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How to upcycle a Skruvsta Chair – an IKEA hack

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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.

Ikea hack before chair

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What You Need For A Denim Chair IKEA Hack

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.

Making a paper pattern for a denim chair ikea hack

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.

Ikea hack paper pattern
Ikea hack denim chair paper pattern

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.

Ikea Hack large piece of denim

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.

Ikea hack - cutting out the paper pattern

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.

Ikea hack denim cover back.

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.

Ikea hack denim chair reupholster

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.

ikea hack denim office chair
ikea hack staple cover

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.#

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 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Skruvsta IKEA Chair

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.

Unique and cool IKEA hacks

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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