rough shape. It wasn't until we got a rental order for all 200 chairs that we said "enough is enough". So, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work.


How do you go about prepping and painting 200 wooden Chiavari chairs? Well, as the saying goes (although I think the saying refers to eating an elephant), one bite (or in our case, one chair) at a time!


Yep—we’ve been giving our Chiavari chairs a full-on glow-up! ✨


A putty knife seen removing Velcro strips from the seat of a white chiavari chair

Here’s how the makeover went down:


Step 1: Bye-Bye Velcro

First things first—we had to peel off all the old Velcro stickers that hold the cushions in place. We didn't want to paint over the Velcro, and the new cushions we bought came with a new set, so bye-bye old icky Velcro. We used a heat gun to get the tough ones off and then cleaned up the residue with Goo Gone. If you have never used Goo Gone before, I highly recommend it for removing glue or adhesive of any kind. It's like magic! Honestly, this step took some elbow grease but was the easiest step in the process.


Step 2: Repair the wear and tear

As I mentioned, the chairs were in really good shape - they were sturdy. They did need a few repairs done though. Some needed some wood filler applied to the seats where we got a little crazy removing the Velcro (oops!) or where the edges of the veneer had started to chip off. A few needed new feet pads and a very small amount needed to be glued either at the joints or at the seat. We made the necessary repairs, let them sit overnight and then moved on to prepping them for paint.

A bottle of Liquid Sandpaper, a plastic bowl and used scouring pads that removed the finish off of many Chiavari chairs

Step 3: Liquid Sandpaper Magic

Next came the pre-paint prep.  Think of it as giving the chairs a little spa treatment, starting with a good detox. Instead of sanding each chair (which would’ve taken approximately 3,000 years), we used liquid sandpaper to smooth things out. Quick, effective, and way easier on our arms. All you do is use a scouring pad dipped in some liquid sandpaper and clean the entire surface with it. Wipe off the excess with the large amount of shop cloths we mentioned earlier and you are ready for step 4! Some of the seats did need to be sanded down, especially where we applied wood filler, but we only used the sander when absolutely necessary.


Step 4: Wipe Down Time

Once the surface was prepped, we gave every chair a microfiber cloth wipe-down. Not glamorous, but oh-so-necessary. Dust-free chairs = smooth, even paint. It also helped to remove any excess liquid sandpaper residue.


Inflatable paint book with saw horse table holding 6 chairs ready for paint

Step 5: Into the Paint Booth They Go

Here’s where the fun happened! We set up an inflatable paint booth (yes, it looks a little like a bounce house for grown-ups, minus the jumping). Using a paint gun, we sprayed fresh coats of bright white paint until the chairs looked brand new. Honestly, watching them transform row by row was so satisfying.


My husband is great at a lot of things, but the thing he excels at most is learning how to work smarter, not harder. The paint booth could hold 6 chairs comfortably (we actually thought it could hold more when we bought it, but once we got it set up, we realized 6 chairs and one person was the limit). He didn't want to have to touch the chairs to turn them around to paint each side, so he bought some lazy susan turntable hardware and created turntables for the chairs. Genius! Watch the video below to see how the paint booth turntables work.



He also created a wooden 'lift' that allowed him to pick up the chairs after painting to remove them from the paint booth. This allowed us to let the chairs dry outside of the paint booth while we started painting the next 6 chairs. This kept the paint gun from drying up in between sets as well (IFYKYK). See the video of the chair lifter below.



Step 6: Velcro, Round Two

After drying, we re-applied brand-new Velcro strips so the cushions can snap back on, good as new. And just like that—ta-da!—our Chiavari chairs are refreshed and ready to party again.

A cardboard template in the shape of a seat chair with two holes cut in it to allow for proper placement of Velcro strips.

Now, I'm all about working smarter, not harder too. I made myself a little cardboard template for the velcro placement. This allowed me to get the Velcro pieces in the right place in no time! And yes, I'm all about reuse too - you can see this template was used by me years ago when I made sousaphone covers for the high school band. 🤣📯


Chaivari chairs sitting in the sun baking in the new paint!

The best part? Seeing those freshly painted chairs lined up in neat rows, just waiting to head out to the next wedding. It reminded us why we do this—because every detail, even the chairs you sit in, should feel special on your big day.


So next time you spot our Chiavari chairs at an event, know they’ve had a little behind-the-scenes makeover…and maybe a few laughs along the way.


Here's a quick picture of the before and after...and, can you tell they weren't actually white to begin with? They were more of a cream color. 🤷‍♀️ Who knew!


Chiavari chair - after final paint. Bright white and new cushions.
Before and after shots of the Chiavari chairs.

About us: Burlap and Lace Event Decor Rentals is a small family-owned business located in the heart of Central Illinois. We offer rentals of decor, linens, furniture, backdrops, tables, and chairs for your next event. We will deliver and set up at your location or you can choose to pick up and drop off your own rental items and set them up yourself. We pride ourselves on our extensive, high-quality inventory, excellent customer service and reasonable prices. Find out how we can help assist you with your next event.  Reach out to us to book a free consultation.

 

Follow us on:


We’re constantly inspired by the creativity and passion of fellow wedding pros. Here are a few businesses whose work we love:


Elster's Professional Wedding Officiant Service LLC: https://weddingsunique4u.com

The Kim Lousie Xperience: www.kimlouisexp.com

Marquise Weddings & Events: marquiseweddingevents.com

Buds Blooms and Blossoms: www.budsbloomsandblossoms.com



Comments

bottom of page