TASK CHAIR MAKE-OVER
This has to be the easiest make-over I've ever done! Just think how cute you could make an otherwise boring piece of furniture! And how fun could it be to match one to the room's decor?

Things you'll need:

• Old (or new) task chair. Mine was becoming threadbare in one spot.
• Heavy fabric. You don't need much. I used scraps from covering another, larger chair, and I only bought 1 1/2 yards. You'll have to measure your chair. A yard ought to be more than plenty.
• Staple gun. If you don't have one, I suggest splurging a few extra bucks and getting the Power Shot. It's backwards, meaning that when you push down on the trigger, you're also applying pressure to the spot where the staple comes out. Most require you to squeeze the trigger while pushing down on the other end of the staple gun. Not fun. I haven't used its nail-gun capacity yet, but I'd like to! I think it was only about $15.
• Screwdriver (to disassemble and reassemble your chair)

That's right, NO SEWING!!! I love to sew, but it takes a lot more time.

My best surprise came when I took my chair apart. Ten screws was all it took. Then the plastic on the back of the backrest popped off, and the pad lifted easily off the seat.

I laid the pads on top of my upside-down fabric, wrapped the fabric over the edges of the pad to see how much I'd need, and cut a rough rectangle around each piece. (If you are using plaid or stripes, finish the seat pad completely first, then match the stripe or plaid for the backrest.)

Then I folded the fabric over one edge of the pad and secured it with a staple. I worked along one edge, then along the opposite edge, making sure to pull the fabric taught (and if you have stripes, make sure they're straight!) Make several small tucks to go around the corners, stapling as you go.

When you've got the fabric secured around all edges, pop the backrest back into its plastic backing and reassemble the chair! Voila! No more boring black desk chair!

So hit some yard sales and find yourself a threadbare task chair!

My only regret is that I didn't make mine pink. Then all my boys would stop stealing it!

P.S. I also recovered our faux leather executive chair. The boys had ripped the seat to shreds! And the duct tape just didn't work very long (and it looked so very classy, as you can imagine!) While the seat was just as easy as the task chair's, the back required sewing a slip cover that fits tightly, plus sewing in a metal bar that anchors the fabric through holes drilled in the backrest. I didn't make a pattern, but used the bare backrest as a "dress form" and pinned the fabric until it fit right. It's not a precise process, and you'll need a lot of experience to tackle that project!

Synopsis: I used some black fabric I already had for the back of my executive desk chair, and I paid $3 for the striped fabric. To replace the chairs would have cost ~$70. Money saved: $67. Cha-ching!