Chair Upcycling Workshop: Painting and Upholstery

Turn a tired chair into something beautiful while learning skills you'll use again and again, in this full-day Upcycle Your Own Chair workshop in London.This hands-on, beginner-friendly session brings furniture painting and modern upholstery together into one creative day. Join this relaxed, supportive session in a London makerspace, where you'll learn by doing and leave with a completely transformed chair of your own.You'll be guided through the whole process – from preparing and painting the wood through to upholstering a drop-in seat using modern methods – with expert tuition tailored to your individual level, whether you're a total beginner or already have some experience. It's a small-group session, so there's plenty of support as you go.Your ticket includes the chair itself, along with all tools and core materials (aside from your top fabric), so you can take your finished piece home at the end of the day.Over the course of the workshop, you'll learn:

• The full upcycling process, from prep through to finish
• How to clean, sand and paint furniture correctly
• Minor repairs, where needed
• How to use tools safely and effectively
• The steps involved in upholstering a drop-in seat with modern methods and materials
• The reasoning behind each step, tool and material
• The finishing touches that pull a piece together

You'll work on a chair from the studio's collection, and by the end of the day you'll either have a fully upcycled chair to take home or be very close to it, along with a much deeper understanding of techniques you can carry into your own future furniture projects.This workshop is as sustainable as it is creative, giving old furniture a new lease of life while supporting a charitable initiative – so you'll leave with a one-of-a-kind piece and the confidence to take on your next project.What's included:

• One wooden drop-in seat chair
• All necessary tools and core materials, excluding top fabric
• Hands-on instruction in a small group setting
• PPE

Please note:

• You'll need to bring your own upholstery fabric for the seat – get in touch beforehand if you'd like guidance, or if you can't source one in time, a small selection will be available to buy on the day from £30
• This workshop is for adults aged 18 and over
• Wear closed-toe shoes and old clothes you don't mind getting dusty or stained
• The session can be physically demanding, so please get in touch in advance if you need any support or adjustments to take part comfortably
• Group sizes are kept very small (up to five for painting, two to three for upholstery), so spaces tend to go quickly

An upcycled chair, the opportunity to support a local charity, and new skills ready to take home to tackle your own projects! Read more details