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    Home » Thrift Store Makeovers » Boys Rocking Chair | Lightning McQueen

    Boys Rocking Chair | Lightning McQueen

    Published by Gail | Published August 11, 2021 | Updated December 13, 2022
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    How to paint a boys rocking chair red and recover the seat using CARS fabric with Mater and Lightning McQueen. Movie fans will love it! Lots of tips for an easy makeover. #MyRepurposedLife #kidsfurniture #rockingchair #cars #mater #lightningMcqueen via @repurposedlife

    Do you know a little boy who loves Disney's Pixar "Cars" movie, Lightning McQueen and Mater? This boys red rocking chair makeover using Cars fabric is sure to please any little boy that just can't get enough of that wonderful movie.

    thrift store decor team

    This is our Thrift Store Day, be sure to check out all the projects below.

    This thrift store boy's rocking chair wasn't in terrible shape, but it was time for an update for sure!!

    Did you see the other small child doll rocking chair makeover I did?

    How Do You Degloss a Project For Painting?

    Heirloom Traditions Furniture Deglosser

    Because the boys rocking chair was pretty shiny, I reached for the HTP Deglosser, to clean the project and prep it for paint.

    Simply brush on the deglosser with a chip brush, then scrub it gently with a scouring pad. There's no need to rinse it off.

    Make Repairs | Tighten Loose Screws

    Some of the screws were loose, and needed a little tightening.

    A dab of black paint was added to deepen the red paint.

    I wanted to paint the boys rocking chair red, but the red I had seemed a little too bright, so I added just a bit of black paint. The sample jar was nearly empty.

    The paint went on beautifully because the finish was prepped well.

    The boy's red rocking chair turned out just as I had hoped! This is after the first coat, I added a very light second coat.

    I took a paint sample to Hobby Lobby to choose some Disney Pixar's Cars Fabric.

    How to Upholster the Seat

    1. Remove Dust Cover
    2. Remove (or leave) Original Fabric
    3. Staple New Fabric in Place
    4. Trim Fabric
    5. Replace Dust Cover

    I chose to leave the original fabric, and simply put the CARS fabric over it. For this upholster project, I used an Arrow Power Shot, and a staple remover.

    Furniture Button Plugs

    missing furniture plugs

    The boys rocking chair was missing some furniture plugs, 4 in all. Two on each side.

    half inch furniture button plugs

    I found a package at Home Depot, but they didn't match exactly. Initially, I only replaced the four missing plugs. But in the end, I took the time to remove the original plugs and replace them so they would all match.

    Can you see that the new plugs are larger than the original ones?

    touch up paint with small sponge

    All of the button plugs needed to be painted. I chose to use a small piece of sponge to dab on several coats of paint until the color matched the chair.

    Boys Rocking Chair Makeover

    So, here it is all finished! Someone's going to love this boys rocking chair! Why? Because he loves Mater and Lightning McQueen! 🙂

    Let's see MORE Thrift Store projects

    Boho Chic Jewelry Tray My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

    Thrifted Child's Wall Easel To Wall Decor - Organized Clutter

    Sand And Seashells Beach Jar Idea - Petticoat Junktion

     Upcycled Shutter Angel - House Of Hawthornes

    Coastal Coasters - Sadie Seasongoods

    Boys Rocking Chair - My Repurposed Life (you are here)

    Refresh Bathroom Vanity Light - Shop At Blu

    Large Farmhouse Metal Basket - Domestically Speaking

    Outdoor Coffee Table Makeover - Our Southern Home

     Easy Cake Stand - Reinvented Delaware

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    About Gail Wilson

    Hi, there! I’m Gail, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

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    1. Cindy Rust

      August 11, 2021 at 8:40 pm

      Gail, you did a great job on this rocker! I especially love that you took the time to plug up the hardware holes. Those kinds of detail matter!

      Reply
    2. Sarah Ramberg

      August 11, 2021 at 4:21 pm

      SUPER CUTE refresh, Gail!

      Reply
    3. Kristin salazar

      August 11, 2021 at 2:17 pm

      This turned out so great, love that combo of paint and material!

      Reply
    4. Maryann

      August 11, 2021 at 1:17 pm

      Gail that rocking chair is adorable!

      Reply
    5. Christy @ Our Southern Home

      August 11, 2021 at 12:20 pm

      This is adorable for a boy's room. That fabric is precious!

      Reply
    6. Sue at Blu

      August 11, 2021 at 11:38 am

      Gail, the colors are perfect! You picked a fabulous fabric! So excited to be part of this tour!

      Reply
    7. Pam

      August 11, 2021 at 10:35 am

      Absolutely adorable! My son used to love the Cars movie. We'd watch them endlessly on repeat!

      Reply
    8. girlfromwva

      August 11, 2021 at 10:14 am

      so cool! love the finished paint color and the choice of material.

      Reply
    9. Carlene Blair

      August 11, 2021 at 7:28 am

      Super cute makeover, Gail! Love the fabric seat!

      Reply

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    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

    More about me →

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