How can I Repair my Dining Chairs

Dining chairs are often the focal point in your dining room and can elevate the aesthetic of the space. However with regular use they can experience wear and tear. 

Whether you have leather chairs or one with wooden chair legs, dining chair repairs can restore them and maintain their original look. But how do you repair a dining chair?

How to Repair a Dining Chair 

Depending on what material your dining chair is made from, it can change how you need to repair them. Make sure if you are using a repair kit to follow the instructions carefully to avoid any further damage.

Leather Dining Chairs

Leather dining chairs are a great way to add an elegant touch to your dining room. However, over time they can get scratched, torn or have general wear and tear. If your leather chair starts to show signs of damage, you can restore it to its original look by: 

• Cleaning the area: Use a leather cleaner to get rid of any dirt and debris from the damaged area. 

• Apply a leather repair kit: These kits are a great way to mend any tears or cracks on your dining chair. They come with a filler that can be applied to the affected area. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully to ensure no further damage happens. 

• Colour Match: After you have done your dining chair repairs, you may need to colour match to blend the filer to the leather. You can do this by applying a leather dye that matches. Take your time when you are doing this to ensure the repair can’t be noticed. 

• Condition the leather: Getting your leather dining chair back to its original shine you will need to condition the chairs. This can be done after a repair or as part of regular maintenance to keep your chair looking brand new. 

Velvet Dining Chairs

Velvet dining chairs can add a luxurious feel to your dining space. Although velvet is a delicate material and if not maintained properly can become damaged. If minor damage does happen, with the right care and tools you can fix them yourself. 

• Brush the fabric: Before you start your dining chair repairs, you should use a soft brush to remove any dirt or dust.

• Repair small tears: If the repair on your dining chair is small you can use a small amount of fabric glue made for velvet. Apply this under the fabric and pull the velvet back together. Make sure you don't use too much glue as it could damage the top of the fabric. 

• Blending: Once you have repaired your dining chair, you can bend the fabric to disguise where the repair is. Lightly steaming the fabric can help blend the fibres together. As well as this, using something such as a nail file can lift the pile and restore your chair to its former glory.    

Boucle Dining Chairs

Boucle dining chairs are known for their looped texture and can add warmth to any space. However, this texture can make them vulnerable to snags and fraying overtime. If you notice your chair is starting to wear, you can carry out some dining chair repairs yourself. 

• Trim loose threads: You can carefully trim any loose threads with scissors to prevent unravelling and fraying. This can help maintain your chair's appearance.  

• Reweave if needed: If the loops of your boucle dining chair have become loose you can put them back into place. Using a toothpick or a small crochet hook you can push the part of the loop back into place. 

Acrylic Dining Chairs

Acrylic dining chairs are a great way to add a modern and contemporary look to your dining space. Although, they can develop cracks and scratches over time. You can effectively repair acrylic chairs yourself by: 

• Cleaning the surface: Make sure your chair is clean from any dirt before starting your dining chair repairs. A clean chair will also help the resin filler adhere better.

• Filling the cracks: You can use an acrylic repair kit that contains a resin filler to fix any cracks in your chair. Carefully apply the resin to fill the cracks and smooth it out. It is important to do this in a well ventilated space and to take care when using resin. 

• Sand and polish: Once the resin has cured you can gently sand the repair. Use a fin-grit sandpaper to blend the resin into the chair. To restore your chair by using acrylic polish to make sure it is clear and shines again.  

How to Repair a Broken Dining Room Chair Leg

Dining chair repairs can also be carried out on the chairs legs. If these are damaged or broken it can make the chair unstable and unusable. However, depending on the repair that needs to be done, you can make your chair usable again. 

How to Fix a Wooden Chair Leg

Wooden chair legs can become broken for a number of reasons. They can become loose, crack or fully split. Most of their repairs are easy to do at home and mean you don't need to buy a new chair. 

If your wooden chair leg is loose, turn it over and check to see if all of the bolts are tight. Simply tighten them and this should stop any wobbling. For cracks or splits you will need to apply wood glue to the broken area. 

Use clamps to hold the pieces firmly together whilst the glue sets. Sometimes, your wooden chair leg will need some reinforcement to make sure they stay stable. You can use screws or wooden dowels to do this, ensure you sink them into the chair leg. This means you can fill over them and they aren't on show.

Once everything has dried you can sand it down and apply a wood finish or paint to match the rest of your wooden chair legs. 

How to Fix a Metal Chair Leg

Metal chair legs are a sturdy choice for dining chairs. However, they can still get damaged over time mainly around joints and welding. 

You should first look to see where the chair is damaged and if this is the cause of a loose joint or a broken weld. From here you will need to use sandpaper to clean the surface and create an area for the repair material to bond to.

By using a metal epoxy you will be able to bond the broken pieces back together. Make sure you follow the instructions to ensure you have mixed and applied it correctly. It is important to clamp your metal chair leg together and in the correct position whilst it sets. 

Finally you can sand and repaint your dining chair leg. This will make sure that your chair is back to how it was before and is stable to use again. 

Tips for Maintaining Your Dining Chairs

Maintaining your dining chairs can help prevent future damage and keep them looking like new for years to come. Avoid dining chair repairs by: 

• Regular cleaning: Keeping your chairs clean from any dirt or debris can help avoid damage from happening. You should make sure your chair is free of anything that could stain or tear the material. 

• Protecting from sunlight: Leaving your chairs in direct sunlight can fade and damage your dining chairs. Make sure your chairs are kept out of direct sunlight or rotate them regularly.  

• Regularly checking: You should check your chairs for any loose screws, weak joints or signs of wear regularly. This means you can stay on top of any issues before they become a major repair job.    

Quality Chairs at Lakeland Furniture

From cleaning and repairing your chairs to fixing broken chair legs, our tips ensure your chairs look brand new again. Don’t let wear and tear take away from your dining space style. 

However, if it is time to replace your chairs, we have a large range of dining chairs to choose from. For more information on chair repairs or for any advice, contact our team of experts.