Chair-acter building: DIY splatter chair

15 Jan 2026

Here’s a fun project to add some character to your home! Upcycle an old chair and save it from going into landfill by giving it a new life with your favourite Resene colours. We created a quirky splatter pattern on ours, which you can find the steps for below, but you can get creative and paint yours in any colour or design you like!

You will need:

• Chair
• Sandpaper
• Paintbrush
• Resene Quick Dry
• Newspaper or drop cloth
• Resene testpots in your chosen colours. Fleur used Resene Black, Volcano, Rice Cake and Lemon Ginger

Step 1: Start by unscrewing the wooden seat and backrest from the metal frame. Use a medium grit sandpaper (220 grit is ideal) to sand the frame and the wooden seat and backrest. Wipe away and dust and paint all three pieces with one coat of Resene Quick Dry.

Step 2:Paint the frame with two coats of Resene Black and paint the seat and backrest with two coats of Volcano. Use paints in a Lustacryl finish as these are more hardwearing.

Step 3: Lay the seat and backrest on top of some newspaper or a drop cloth, and flick paint on them with a paintbrush or teaspoon. Fleur used Resene Black, Rice Cake and Lemon Ginger. Ideally, use paints in a Lustacryl finish. Alternatively, if you do use testpot paints for flicking, once they are dry you can seal over them with two coats of Resene Aquaclear for a more hardwearing finish.

Step 4:Allow the paint to dry overnight. Once dry, reattach the wooden seat and backrest.

Wall painted in Resene Carrara, trims in Rice Cake.

project and images Fleur Thorpe

Published: 15 Jan 2026