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Outdoor Makeover| How To Replace Patio Furniture Slings

July 15, 2017

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Dirty and torn fabric on your outdoor chairs?

Here's how to replace the chair slings on your patio furniture for a brand new look.

Outdoor Patio Chair Sling In Natura

Ah...summer. It's the season I wait for all year long.

I'm a true summer girl and I try to hold on to every second of it.

I adore the warm air that hits me in the morning when I open the patio door, the smell of the salt air, the late sunsets and the sand between my toes.

I am outside as much as possible.

So it stands to reason that in the summer, I suddenly don't really care about the interior of my home that much. 

Instead, I begin decorating and fluffing so my view outside is as pretty as the one inside.

However, just like inside, nothing has really been done outside in the past decade or so.

Yes, yes, we did enclose our covered porch and my husband did stain the patio and then painted the concrete.

But other than that, the backyard has not changed in years. (Pssst- we just replaced the liner in the pool!)

And this year, I was bored silly with all of it. Especially the patio furniture.

Spray Paint Outdoor Furniture

 It was worn out and tired looking and some of the slings were tattered and torn.

New sets are expensive and the frame was in great shape, so my husband and I decided to DIY.

It all started with a few curbside chairs.

He'd found a pair of very dated, green aluminum sliders in the trash and brought them home.

Besides a little chipped paint and worn seat slings, they were in great structural shape and aluminum which is fabulous for outdoors.

A little spray paint could fix the metal, but what about those slings. Could we replace those? We had no idea, but we knew Google would...

So, we went online and googled "patio furniture replacement slings" and lo and behold, tons of companies came up. We chose the one, picked a fabric, ordered them....

...and left everything in the garage, untouched, for about three years.

I kid you not.

That brings us to this summer.

After more than a decade, our old aluminum patio set had started to chip and the slings were getting ragged, faded and had worn thin.

Torn Slings On Patio Furniture

Aluminum sets do not rust and are perfect for our beach and pool lifestyle, but man, are they pricey.

And while I would love to have one of those fabulous sets you see in the PB catalogs, it's just not practical for our lifestyle.

We need chairs that will dry quickly since most people have wet suits when they sit and the idea of covering or removing cushions each night was never going to happen.

That's when we remembered the chairs in the garage and decided to do the entire set over.

Here's where we started.

Outdoor Patio Set In Cottage Garden

How To Replace Patio Furniture Chair Slings


First things first, we chose a paint safe for metal and didn't need a primer and painted the entire set. We didn't want new slings on faded, worn looking chairs.

Then we just picked a color ~ something classic ~ and bought 8 cans for about $6 a pop.

Rust-oleum Spray Paint

Next, I ordered slings.

1. Order Samples


Since so much time had passed from the date of our original order, the fabric we chose for the sliders had been discontinued.

Of course it had.

I looked all over the internet for inspiration and something that would coordinate, since I didn't want to reorder those slings, too.

I gathered samples, because computer monitors are not reliable. The color displayed on your end, may not be the color displayed on theirs.

I chose a very light sling in a fabric called Natura.

2. Measure


Most important step in this process?

Measure, measure and measure again.

Read the instructions on the website for how to measure for your specific piece of furniture.

Slings come in one piece or two, depending on your chair or chaise.

When in doubt call and ask for help, the fabric must fit perfectly or your chair will not hold up.

Trust me, measure.

Once everything was ordered, my husband took the chairs apart and spray painted them along with the table and umbrella stand.

This was how everything looked before...ick. 

Spray Paint Outdoor Furniture

 They sat like that, for almost a month.

Spray Painted Outdoor Furniture

The replacement slings are custom made and summer is the high season. Lucky for us, June was cold and rainy. When they finally arrived a few days before July 4th, they brought the warmth and sun with them.

I think it's because they came from Florida. 😉

Now. Taking the chairs apart was not hard.

Note: This one chair was reassembled after painting because we needed a place to sit for a few weeks while we were waiting for the new slings to arrive. That's why it's shiny.

How To Repair Sling Patio Chairs


3. Unscrew The Chair


My husband just literally unscrewed anything that was holding the chair together.

He stared with a wrench, but soon realized a drill would make it easier.

How To Replace A Sling On A Chair


4. Remove The Old Sling


Once the seat was separated from the frame, he used a razor to slit the seat down the middle.

Then he removed the top bar and the plugs that secured the spline to shimmy it out of the channel.

Replacing Patio Furniture Slings


5. Adding The Sling To The Chair


Putting them back together was a bear. There are a lot of tutorials online about ways to do it and tips to make it easier.

Supposedly there is a tool you can buy, but we just did it the old fashioned way with a lot of sweat and strength.

Also, keep in mind that each chair manufacturer  is a little different and each chair is made a little different. 

Some slings are mounted on the sides, others on the top.

The slings come with a new plastic spline that needs to be fed into the channel in the chair.

There were some recommendations to oil the channel, but my husband did not want to get oil all over the slings and he didn't want it to stain my light fabric.

Instead, he applied a little cooking spray to a q-tip and ran that up and down the channel.

We fed one side in at a time, turning and twisting the metal bar with the channel as we fed the spline through. That's the hard part.

It doesn't go in easily and you want the fabric to be taught so you need to stretch and pull it all the way to the end.

Threading A Spline On An Outdoor Sling Chair


6. Reassemble The Chair


Once it's in, you just need to gather all your pieces and screws and reassemble the chair.

Then clip any of the excess spline away and put the plugs back in.


How To Replace Patio Chair Slings

When we started this process, I was excited, but also a little bummed out at the prospect of being stuck with the same old, boring patio set for another decade.

Replacement Slings For Patio Chairs

 However, now that it's done, I absolutely love it.

The lighter slings, darker paint and addition of a few new colorful pillows and umbrella has breathed new life into the old set.

It's still super practical for our needs and didn't cost a lot. Plus, now I have six chairs and unified set.

The four slings were just under $40 each.

Although there was a huge variation in price from company to company. I paid $50 each for the first two and got quotes of up to $100 each, so shop around.

Patio Furniture Makeover

We chose the least expensive company this time and their work was lovely ~ exactly the same as the $50 ones.

So there you have it.

How to replace outdoor patio furniture slings to update an old set.

Definitely not a super easy DIY, but certainly doable and much, much less expensive than buying new.

And what could be better than that?

Happy Summer!

How To Replace Patio Furniture Slings
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  1. It looks like a brand new set Kim. The dark metal paired with the light sling makes it look so pretty. And of course the addition of the pillows gives it a fun look. Smart thinking to order the slings.

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    1. Thank you so much, Mary! I did not have a lot of faith in the process, but in the end, I was wowed. It's a lovely place to sit now and I don't see anything in a catalog that I like better and certainly not for the price!

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  2. Oh Kim this is so awesome. I love the spray paint you used on the frames and the sling material is gorgeous. You got a whole new set for just some elbow grease. Wow I love this!!! Probably one of the best summer outdoor furniture make overs I have seen. You don't need no stinkin Pottery Barn! Beautiful job.
    Kris

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    1. Thanks Kris! My husband is like your husband. He doesn’t mind a good DIY, so it was worth a try. I am super happy with the results. Like I said, I was a little bit unsure if there would be enough of a difference between the before and after, and if it would look dated, but I love it…so it was worth the time. ❤️

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  3. Hi Kim, This makeover is really fabulous. I have used that same spray and color for several of my outdoor pieces too. It wears like iron!! The sling fabric you chose is beautiful too and a nice contrast. Beautiful job and it looks brand new!! Love the pillows you added.
    Have a great weekend. xo

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    1. Thanks so much, Celestina and so glad to know that the paint wears well. That will be a huge plus since I don't want to have to do this again for another ten years! Ha! 😉

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  4. I must say, "it looks fantastic!" Love the hammered aluminum spray you chose to paint them with. You made it sound easy changing out those slings! Now you can enjoy them a good long while! I remember one year I sewed my own new patio cushions for some porch chairs we had, but it was a bear trying to sew Sunbrella fabric with my sewing machine. I did it though.

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    1. Thanks Florence! My husband actually asked me if I could sew the slings myself and I said, "Um, no way!!". I give you a ton of credit for sewing your own cushions. That is a huge accomplishment!

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  5. Beautiful job! Looks quite professional. Always is a great feeling to complete a project especially when it looks as nice as this! Happy weekend!

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    1. Thanks Lynn. Yes, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I love the "new" set. I was not at all surprised by the professional result. My husband is quite talented and a perfectionist!!

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  6. These turned out beautifully and look so sophisticated. We have some sling chairs that are discolored from the sun. I will be looking into replacements.

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    1. Oh great Toni! I am glad that you have found some inspiration today!

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  7. Wow- That was a big job to take on. Don't think my unhandy hubby could BEGIN the project-let alone finish it and not sure I am ambitious enough to attempt it on my own. It sure looks great now that you are done though. Absolutely perfect!!!

    Hope you have a great Sunday- xo Diana

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    1. Thanks Diana! I love the way it looks and yes, super happy it’s done. He’s a dedicated DIYer. If I can plan it, he can do it and I am taking advantage until he runs out of steam! 😉

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  8. Wow, so much work! To have your hubby in on this project for the long haul is quite a blessing. The whole set looks great!

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    1. Thanks AnnMarie, he definitely has that can do attitude. Halfway through, before we ordered the slings, we did shop a bit, but we couldn't find anything so we trudged forward. Just glad it's done now!!

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  9. The makeover looks great. I can see why you would want to keep this set. The detailing is very pretty.

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    1. Thank you, Debbie. Truth is for what they wanted for a new set, it wouldn't have been that much different and since we did like the detail, we decided a do over was best. Thanks for the visit and the comment. I hope you pop by again!

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  10. These look amazing. And even with the cost of supplies, if the bones of the chairs are in good shape, I know it's more cost efficient than new. Where did you order the slings? I couldn't find anything in the BLOG, maybe I missed it.
    Thanks, and again, beautiful job.
    Brenda

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    1. Hi Brenda, thanks for the kind words! And yes, definitely more cost efficient than new in our case. I ordered the last set of slings from a company called Patio Direct Online. Before that I ordered from Over and Under Online. I was very happy with the quality of both. Good luck!

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  11. Passing this on to my daughter.
    Your "sling" chair look like hers.
    Not sure they will want to endure the "redo" with patience though!
    Very nice looking "new set!"
    Good Job!

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    1. I wouldn’t blame them! If I had a steel set or did not need a quick drying seat due to wet pool and beach bottoms, I’m not sure I would’ve done this, Lynne. It was time consuming. However, since we paid over $700 for this set over a decade ago, something comparable in quality and style was in the thousands now, so it was worth it for us. Especially since summer is a relatively short season in my neck of the woods. Boo. 😉 Thank you for your sweet comment!

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  12. I envy anyone who lives in a place where it's actually tolerable to spend time outdoors. That isn't the case here.
    Brenda

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    1. Summer is short here, Brenda, but generally tolerable. There are 100 degree humid days, but that’s the exception not the rule. Of course, the trade off is that fact that we often spend December to April buried in snow and with temps that don’t climb above 20.

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  13. Wow, they all look like brand new pieces....good job!

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    1. Thanks Carol! I will pass you sweet words on to the big guy! 😊

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  14. Oh my, you guys did a great job! And cooking spray to the rescue! Good tip there! You're so right about ordering samples. I've ordered things that turn out totally different than how they displayed on the screen. And I totally agree to shop around...with everything. I was at the store the other day and needed an eyebrow brush. The first one I saw was $19! What?! I kept looking and found one for $7, but didn't stop until I came across the e.l.f. ones that were only $1. Score! Lol!

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    1. Samples were key, Lisa. The first set we ordered, for those two sliders, were supposed to match the old set. They were so much lighter, not even close. Lesson learned! And way to score in the make up aisle! I love e.l.f. Their products are great and the prices are awesome.

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  15. You Rock Girl!
    I am passing this along to my friend Bonita, who has chairs like this and she needs to add some TLC to them.
    Thank YOU for sharing.
    Carla

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    1. Thanks for sharing my post, Carla. I hope that she finds some inspiration in it! :)

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  16. I wish I knew about this years ago as I have chairs that needed new slings. I put them to the curb. But now i know better. Great post.

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    1. I had no idea either, Debra. My husband suggested it and then we just fell down the Google rabbit hole looking for solutions. Thanks for coming by today!!

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  17. Great job! Everything looks fabulous!!

    Love,
    Susan and Bentley

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    1. Thank you so much, Susan! It's a pretty place to sit now...

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  18. What a great tutorial and your set looks perfect. Congrats to you and your husband for a job well done.

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    1. Thanks Lorri. I have to say that all the credit really goes to him on this one. I just picked out the colors and held a few chair pieces on this one. I'm more of a glue gun type of gal. 😉

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  19. Now, while I knew this was going to be about chairs, I cracked up at " But other than that, the backyard has not changed in years"

    EVERY YEAR HERE the birds or the wind drops a new weed or vine for me to contend with / I wish that I had your backyard :)

    Wonderful job on this!! They look like brand new chairs!

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    1. Thanks so much, Deb! And yes, we have the requisite repairs, but as far as the decor goes, I'm a pretty boring girl!

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  20. Oh, wow! What a great transformation! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

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    1. Thanks so much, Marci! They look much better now...

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  21. The chairs looks great recovered...We spray painted ours before but never recovered...You always do provide great tutorials. It must be great to have a pool to dip in when to cool off with the hot weather...I can dip my legs in the pond but that's are far as I go in...

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    1. How cool to have a pond you can dip in. Now that's a real cottage garden! Lucky lady!! The recovering part was all my husband, it was not my kind of easy DIY, but so worth it in the end. And thank you for you kind words about my tutorials...once a teacher... 🙂

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  22. They look awesome...like a brand new set! Love the dark paint color with the light slings.

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    1. Thanks Kristi! I combed Pinterest for a look I loved and found one small shot of a set like mine set on a deck in Italy and I thought that's it! Of course, it's not quite the rolling hills of Tuscany or the Italian Riviera here at Exquisitely Unremarkable, but I do love those chairs! 😉

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  23. The transformation of your patio set is beautiful. Your hard work paid off and I love that it was curbside.

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    1. Thanks so much Sherry, yes, those curbside rescues gave us the motivation to redo our old set. It was the push we needed for sure!

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  24. Thank you for popping by, Teri and for your lovely comment. I love that red, too! Every time I try to stray, I come right back to it. ❤️

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  25. Would you believe I NEVER find curbside treasures in my area? Love your outdoor space and DIY upcycles! That metallic paint is great and so versatile.

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    1. We have a lot of good garbage around here, Cecilia! I’m not exactly sure what that says about my neighborhood!! Ha!

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  26. This is a great solution! I have a set too, that could benefit from this simple fix. It looks so nice...and you saved so much money. What more could you want? ;)

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    1. Exactly, Donnamae! It was totally worth it. Good luck on your project. Please let me know if you do it, I would love to see pictures!!

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  27. Wow! Kim! You and your husband are amazing! That was quite a job to undertake, but you did it, successfully, and the wow factor is over-the-top amazing! I love your "new" set! It took a lot of hard work, but it was worth every minute! Hugs :)

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    1. It was quite a job, Marilyn, but I love our new set, too!! Thanks so much!

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  28. Those look great! We have similar outdoor furniture and your tips for repairing them are super helpful.

    Thanks so much!
    Elizabeth :-)

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    1. Thanks Elizabeth. We are very happy with the outcome. I appreciate the visit and the comment. I hope you visit again, soon.

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  29. It's very beautiful! It must bring you both much contentment to be finished with this project and I think your husband must be a very patient person - at least with stuff in order to take on and complete a project like this. It is amazing what you both can do together!

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    1. He is very patient and had a definite can do spirit! :) Thanks so much, Ronda!

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  30. I love your spirit, Kim! You should be proud of your makeover... it definitely looks like a brand new set! I do have to say that I was surprised at the price of the slings. Seriously I would have thought $25 a piece. Still much less than the $$$ for a new chair. Isn't it great that red is still a color that can be found in umbrellas? You are a blessed gal!

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    1. The slings were pricey Diane, no doubt, I was surprised too. Then again as a (not very accomplished) seamstress I know the price of that fabric and the labor would not be cheap. Worth it in the end! And thanks! :)

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  31. Great job Kim! Isn't it amazing what new spray paint can do? hanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  32. Wow great job those turned out lovely! Those look like new chairs.

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    1. Thanks Linda! The set really does look and feel new now. Much better than shelling out a fortune.

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  33. They look absolutely fabulous, well done!

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  34. Where did you get the slings made? I’m searching the internet but can only find links to buy the fabric and make it myself, which I really don’t want to do.

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    1. We used two different shops, but one was Patio Direct Online and I believe the other was American Slings. I hope that helps!!

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