I love to upcycle old denim, some might even call it an obsession. So when my office chair was in need of a makeover, I knew this Ikea chair hack had to involve denim.
This isn’t my first denim chair upcycle, in the past, I’ve upcycled a dining room denim patchwork chair and a footstool with old jeans. I’m sure it won’t be my last either.
Upholstering in denim is a lot easier than it looks, especially with a bit of staple gun magic.
Ikea Hack – Skruvsta Denim Chair Upcycle
It was a lot easier than you think to upholster the Ikea Skruvsta chair with denim. The old jeans I used were nice and soft from years of wear. The denim is hard wearing too, so I think that the chair will last for a few more years.
The new cover is certainly a big improvement on the old faux leather chair. And it cost me nothing as I used repurposed fabrics.
This denim chair upcycle featured under the letter C in the A to Z of denim crafts.

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What You Need For A Denim Chair IKEA Hack
- Ikea Skruvsta office chair – However, this tutorial should work for most upholstered chairs.
- Between 3-4 pairs of old jeans. I used jeans in a similar shade of indigo, but I think that contrasting denim shades would also look fabulous.
- Scissors
- Electric staple gun
- Sewing machine with denim weight needles
- Denim thread
- Pins
- Squared pattern making paper
How to Upholster the Ikea Office Chair in Denim
1.. First, make a paper pattern of the chair. Use pattern paper to do this.
If you look at the Ikea Skruvsta chair, you can see that the cover is sewn in six different sections. I pinned the pattern paper to the chair and marked out each section on the paper.

2. Then, cut out the paper pattern for each cover piece on the chair.
The left and right panels of the chair were just the mirror image of each other, I only cut out one pattern for both. Just flip the paper pattern over when cutting out the opposite side.
Mark each paper pattern with where the panel is located and whether or not it is on the left or right. This will stop you from getting too confused when cutting out the denim pieces for this chair upholstery.


3. Next, make as large pieces of denim as you can from a single pair of jeans. To do this cut your jeans up the inside leg seam. Then, flatten them out and stitch the legs together. You should end up with one large piece of denim fabric.

4. Next, pin the pattern paper to the large pieces of denim. Allowing for a seam of approximately 1cm. Cut out the denim pattern pieces. You should have six in total.

5. Then, pinning the right sides together, sew up the three outer back pieces together. Then repeat with the three inner panel pieces together. Finish off by sewing these to sections together.
Top tip: Make sure you have a needle suitable for sewing denim in your sewing machine.

How to fit your upholstered denim cover to an IKEA chair.
1.. This is where the staple gun becomes the star of the project. Staple guns let you cheat with upholstery and make it easy.
Place your newly made denim cover over the chair. Making sure the newly sewn seams in your cover match up with the seams in your chair, pin the cover to the chair along the top.
This will hold it in place whilst you staple the cover to the chair, and stop it moving out of place when you pull it tight.

2. Next, pull the inside of the cover taut and staple it to the inside seat of the chair.
This may look unsightly, but don’t worry as the chair cushion will hide it. You can never have too many staples holding it in place.


3. Then, turn the chair over and repeat with the underside of the chair. Pulling the cover taut as you merrily staple away. Don’t forget to take out the pins at the top when you have finished.#

Making the seat pad cover.
Draw around the seat pad onto a large piece of denim allowing for 1cm seam allowance and cut out.
Repeat so that you have 2 identical denim pieces. Pin and sew the right sides together, leaving an opening for the pad.
Turn the denim right sides out, squeeze in pad into the cover and stitch up the opening.


This project only took me a couple of hours and I love this Ikea hack of my office chair. This method can be used to reupholster any chair in denim.

If however, you are going to upholster something like my dining room chair seat then you may want to use upholstery tacks instead of a staple gun or both.

If you like the “SIT DOWN” cross stitch pillow in the picture, click here for a free pattern and tutorial.
Other Ikea hacks
This is one of my most pinned crafts my Ikea Hack map table.
A cool upcycled waistband denim rug to go with the chair. (This is a no-sew denim project).
Or perhaps a giant world map denim floor cushion to match too!
This chair upcycle featured under the letter C in my comprehensive A to Z of upcycling resources.
Linda at Mixed Kreations
What an awesome upcycle! I love denim and this chair looks great! Love the sit down pillow as well. ❤
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, I stitched that pillow.
Lisa // Cucicucicoo: Eco Sewing & Crafting
This is so cool, Claire! We have a couple of these chairs and they’re starting to get pretty gunky looking. I’ve been wanting to make covers for them for a while, though I prefer being able to wash furniture covers (with kids and cats, they tend to get filthy!), so I might try this technique to make removable slip covers. Thanks! 🙂 Lisa
Claire Armstrong
Removable slipcovers would be cool too but extra work. I do find the denim very robust though. Thanks you.
Gabi
It really looks great! And the green chair is totally awesome! That shade of green is very much Greenery, which is so trendy this year!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, loved your denim chair too!
Linda
What a clever and adorable idea. not only re-purposing, but also creating awesome projects. Too cte for words. As always we appreciate you at DI&DI.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you for the kind words.
Angie Rose
I have upcycled old denim in the past, and this looks like such a fun project! Thank you for sharing at Dishing It & Digging It and hope to see you back this week 🙂
Claire Armstrong
Thank you !
Dee
This is awesome — my kids would love it! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you very much.
Michelle
Great job! This is right up mu alley, I did a denim hack on this same chair here: http://www.thatblackchic.com/2015/09/diy-ikea-hack-on-skruvsta-swivel-chair.html
Claire Armstrong
Thanks ! Your chair looks awesome too like the contrasting denims.
Julie Briggs
Very clever! Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty
Claire Armstrong
Cheers !
Sandra Garth
Maybe I’ve led a sheltered life but this is the first denim covered chair I’ve seen. It was a pleasure to see this in the line up at Celebrate Your Story, thanks for joining us!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you ! Pleased you liked it.
Cristina at Ava's Alphabet
Your chair turned out great and I just adore the cross stitch pillow! Thank you for sharing on Family Joy Blog Link-Up Party. Hope you are having a great week!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you very much !
Liz Jo
What a difference!!
Thanks for linking up with Welcome Home Wednesdays! Live every Wednesday at 7AM CT.
liz @ j for joiner
Claire Armstrong
Thanks!
Becky
This is fabulous–so retro cute. And I am swooning over the needlepoint pillow! Thanks for sharing on the Talk of the Town link party!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you ! The pillow is one of my favs too.
Pam @Threading My Way
You make this look so easy, Claire. I’ve never used a staple gun. Maybe it’s time I did. Your new chair looks terrific.
Claire Armstrong
Thanks ! Staple guns are great for upholstery, they make it so much easier.
Pam @Threading My Way
Featured today, Claire…
Claire Armstrong
Thank you very much look forward to seeing it.
Cecilia MyThriftStoreAddiction
Claire, I love a good Ikea hack and this is just FUN! Thank you for sharing @Vintage Charm!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you !
Kristine
I love your denim projects! They are very cool and inspiring.
Claire Armstrong
Thanks and cheers !
Susie
This chair just made my day. It’s so fun and mod and clever. You really have a knack for using denin in a unique way. Love the pillow, too! Oh, and don’t get me started on the wall paper. Love the whole setting. We are so thrilled to have you share this sweet makeover with us at Friday’s Furniture Fix. Susie from The Chelsea Project
Claire Armstrong
Thank you ! I love the wallpaper too it’s in my dinning room.
Sharon@BlueWillowHouse
Love a great Ikea Hack. Beautiful job and tutorial.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you very much ! Ikea Hacks are great fun.
Sam @ Raggedy Bits
What a fabulous upcycle! Love the little foot stool also! So clever!! Thank you so much for sharing with us over at Waste Not Wednesday! Can’t WAIT to see what you share this week 🙂
Claire Armstrong
Cheers and thank you ! The footstool is a favourite of mine I did a few years ago and is also a homage to Neil Diamond !
sherry
This is such a clever idea! I would love to do something like this in my son’s bedroom. Great job!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you ! I bet it would look great in your sons room.
Julie
Brilliant, looks fab and you make it seem pretty do-able too, thanks.
Claire Armstrong
Thanks, it is surprisingly easy especially with a staple gun.
Mary-the boondocks blog
Claire this is the coolest project. Actually, all of your projects are very cool. I really like your aesthetic. I said it before and I’ll say it again, I love denim and this is the perfect way to repurpose it. Sharing and Pinning.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, glad you liked it, and thank you for your kind words.
creativejewishmom/sara
You are such an inspiration Claire, love the dining room chair too…..thanks so much for sharing on craft schooling sunday!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you and thanks for the kind words !
Vicky @ ShabbyShe
This is so cool! I love upcycling denim jeans too although on a smaller scale than this!! One of my favourites was making this little market style apron https://shabbyshe.com/2015/01/31/jeans-upcycle-cute-girls-apron/ 🙂
Claire Armstrong
Thank you ! & your apron looks sweet.
Michelle L
Hi, Claire! This is complete and utter awesomeness! And so smart to use the bumpy bits of the jeans for the back so that part gets used up, too. I agree, you are the denim whisperer!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you very much for your kind words !
MEDINA GRILLO
This looks great – like a completely different chair!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Medina ! It was in need of a revamp and I love it in my home office.
Tania
Oh, I love this! Love that pillow too!
Tania
Claire Armstrong
Thanks ! There’s a free pattern for the pillow here https://www.pillarboxblue.com/supersized-cross-stitch-cushion/.
lorraine williamson
love the upcycle denim is so durable especially with teenaged boys thanks for sharing pinned and shared
Claire Armstrong
Thank you ! Yes and I have 3 teenage boys myself, which also means a plentiful supply of old jeans.
Anne
This is so wonderful! And the footstool and the dining chair, too! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for later today that features your tutorial: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/?p=88665 –Anne
Claire Armstrong
Thank you look forward to seeing it !
Stacey
A blue jean chair! What more could you want? It’s adorable.
Thank you so much for joining Thoughts of Home on Thursday. We are honored to have you. 😉
Claire Armstrong
Thank you very much ! I’m sitting on it this very moment.
Millie
When I grow up I want to be just like you! always you are showing such beautiful, creative and fun projects! I am keeping an eye out, I am totally making a jean chair!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, but I don’t think I’ve fully grown up yet !
Monroe
I love this chair! You did such a great job giving it a makeover, and I love that you used denim! Pinned!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you ! I just love working with denim.
Brenda Young
I’m a big fan of denim recycling and have been wanting to reupholster a chair in denim for quite some time now, love how yours came out! Pinned to my Ikea board!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you ! You should do it, it’s not that difficult.