Have you ever spotted an old chair on the side of the road and imagined its potential? That’s exactly what happened with this vintage captain’s chair. I found it abandoned outside my chiropractor’s office, drenched from the rain and waiting for the skip. I asked if I could rescue it to practise my furniture restoration skills. I’d never restored a captain’s chair before, so it seemed like the perfect low-risk challenge. If it didn’t work out, at least I’d learned something new.

Being self-taught, I always look for projects like this. You’re more likely to try new techniques when the piece costs nothing. Pulling apart furniture and figuring out how to reassemble it teaches you valuable skills for future projects. This restoration turned out better than I expected—I even sold it for a healthy profit!

Before we dive into this tutorial, be sure to subscribe to my bimonthly newsletter to be the first to see my latest projects.  You can also follow me on Pinterest and Facebook, where I also include my unique mixed-media art projects.

This project is also part of this month’s Do It Over Designers Blog Hop, where talented DIY bloggers share their latest upcycling or recycling makeovers. Be sure to check out their ideas using the links at the end of this post!

How to restore a Captain’s Chair

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Materials Used

• Fine steel wool
• WD-40
• Furniture oil
• Mahogany wood stain
• Oil-based polyurethane
• Upholstery leather
• Upholstery wadding
• Upholstery buttons (blank)
• Upholstery needle and thread
• Brass decorative studs
• Chrome spray paint
• Camping mattress (foam)
• Tin foil
• Coke Cola (for rust removal)
• Screws and bolts (existing)
• Citri-strip paint remover
• Soft sanding block
• Long nose screwdriver

Dismantling the Captain’s Chair

The first step was removing the chair seat from the metal base. I unscrewed the bolts holding the seat to the lift mechanism. Some chairs have fabric under the seat to hide the screws. If yours does, remove this first.

Once the lift was off, I removed the spindles and the top headrest by undoing more screws. The backrest leather was held in place with copper studs, which I pried off. That allowed access to the hidden screws underneath. The chair came apart in four main pieces: the base, the seat, the spindles, and the headrest.

Restoring the Timber Sections

The wood was in rough shape. In hindsight, using Citri-strip would have saved me hours of sanding. If you try this, coat the wood in stripper, wrap it in plastic wrap, and leave it overnight. Scrape off the softened finish with a paint scraper. Rinse the residue off using soapy water and a scrubbing brush. Let the wood dry fully.

Before

To rehydrate the dry timber, I applied furniture oil in circular motions. After letting it absorb and dry over several days, I stained the wood with a dark mahogany stain, then sealed it with two coats of oil-based polyurethane.

After

Reviving the Cast Iron Wheels

The wheels were solid cast iron but completely rusted. I soaked them in Coca-Cola for a few hours, then scrubbed them using tin foil rolled into a ball. Once clean, I sprayed them with chrome spray paint for a fresh new look. The lift mechanism was also rusted tight. I loosened it using WD-40 and fine steel wool, then greased it to prevent squeaking.

Upholstering the Backrest

The backrest foam was still usable, except for one corner. I removed all the buttons and studs, then peeled off the old fabric. Using it as a guide, I cut new leather 15 cm larger on all sides.

To fix the damaged corner, I added a thin layer of wadding, secured with spray adhesive. I covered new blank buttons with matching leather. That was a fiddly job but worth it.

I stapled the leather starting from the centre, folding the excess neatly. I pulled the buttons through with a long upholstery needle, stapling the thread at the back. The armrests screwed off easily, so I reupholstered those the same way with added decorative folds.

Replacing the Seat Cushion

The original foam was ruined, so I cut a new cushion from an old camping mattress. I covered the base with new leather, leaving extra to staple underneath. Even though the front wood section was being covered, I still applied two coats of varnish. This helped fill in old staple holes and provided a smooth surface for new staples. I cut the leather to shape, stapled it to the base.

Adding New Decorative Studs

The old copper studs were too damaged to reuse. I replaced them with brass decorative studs, which instantly upgraded the look. These are flexible and easy to bend around curves. They also neatly hide all the staples.

Reassembling the Captain’s Chair

First, I reattached the headrest to the wooden back section using a small screwdriver. I stapled a strip of leather around the base top, then secured the spindle section in place. Next, I pulled the leather down tightly and stapled it under the seat. Lastly, I added the front section to hide all visible staples.

I photographed the chair outside so the natural light could capture the true richness of the stain and leather.

Before and After Reveal

You’ll be amazed at the transformation! Scroll down to see side-by-side photos of the original rain-soaked wreck and the beautifully restored vintage captain’s chair.

Final Thoughts

This DIY restoration was an incredible learning experience. It’s now one of my favourite pieces! Projects like this teach you so much about structure, upholstery, and patience. If you’re just starting out, I highly recommend rescuing a “freebie” to practice on—you’ve got nothing to lose.

More restoration projects

How to restore a woven upholstery rocking chair

I transformed a dresser destined for the tip into a stunning statement piece.

It’s time for more ideas and my friends have lots of them for you.  Be sure to visit them and see what they’ve been upcycling/recycling/DIYing.  Here are the links:

Southern Sunflowers

Unique Creations by Anita

My Hubbard Home

Sum of Their Stories

The Apple Street Cottage

Birdz of a Feather

Exquisitely Unremarkable

Little Vintage Cottage

Modern on Monticello

Pandora’s Box

Purple Hues & Me

Tea and Forget-Me-Nots

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