Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Updating An Old Wooden Highchair

This is such a fun and simple project that is so smile-inducing it’s ridiculous.

updating-an-old-wooden-highchair

Remember this old highchair that I got from my mom almost a year ago, which she ate out of when she was a bambina? Well dude, I finally got on that.

Playroom High Chair

I had been waiting patiently to give it a little upgrade (it was covered in old paint splatters and smelled musty and smoky from a ton of years in storage) and now that Clara is big enough to sit in it without a lap belt, it was finally time to get ‘er done (after, you guessed it, sticking it in our playroom for at least eight months).

I debated a ton of “refinishing” options:

  • sanding and staining it
  • spraying it white or black for a classic look
  • going bright turquoise, navy, lime, yellow, or even a fun orange-red color

But in the end, I thought about the three places it would probably get used the most:

  • the dining room table
  • the kitchen peninsula
  • the living room table (the round pedestal one by the window where we sometimes eat)

So John and I had a little pow-wow and decided the finish that worked the best for those three rooms was…. bright happy yellow! How did we come to that conclusion? Well…

  • our front door is bright yellow and the dining room looks awesome when that door is open so you can see that pop of color (it’s also in our curtains)
  • we have a few happy yellow accessories in the kitchen and they look great against the grellow, gray, brown, and white backdrop
  • I carried these yellow horse heads into the living room and they looked so fun in the space

And so it was settled. I did my little pre-spray painting jig (oh spray paint, how do I love thee – let me count the ways) and brought the chair outside:

High Chair Unpainted

First came the spray priming step. I intentionally didn’t sand the chair at all because there were old paint splatters on it that I worried could be lead paint, since this chair is very very very old (haha, sorry for all the verys mom- you don’t look a day over 29!). So per the recommendation for lead paint, I let it lie and just opted to paint right over it. I applied three super thin and even coats of spray primer (more of a mist than a coat actually, and I always kept my hand moving and my nozzle around 8-12″ away from the chair – see more spray painting tips here).

High Chair White Primer

As for what I used, I actually went with my favorite spray paint with primer built in. It’s called Rustoleum Universal in the satin white color. I had a can on hand and have already used it as a primer under brightly colored spray paint with success (just because it has paint and primer doesn’t mean you can’t layer another color of spray paint on top of it and have that first few coats of primer/paint grab it and hold it for the long haul). So here’s how it looked after the white primer + paint was fully applied:

High Chair White

Then on went a few thin and even top coats of Sun Yellow, also by Rustoleum (from Home Depot) which I actually used on these horse heads and this box (I’m convinced it’s the perfect yellow color, which is harder to track down in spray paint form than you’d think).

High Chair Yellow Spray

After a few thin and even coats of that when I had nice solid coverage, I had this:

High Chair Yellow

I left it outside for two consecutive nice and sunny days so it could cure (bringing it into the sunroom overnight in case there was an unexpected storm or morning dew to contend with). After two days outside it was pretty much cured up, but I let it sit for another 48 hours in the sunroom with the windows open, just to be sure that it was nice and dry (and no longer smelled like spray paint) before bringing it inside.

By then the paint was hard and glossy – and fully ready for serious kid abuse (jumping the gun and using something that you’ve painted too soon is probably the number one way to end up with scrapes and dents in your paint job – especially when a toddler is in charge of quality control). So it was finally time for Clara to give it a try. I brought it into the corner of the living room before grabbing her after her nap so I could document her “discovery” when she came padding in and noticed it.

High Chair Done1

The good news is as soon as she saw it and I told her it was her new big girl chair she got crazy excited about it and tried to climb right up:

High Chair Done2

She needed a little mommy help to get up there, but she was definitely comfortable sitting in it. Here she is beaming like the proud big-girl-chair-owner that she is.

High Chair Done3

The kid was all smiles (and apparently still figuring out how to sit up straight in it, but she got the hang of that soon enough):

High Chair Done4

Then there was some happy singing (at a very high volume, but it was for a good cause):

High Chair Done5

It was at this point in The Presentation Of The Yellow Chair process that I wished I had something this exciting to give to her every day – or at least every month. She really was loving her big girl chair as much as any toy we’d ever given her. This is her face when daddy walked into the room to see her trying out her new chair.

High Chair Done6

Here are some detail shots because I can’t step. away. from. the. camera. See those shiny gleaming spots on the chair in the pic below? This is the beauty of gloss paint. It’s also super durable and wipeable since it has extra flex and shine in the formula. The only thing with gloss paint is that it shows imperfections more (they’ll gleam right along with the rest of it) so you’ll want to be extra careful about applying thin and even coats of primer and paint (you can even sand a drip down between coats if you get one).

High Chair Done7

Really, what’s a hand shot without a foot shot?

High Chair Done8

And how about a shot from above?

High Chair Done9

Oh yeah, and then this happened. A few rousing rounds of “Where’s Clara?”….

High Chair Done10

…. “there she is!” ensued.

High Chair Done11

So… victory! The girl loves her big girl chair and yellow just happens to be her current favorite color. At least today it is, but if you ask her tomorrow it might be pink. Although now that she has her new yellow chair, it might stick. And I showed my mom and she beamed, so apparently she’s in love with her old chair’s new life. She said yellow was the perfect color for Clara while still being friendly for a future kiddo of either sex and I didn’t even think about that so I’m glad it worked out. Haha. So a big thank you goes out to my mom for handing down such a charming little seat for the bean and encouraging us to make it our own with some happy color. It’s kind of amazing to think that three generations of our family have snacked on things while sitting in it (I also used it for a stint when I was younger). And you gotta love free hand-me-downs!

That’s what I got on this week for my Dude Get On That Already challenge. And it was a nice big item to remove from the playroom. Huzzah! I wish I could take photos of the playroom as my embarrassingly giant mess o’ things is reduced each week, but since we have secret book projects in the mix we’re not allowed to reveal those. Boo. Anyway, what highly overdue task have you guys tackled recently? Any chair makeovers or spray painting sprees going on? I think along with Ceramic Animals Anonymous I might need Spray Painters Anonymous…

Comments

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, no-VOC. The formulas for that is getting better, so you could use a no-VOC primer, a no-VOC paint, and then use a non-toxic sealer like SafeCoat Acrylacq if you think it might get gnawed on (Clara’s well beyond that stage, but if a tiny baby was going to use this I would have done that for sure!).

  3. Katie says

    OMG. We totally had the same chair in our house growing up! I think my mom still uses it for the grandkids. And I try and squeeze my 33 year old butt into it at times…. It looks great painted yellow!

    Reply

  4. jo says

    Yeah! I finally had a “get her done” yesterday. My kids were joyfully playing outside in the heat and sunshine, which gave me a whole uninterrupted hour. I finally got my frame wall done over my sofa!!!!! Been living in this house almost a year, bought the frames in December, and have spent the last 3 months deciding how to arrange them. They look great! I made paper templates and put my nails right in the templates before hanging. I think I got that idea from you guys,

    Reply

  6. Mary Kate says

    I love your bright yellow!

    Question – do y’all just use the spray paint can or do you ever use a paint sprayer? I’m contemplating getting one for some larger furniture redos that I’m working on, but can’t decide if it’s worth it.

    Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We just use a spray paint can for smaller items (like a baby chair, stool, lamp base, small accessory, etc) and use a small foam roller to paint larger items of furniture like dressers, desks, tables (since it keeps things super smooth and there aren’t worries about drips, etc). We think it would be a bear to clean a big sprayer and we like the roller method, but some folks swear by a sprayer so it might be personal preference!

      xo,
      s

  7. erika m says

    What a cutie-the chair and the girl in it! Ya know you could just take pictures of the playroom de-clutter action play-by-play(did you get that pun)and then do a post once the book is released…or like a video..that’d be fun

    Reply

  8. Shannon says

    Oh my! Those smiles are the icing on the cake, er, chair! I’ve never spray painted anything, but after all your Dude Get On That Already projects, I’ve told the hubster to pick a spot in the backyard for some spray painting projects this summer!

    Reply

  9. Danielle says

    I am eager to attempt my first spray painting project, but recently found out I am pregnant. Do you think it’s safe for my baby or would you recommend waiting?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I would do it outside with a mask on. Not one of those paper ones, but a real-deal gas mask looking one (they sell them at Home Depot for around $30). I had one and it came in handy a lot during my pregnancy! Or you could just get someone else to do it or wait (or use no-VOC paint instead of spray).

      xo,
      s

  10. Jennifer says

    Love!! And I love that you’re not afraid of color – that itself is an inspiration (well, that and your fabulously decorated house and diy skills….)

    Reply

  12. Brenda says

    I’m dying a bit at how adorable Clara is! The paint job looks fantastic, and the sunny color just looks so fun.

    Reply

  13. Ahsamon says

    That looks AMAZING!! I LOVE the bright yellow sunshine color. I’ve been having a hard time getting my fiance to like colored wood, but I have a feeling this might change his mind.. :D

    And Clara looks so so cute in her new chair!

    Reply

  17. Rachael Goodman says

    You guys have amazing taste!! I found your blog a couple of years ago through Ikea Hackers and have been hooked ever since. I am absolutely addicted to your blog. Keep up the good work.

    Reply

  20. Emily says

    When I saw the start of this, I was sooo hoping that you’d pick yellow! I inherited an old Windsor chair from my grandmother and painted it a bright, sunny yellow for my bedroom, and I smile every time I see it!

    It looks beautiful!

    Reply

  21. Laura says

    Clara is beautiful!! That first picture of her in the chair is amazing. Her eyes are sparkling with excitement and her smile just screams happiness! I love the chair too. Great work Sherry.

    Reply

  22. heather says

    Clara is looking more and more like you in every picture. I still see some John in there a little, but I think your genes have dominated this stage in her life!

    Reply

  23. Gwen says

    I’m really into yellow this year as well. We got the can of paint that is the same color as your spray paint for some projects a few weekends ago, including my new yellow garden gate!

    I do have a question, though, do you recommend spray paint or regular paint for something like chairs? We have 7 adult and two kid chairs (all thrifted) that I would like to unify with a color, but it seems like it would be really expensive to spray paint them all. What are your thoughts?

    Reply

  24. Chris says

    “Two consecutive nice sunny days”. Sob. I swear to god you’d think it was still November in Seattle.

    But hey, the chair looks great and I really wish I had something to spray paint!

    Reply

  25. Kate says

    Hey Sherry, speaking of your mom.. was she at Cafe Amici in Montclair, NJ last night? If not, I definately saw her doppleganger!

    I was there with some friends helping them finalize details for their wedding there this Saturday when I saw her out of the corner of my eye and thought, “Huh, this woman looks familiar. How do I know her?” And then it hit me, “Sherry’s mom!” It was like a celebrity sighting or something. LOL. (Speaking of celebrity sightings, I saw “Gran” from True Blood cross the street in front of my cab in NYC this past weekend.) Anyway, if it was your mom, she was beautiful and I sent her good vibes from my side of the room.

    Reply

  26. Izabela says

    Oh my…I am smack in the middle of making over high chairs (similar to yours) that my husband used as a child. I did sand the paint splatters that were on it, and went with a glossy red. I actually have two chairs to make-over so it’s been an exciting adventure.

    Reply

  27. Jordan@the2seasons says

    Love the yellow. It is such a fun pop of color. I even got a new (well from the Habitat restore) chandelier and painted it yellow to put in our dining room and it is also a fun pop of color.

    Reply

  29. Lisa in IL says

    okay there is a Rhino on the wall! how could I have missed him or is he new? the hardware store down the street oft times has spray paint super duper cheap because people drop the cans & the lids break & then they put them back on the shelf with broken lids & no one else will buy them. I just snagged 2 cans of this yellow for .99 cents each, my husband was all like what are you going to paint yellow & I was all like I don’t know but I’m sure something will need painted this spring & you never know when it will come in handy, duh.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      He was a gift I bought for John’s birthday back in November from cardboardsafari.com. Hope it helps! And nice score on the discounted spray paint!

      xo,
      s

  30. Kelsey says

    I can’t believe Clara isn’t a baby any more! Seemed like it happened so fast! She is the cutest little girl, her sweet face made me smile!

    Reply

  31. Jill says

    Looks awesome! But Clara’s reaction is awesomerrrr!

    I am thinking of painting some wood nightstands either coral or navy (I know, totally opposite looks)… but cannot decide if I should use a small roller, brush, or spray paint. What would you suggest, Sherry? They are chunky with 3 drawers so I am thinking the spray paint may be a lengthy process for them. But I love how smooth your stuff turns out that you’ve spray painted! Wish I could attach a picture here to show you what the stands look like! Any suggestions are welcome on how you would paint them?

    OOHH also- have yall ever painted over an IKEA white finish? I am getting a storage bed from there next week (for my 30th bday present to myself!) but am not completely sold on white- would prefer grey like the dresser I got from there. It scares me to paint over a prepainted/finished piece of wood. I don’t wanna screw it up, ya know? So if you have any suggestions on that, I’d love to hear them as well.

    Thanks homies!!!! :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I would definitely recommend a small foam roller with a brush. Just use the brush to get into the corner and then roll everything so it’s nice and smooth! As for painting Ikea stuff, most of it isn’t painted wood but it’s laminate, which can be tricky to paint. Using a good primer and a good paint is probably your best bed, but maybe ask at the paint shop what they recommend for that surface?

      xo,
      s

    • Jill says

      That’s kind of what I was thinking- painting over laminate seems like a nightmare! Maybe I will just stick with the white. The other colors are grey, navy, and pops of coral. It will probably be fine. Just was worried it would look cheap!

      Thanks for the advice on that and painting the nightstands. :)

  32. Debbie says

    I’m jealous of how well behaved Clara is. My son (now 2) at that age would use the chair to climb up on places he could not reach with a regular chair. We have no chairs in our playroom only a couch he cannot move – yet.

    Reply

  33. BrookeJ says

    So cute! Yellow is the perfect color for Clara. Your “series” of getting things out of your playroom has inspired me and I’ve gotten three small projects off my list over the past few weeks. Thank you!

    Reply

  34. Lindsay @ Me, Ed and Pea says

    Hi guys! Totally unrelated question :-/ Have you done a post on cleaning paint brushes? I feel like I spend as long cleaning paint brushes as I do painting walls/trim! Also, do you store your paint brushes in the fridge between coats? I do, but I feel like that ends up ruining the brushes over time…
    Thanks in advance for the tips :)

    Reply

  35. Jessica says

    It’s so adorable!!! I wish my little bean had one just like it!

    Oh, and I can’t help but chuckle every time you call it the “playroom”…..not a whole lotta playing going on up in there. hahahaha! I love it though….it’s totally something I would do. Like how our “office” is really just a place to charge the laptop and pick things up off the printer….otherwise I keep everything under the sun in there that doesn’t have a home yet.

    Reply

  36. katalina says

    I think she needs a little pillow because it the chair is so deep— like the one below in the joss gallery! so adorable! love the toe shot too!

    Reply

  37. Randa says

    I love the yellow chair… even more with Clara in it… especially with the colors she’s wearing!! (the green & blue)

    I think you just inspired my third living room accent color. Been thinking I should add something to the current green / blue mix, but couldn’t figure out what.

    Reply

  38. anna says

    I like the chair, but I must say Clara’s blouse is even more stylish and she look super cute. She look so hip. My daughter is 10 and how I missed those super cute years.

    Reply

  39. Betsy says

    This is a great opportunity for me to ask a question that’s been floating around in my head for awhile. How do you reconcile painting family/antique/heirloom furniture? Maybe I’ve seen one to many episodes of This Old House peeling and sanding painted trim in historic homes. I get anxious and trigger shy when I think about covering up a piece of bequeathed furniture with paint. On the flip side, it doesn’t feel like ME in its current state. I’m conflicted! Thanks for your insight. And by the way, this chair (and it’s new owner) are beautiful!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      It’s definitely personal preference but we usually say life is too short to live with anything that doesn’t feel like you – especially if you have someone blessing to paint it and make it your own (like my mom’s in this case). But we also say that you should wait until you can’t stand something as-is to paint it, because if you like it wood but sort of think it could be fun in purple… it’s hard to undo. But if you can’t stand to see it sticking out like a sore thumb anymore as is and know a way to make it your own and make it fit into your house and enhance your whole room- we say go for it!

      xo,
      s

  40. Julie says

    Kelle at Enjoying the Small Things just painted an old high chair in sunny yellow too – so cute! I’m in the process of painting/refinishing two chairs. One will be white with a fun cushion, the other turquoise with new fabric on the seat.

    I LOVE that it’s not the “typical” high chair and can be used for a big girl chair. I’d absolutely one that if I could find that kind!

    Reply

  41. Molly says

    We have a similar “high chair” that our 4 year old has been sitting in for 2 and 1/2 years. It really is a great way to go….makes them feel pretty special in their big girl chair and helps them to eat at the table without making a huge mess. We didn’t have this with our oldest and really wish we would have! I got ours at a flea market and it is painted a bright green:)Ya’ll will love yours!

    Reply

  43. Anika says

    This project turned out so well, and I love the sunny yellow color. You’ll have to take a picture of it pulled up to the table during a meal so we can see what it looks like in action.

    I’m so glad you (and your mum) were okay with changing the color; I have a few pieces passed down from my family and they just don’t fit into our current style at all, but we love them. I’ll have to talk to my parents and in-laws and see if I can get them on board for a modern re-do so they can actually be used. Thanks for the inspiration to get on that!

    Reply

  44. Amy @ The Button Casa says

    I’ve seen hundreds (thousands?) of paint transformations and it never gets old. I love this so much! I’m about to re-do some lawn chairs (again) and I was thinking turquoise or red but this yellow is going to be a contender now. I especially love it with Clara’s lime shirt and little baby feet.

    Reply

  45. Karen F says

    I LOVE what you did with that chair – the yellow is great and will look awesome in your house. The pictures of Clara are amazing – what a cutie!

    As for me, I just realized I have a wooden kid’s table and 2 chairs from Ikea in my garage that I’ve been meaning to paint but I kind of forgot about them – I think I’d better get on that very soon, before my kids grow out of them!!

    Question – the safecoat acrylaq you use, can you get that at a regular paint store (like BM), or is it only sold at specialty places or online?

    From a “dude, get on that” perspective, my basement is a disaster after our remodel (2 years ago, whaat?), and I spent a good hour down there earlier this week and filled 2 big garbage bags – lots more to do, but it felt good to make some progress!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      SafeCoat is only sold at specialty stores (usually green boutiques) or online. I think it’s on amazon.com though! We have one can that we have used for years (literally, it’s still going strong after 2.5 years!).

      xo,
      s

  46. CohoesMom5 says

    I have 3 of these chairs for my younger kids and have been wanting to paint them but just haven’t wanted to take the time to do it because I never thought of spray painting them. Now I am motivated to do it (once the rain stops).

    Were you able to paint the chair with only 1 can of primer and 1 can of paint or did you need more cans?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes, it took a little less than one can each (had some leftover of the yellow since it’s new and used the rest of the primer since I had already used it on another project).

      xo,
      s

  47. Christy B. says

    So cute! And I must say, even though most people think Clara looks like John, when she smiles that big smile, she most definitely looks just like Sherry.

    Reply

  48. Kellee says

    Thank you so much for posting this! We have these semi beat up/not so pretty bar stools for our counter top that I have been dying to paint red and had no idea how to do this. My husband was under the impression that there was much more work involved such as sealing it. Thanks for the how to and I’m totally going to get on that!

    Reply

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