13 Crafty Ways To Repurpose A Chair For Rustic Home And Garden Decor

Giving an old, broken, or salvaged chair a new life is a fun and creative way you can repurpose your old furniture. More than just keeping it out of the landfill, these projects will give new purpose to discarded items and save you from having to buy new versions. From a sweet design for a potted plant to raising up your tall dog's feeding station, repurposed chairs are an easy item to upcycle that will add rustic charm to your home or garden.

In general, wood chairs will be the easiest to work with in terms of breaking them down and repurposing their parts. However, with the right tools, metal chairs can easily make the transition to whimsical design pieces as well. Keep in mind that when giving a wood chair a new purpose in an outdoor space — like in your garden, for example — you'll want to add a coat of sealant to the project to protect it from the elements. Additionally, be sure to inspect your chair well before you begin your project so you can repair or work around any existing structural issues. The style of your chair will help dictate which project works best, but these 13 ideas can help you get your creative wheels turning. 

While it may be among the more obvious upgrades, converting your chair into a rustic stool may also be among the easiest and most useful. Simply remove the back of your chair and fill any holes, then sand the whole piece for a smooth finish and add the paint or stain of your choice. For a whimsical twist, add some stencil art, decoupage flowers, or old book pages. Or trade out the seat portion of your chair for a drawer, then add a lid to create some additional storage. If you need the stool to be shorter, trade out the legs for smaller ones.

For rustic gardenscapes, a refurbished chair is a delightfully eclectic way to showcase robust potted plant arrangements. Painting your chair in a playful color will provide a fanciful backdrop, and getting pots up off the ground will make them easier to water and move around on a whim. Before you start this upcycling project, be sure that the chair is structurally sound. Then, turn your pot upside down and place it onto the seat to trace its shape. Cut about a half-inch inside the circle and set your pot inside for an adorable addition to any garden.

Vases may be the traditional go-to for floral displays, but upcycling the decorative back of an old chair to display your blooms will add a unique and charming touch to your decor. Remove the headrest of the chair, then sand and finish it with paint or stain. Once dry, add hook screws along the bottom of the headrest. Glue twine around the neck of a few small bottles and hang them from the hook screws. Mount it to the wall with framing wire or additional hook screws, then add a few single stem florals, and you've got a charming way to display your flowers.

Caned furniture has been around for centuries, and it's a delicate art. So if you find a chair with damage to the caning, seize on that opportunity to turn the finely-crafted cane into a lovely candle holder. Choose a glass that is the appropriate size to hold your candle and cut a piece of cane to wrap around the glass. Then paint the cane and let it dry before you glue it to the glass. Finish with some beads, an antique pendant, or a rustic ribbon for a polished look.

When you've rescued a chair with an ornately-styled back, it almost begs to be turned into art of some kind — so why not heed the call? Create some unique and useful shelf storage with an old repurposed chair by removing the legs and cutting the seat to your shelf dimensions. Then gently sand the piece before you paint or stain. Add books and a candle to lend a fanciful touch in your reading sanctuary, or mount it in your kitchen and let it brim over with potted herbs.

If you have a pair of chairs, turn them into a unique, high-sided bench for your garden. Strip them of the existing seat, then turn them to face each other. You'll then remove the seat framing and front legs from both chairs. Add your new bench seat to the space where the old chair seats once were, then include a board across the back to increase stability. Paint or stain it in bright colors to add whimsy to your new seating space.

Adapting the back of your chair to create a rustic spice rack is as easy as adding a couple pieces of wood to the frame of the backrest that will function as shelves. Add a piece of wood a couple inches above each shelf on both the front and the back of your chair's backrest to secure your spice jars. Finish the shelf edges with a piece of trim for a more polished final product. Decorate with paint or stain and perhaps a decorative detail; you could stencil some flowers in the corners or add the word "spices" along the top.

Repurposing a pair of old chairs is an easy way to get your pet's food and water bowls off the floor, which helps to keep the space around them clean and (literally) elevates the aesthetic. Upcycle children's chairs for smaller pets, or for larger animals, trim the legs of a standard chair so the seat lands about 6 inches below the top of their back. Then cut a hole in the seat that's slightly smaller than the circumference of the bowls and fit them inside. Hang a nameplate tag from the back of the chair for a personalized touch.

Candlestick holders are an incredibly versatile decorative item, and you can DIY yourself a beautiful and personalized set from the legs or spindles of a chair. To begin, remove the pieces and attach a sturdy base like a heavy block of wood. Next, create a platform for your candle from a second piece of wood or by gluing an upturned jar lid to the top. Paint and finish with a decorative touch like beaded ribbon or a length of twisted twine. Add your candles and enjoy. Or, reuse your candlestick holders around your home and garden.

Repurposing your chairs into a bench will give your old chairs new life and add some seating to any space. Before you begin the transformation, make any necessary repairs to be sure your chairs are structurally sound. Then remove their seats and replace them with one long board, attaching the chairs directly to their new seat. Add seating space by creating a gap between the chairs to stretch out your bench. Create additional support by attaching 2x4s to span the gap, then sand and stain for a rustic wooden bench that is perfect for any room in your home.

Reworking your chair into a rolling potted plant stand makes moving your large plants as easy as giving them a little push. For this project, you'll want to select a chair with a seat that is flat and level. If yours is more decorative, you'll want to sand it flat or flip it over and use the bottom. Add any paint or stain that suits your style and a couple layers of sealant to protect against water spills. Attach wheels to the corners, and you have a rustic decor element that also helps move your plants around the house.

Sturdy, beautifully-made chair legs can be easily repurposed into gorgeous decor and organizational elements, too — like this cutting board hanger. For this project, mount a robust chair leg to a sturdy block of wood. Then drill two holes into opposite sides at the top of the leg, in which you can slide small wood dowels. Secure them with some wood glue or a nail before you paint or stain. Adorn with twine or burlap and bring your cutting boards into easy reach with style.

Add a designer-level rustic touch to your home decor by creating a wreath hanger from the backrest of an ornately-carved chair. Remove the seat and legs of your chair, then trim the spindles of the backrest. Sand the whole thing and paint or stain it to match your decor style. Add a screw hook in the center and bottom of the headrest, and you'll have a clever way to hang a decorative wreath in your kitchen — or any other part of the house. Alternatively, secure rubber feet to your wreath hanger to create a wreath stand for your entryway table.