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How to upcycle a Skruvsta Chair – an IKEA hack

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Ikea Hack – Skruvsta Denim Chair Upcycle

I have been called the denim whisperer, because of all the things that I make with old jeans. From sunglasses cases, magazine racks and pocket organizers. I just love upcycling with old denim. So when my office chair was in need of a makeover then this Ikea 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 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.

Great upcycle of old jeans and use of a staple gun. It's a lot easier than you think with a full step by step tutorial.

Ikea Hack. Revamp a boring Ikea Office chair by upholstering it in denim. It is a lot easier than you think. Step by step tutorial.

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What I used for my denim chair Ikea hack

    • Ikea Skruvsta office chair – However, this tutorial should work for most upholstered chairs.
    • Between 3-4 pairs of old jeans
    • Scissors

Ikea hack before chair

How to Upholster the Ikea Office Chair in Denim

    1. First you need to make a pattern. 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.

Making a paper pattern for a denim chair ikea hack

    1. I then cut out the paper pattern for each cover piece on the chair. The left and right panels of the chair where just the mirror image of each other, I only cut out one pattern for both. I then just flipped the paper pattern over when cutting out the opposite side.

Ikea hack paper pattern

Ikea hack denim chair paper pattern

    1. To make large pieces of denim, cut your jeans up the inside leg seam. Flatten out and then stitch the legs together so that you end up with one large piece of denim fabric.

Ikea Hack large piece of denim

    1. Pin your pattern paper to the large pieces of denim. Allowing for a seam of approximately 1cm cut out your 6 pattern pieces.

Ikea hack - cutting out the paper pattern

  1. Pinning right sides together, sew up the three outer back pieces together and then the three inner pieces together. Then sew these to sections together.

Ikea hack denim cover back.

How to fit your denim cover to you chair.

    1. This is where the staple gun becomes the star of the project. Staple guns let you cheat with upholstery and makes it easy.
    1. 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.

Ikea hack denim chair reupholster

    1. Pull the inside of the cover taut and staple 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.

ikea hack denim office chair

ikea hack staple cover

  1. 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.

Ikea hack chair underside

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 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.

Ikea Hack seat pad cover

Ikea hack - upholster office chair with old jeans. Full tutorial and easy to follow instructions

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.

Ikea Hack reupholster a boring Ikea Skruvsta office chair in denim. Great upcycle of old jeans and use of a staple gun. It's a lot easier than you think with a full step by step tutorial.

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!

Unique and cool IKEA hacks

Ikea Hack reupholster a boring Ikea Skruvsta office chair in denim. Great upcycle of old jeans and use of a staple gun. It's a lot easier than you think with a full step by step tutorial.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. 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

    Reply

  4. 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.

    Reply

  5. 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 🙂

    Reply

  9. 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!

    Reply

  12. 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!

    Reply

  16. 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

    Reply

  21. 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.

    Reply

  24. 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!

    Reply

  29. 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. 😉

    Reply

  30. 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!

    Reply

  32. 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!

    Reply

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