Turquoise Port My upholstery projects

My upholstery projects

I’ve been diving into the wonderful world of DIY upholstery during my evening classes at a local community education centre here in Auckland—and I have to say, it’s been a real adventure!

Every session leaves me more inspired and a little more confident in transforming forgotten furniture into something with character and charm. While I’m still steering clear of big projects (a full-sized sofa is a whole different ball game best left to the pros), I’ve already wrapped up two projects and am knee-deep in a third.

Project 1: The Padded Cane Chair

This gem started its life abandoned on the roadside years ago. I rescued it and gave it a bit of tender love: I sanded the wood back in the day and painted it black—though, looking back, I might have chosen a different route if I were starting over. I had put the upholstery part into the ‘too-hard-basket’ back then and finally I got around to it. The fabric I selected echoes the one on our newly upholstered sofa, creating a nice sense of continuity without it being an exact match. It feels wonderfully nostalgic and uniquely personal.

Project 2: The Vintage Piano Stool

Next up was a quirky find from Facebook Marketplace—a vintage piano stool that caught my eye, priced at just NZ$50! It already came with a slick black finish, so I left it as is. The upholstery came together beautifully using leftover fabric from the piping of our upholstered Ikea sofa, accented with a cute dusky blush pink trim. The mix of modern fabric and vintage charm proved to be a delightful combination.

Project 3: The Sixties Rocking Chair

Now, I’m excitedly working on my latest project—a sixties rocking chair, also found on Facebook Marketplace for NZ$60. I haven’t wrapped it up yet (pun intended!), but I’m really enjoying the process of planning and executing this transformation. I can’t wait to share the final result with you all once it’s ready.

Learning and experimenting in these classes has given me a whole new appreciation for the art of upholstery. Each project is a little journey, filled with unexpected challenges and rewarding discoveries. Here’s to many more evenings of creativity, learning and, of course, a few more furniture rescues along the way!
Stay tuned for updates on my DIY upholstery adventures.