Furniture stores and upholstery shops typically toss samples when they’re discontinued. If you ask, they’ll probably give you the discards for free. Among the offerings, you may find expensive designer fabrics you’d probably never buy by the yard. Fabric samples vary in size, but they’re ideal for lots of home decor projects, including covering dining chair seats. Most hanging samples are large enough to cover a single chair for your desk or den. With larger folded fabric samples, you may have enough for a pair of captain’s chair seats, or perhaps even a set of small breakfast room chairs. Can’t find anything but sample books with small swatches? Stitch the samples together for a crafty patchwork effect. Most traditional quilts suit the cozy cottage and country looks. Dining chair seats upholstered with a Victorian crazy quilt look equally at home in Victorian-inspired and boho style homes. Add an enchanting touch to your contemporary or transitional decor by covering your chair seats with a colorful Indian or Pakistani ralli quilt. Repurposing them as chair seat fabric is a great way to display them. Just cut away the threadbare and stained areas. If the good parts aren’t large enough to cover a set of chairs, cover just one as an accent for another room. Oriental rugs look striking with most decor styles. The geometric patterns of flat-woven Navajo or kilim rugs are ideal for casual, country, and contemporary chair seats. Look for a damaged French Aubusson rug if you love romantic or shabby chic interiors. The flatter and more malleable the rug’s weave, the easier it will likely be to upholster your chairs. Don’t dismiss a piece with moth holes or stains, especially if the price is a bargain. You may be able to remove the stains, and you can always cut away the damage. Hand-dyed pieces, such as batik, plangi, or ikat, look fabulously unique as chair seat upholstery fabric. Even vintage tie-dye looks charming in the right room. The handcrafted fabric look suits bohemian style, contemporary, and transitional interiors quite well. You can also use these artisan textiles to add an unexpected layer of color and texture to a traditional room. Appliqued fabrics are another good option for your dining chairs. Use fabric samples to create your own applique design on plain fabric, or look for a decorative handmade imported piece, such as a suzani. You might not want to use fine examples of textile art on your kitchen chairs if your family frequently spills food and drink, but finer fabrics work well in a formal dining room. Look for discarded custom drapery panels made from patterned barkcloth, classic cotton toile, or elegant damask. You might also use old bedspreads, perhaps a print with diamond-patterned quilting or a vintage chenille. If you find a cheerful 1940s fabric tablecloth, clean it and cover the chair seats in the kitchen to add color and a bit of retro kitsch.
