Easy and Quick Office Chair Makeover with HTV

Posted by Denn on 29th Mar 2023

Did you know that office workers may spend roughly 17,000 hours sitting in an office chair? Phew! That's a lot of time consumed being sedentary.

For someone who lives most of their lives working in the office sitting day to night, anything that could brighten up your mood or lighten up your workload is a desirable addition. Getting yourself an ergonomic office chair is a priority, but who said it doesn't have to end with comfortability? How about your aesthetic cravings?

Lucky for you, there's a perfect way to get a little extra with your office chair. After all, it is your home most of the day. It is your haven and only throne, so why put up with a dreadful seat if HTV can give you the power to spice it up and bring your own flavor into it?

So, say goodbye to your old boring chair and be ready to give your chair the makeover it deserves.

GET IT COLORED!

How can I change the color of my office chair with HTV?

Let's admit it! Most office chairs that we sit on could be more varied and varied. Rarely do we get a glimpse of an ultra-chic and attention-grabbing seat. But this ends today with you! In this tutorial, you'll learn how to splash the rainbow colors on any bland chair you want.

But hey! Here are a few heads-ups if you wish to HTVify your office chair.

1. Make sure your office chair is made of fabric that is HTV-compatible. Put a halt on your DIY plans if it is made of plastic or any material that scorches or burns easily. The key here is applying the accurate temperature, time, and pressure setting. However, there needs to be a universal setting for these three factors. Each HTV maker has their settings. You simply need to read and follow application instructions to save yourself from the disaster that scorched substrate is. The good thing is that most materials used to cover office chairs are HTV-ready, so you don't have to worry that much. Whether cotton or leather, you bet HTV will stick to it.

2. Any chair will do! What I like about this DIY Project is that it isn't limited to office chairs alone. This vinyl 101 can also be used for other types of chairs. For instance, you can also personalize your children's study chairs or customize your dining room chairs depending on the holiday. Plus! You can use either adhesive vinyl or HTV to turn your creative insights into tangible delight. It doesn't have to be new too. This particular project is equally workable for both new and used chairs. Many crafters have found joy in using HTV to renovate and save their worn-out office chairs.

3. Choose the right Heat Transfer Vinyl. If you're a long-time HTV user, you know by now that certain HTVs can only be paired with specific fabrics and substrates. So, before purchasing any vinyl, put out extra effort to research which is which. This way, you'll never have to wonder why your HTV didn't stick.

4. Use a Mini Press. You can't use a traditional clamshell Heat Press when transferring HTV on the backrest of an office chair, so you're left with a home iron, EasyPress, and a MiniPress for the job.

Some of you may find EasyPress the most viable contender here, but I'll tell you why you should not use it for this project. An office chair's backrest is partially flat. Most of them are either curvy or bumpy. Because of this, you'll not get an even heat and pressure distribution, two essential factors of the HTV application's success.

In the case of a regular home iron, though it's smaller and handier than an EasyPress, the absence of a specific heat setting is a limiting factor we must recognize.

That leaves us with a Mini Press. This particular heat source is the best option since it's lightweight and handy. Also, its petite size allows you to press with even heat and pressure, unlike some regular home iron with steam vents that leaves a spot unpressed.

Another bonus advantage of a Mini Press is its well-designed precision tip that guarantees effortless control and accuracy.

That covers all the essential tips you need to know before pushing forward with your DIY office chair makeover.

Let's now have a rundown of all the supplies and tools you'll need for this project.

1. Office Chair as your substrate

2. Heat Transfer Vinyl

3. Teflon Sheet/ Parchment Paper

4. Heat-resistant Tape

5. Mini Press

6. Weeding Tool

Step 1. Creating, Cutting and Weeding the Design

Before you head on with your design, measure first the area you're decorating with HTV. Since we are applying vinyl on a plain flat surface, you must be mindful of which place to cover. Either put a cute image in the middle or cover almost the entire backrest of the chair with a fun print or geometric patterns. A helpful tip: Avoid going to hard-to-press areas and parts that get the most stressed or stretched more often. Such could lead to easy wearing out or premature peeling of your applied HTV.

If you've chosen to decorate your office chair with a pattern and the area you're trying to cover is bigger than one vinyl sheet, simply reprint the design on another vinyl. Or else, you can use a more extensive vinyl sheet (12x12 HTV) instead, depending on your cutting machine's capacity.

Once you get the accurate size of your space, it'll be easy for you to scale the dimensions of your graphic. After this, load your vinyl into the cutting machine correctly and click the print button. Once printing is done, weed out the excess vinyl to retain only the elements of your design.

Step 2. Preparing the HTV for Application

Since we're applying the vinyl horizontally, we'll need something to fix it on the office chair's backrest while pressing it. Though the HTV's carrier sheet has an adhesive, it may not hold that long because of its orientation.

Depending on your preference, you can cut the design into sections for a smoother and easier transfer. This way, you can already remove the carrier sheet of the applied HTV since you might find it a distraction when pressing on the other parts.

Step 3. Heat-Pressing the Vinyl

Although some office chair is made of heat-resistant fabric, it's still best to add a layer of Parchment paper or a Teflon sheet as an additional protective cover. You can also tape it using heat-resistant tape.

Once you've confirmed the application settings, you can start pressing. You can start from bottom to up or vice versa. If you decided to apply the vinyl as one and did not cut it into segments as suggested above and find the carrier sheet hindering you from properly pressing, cut it. Make sure not to touch or repress the newly pressed HTV, and you're good! After heat-pressing everything, you can now marvel at the beauty of your spiced-up office chair!

If you're still unsure of what to do and are searching for artistic inspiration, read on, and maybe one of these ideas can captivate your heart.

Colorful Office Chair Makeover Ideas

Floral! Floral! Floral!

Office life can sometimes be intoxicating; that's why the sight of fresh flowers and nature-inspired graphic or floral patterns is a welcome view that gives a refreshing vibe.

Abstract Patterns

A lover of art? Then you're sure to enjoy turning that backrest into a Picasso-like masterpiece. There are tons of enchanting visuals to choose from. You'll always have choices here.

Company Logo

A creative way to express your loyalty to the company is a heat-pressed brand logo on your office chair! Or you can also let loose of your artistic self and sprinkle your spin on it. Go and make your boss smile with this idea.

Custom Monograms and Names

Nothing's more personal than a chair designed with a custom monogram or your name. You can play with hundreds of fonts and graphics to make it a standout.

Geometric Patterns

Hundreds or even thousands of geometric patterns are scattered across the internet. From simple to complex designs, crafters will have difficulty deciding which to use.

Bible Verses, Inspirational Mantras

Office life, at times, is challenging. You have deadlines to beat or a dreadful boss to follow. So why not battle stress with an excellent old reminder from you? Whether it's your fave bible verse or a mantra, your chair instantly becomes a source of inspiration with any quotes or words of wisdom you put into it.

How do you cover an office chair with fabric?

Other than using HTV to elevate your office chair, there are also different ways to upgrade its look. Either you take your time to sew a new cover or plunge into a quicker DIY adventure with your staple gun.

Sewing a new cover is a more durable yet laborious process. But if you're in a hurry, a staple gun is the fastest alternative.

So, let's continue the makeover and learn this guide for covering an office chair with a piece of fabric without sewing.

Here's what you'll need to complete this chair transformation:

1. A piece of fabric

2. Staple Gun

3. Scissors

4. Screw Driver

Procedure:

1. Disassemble the chair to access the seat and backrest. Set aside all the screws.

2. Lay your fabric on the table or floor, then turn the seat upside down and place it in the center.

3. Cut the fabric 3 to 4 inches longer from all sides of the seat.

4. Next, begin pulling the fabric toward the center of the seat. Pull it tightly so there'll be no wrinkle on the other side.

5. Once ensuring that the other side is smooth and crease-free, start stapling the fabrics till you've finished the entire seat. Last, cut all the excess fabric.

Working on the backrest is challenging since it has a plastic backing. Since you cannot staple down on this, you must pry it out to separate the cushion from the plastic backing. After detaching the two, you can now cover the backrest cushion with a brand-new fabric. Do it in the same way you cover the seat cushion. Once done, reassemble the chair and appreciate the new and exciting look your once unattractive chair is now sporting.

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