Heading to the beach with a little DIY flair! If you follow me on Snapchat you may have seen my recent IKEA run and the project that came out of it — these colorful sling beach chair makeovers. Whether you buy an inexpensive sling chair or refresh a cover you already own, this is a quick, fun project to personalize your beach setup or create a unique gift.
I’m a big fan of sling chairs: they’re lightweight, portable, and offer the perfect canvas for bold graphics or playful patterns. For this round I went with a pastry-inspired theme—think pop tart shape and sprinkle-covered frosting. The result is eye-catching and perfect for poolside lounging or taking to the sand.
DIY Sling Beach Chair Makeovers
Total Time: 2 Hours plus drying time
Supplies
Sling beach chair (new or an existing cover — wash covers before painting)
Fabric-safe craft paint in white (use as a primer) plus your chosen colors
Paint brushes: a large brush for broad coverage and smaller brushes for details and touch-ups
3″ letter stickers if you want to create a graphic text chair (available at office supply stores)
Directions
1. Remove the sling fabric from the chair and lay it flat on a protected surface such as a tarp or newspaper. If your chair fabric has a pattern or a strong color, apply a coat of white or light-colored fabric-safe paint as a primer. Allow it to dry completely and add a second coat if the original design is still visible.
Tip: If you run out of white primer, experimenting with other light colors can produce unexpected and attractive results, like a subtle rainbow underlayer.
Pop tart-style chair:
2. Paint the central area of the fabric a frosting color (for example, pink), leaving a wavy border of about 3–4 inches to represent the pastry edge. Let the paint dry.
3. Paint the remaining outer border a tan color to mimic the crust. Allow it to dry completely.
4. Use a small brush to add round sprinkle shapes in several colors across the pink frosting area. Let everything dry before reattaching the sling.
Graphic text chair:
5. Decide on a short phrase or word. Arrange the letter stickers on the dried, primed fabric before peeling their backs off — this lets you experiment with spacing and alignment.
6. Once you’re happy with placement, press the stickers down and paint over them with your chosen color. Apply a second coat if needed and allow it to dry.
7. Carefully peel off each sticker to reveal clean letter shapes. Use a small brush to touch up any areas where paint may have bled under the sticker edges.
Finishing:
8. Because the back of sling chairs is often visible, you can either paint the reverse side a solid color or create a matching design. After all paint is fully dry, reattach the fabric to the frame and your custom chair is ready for the sand.
Photos by Jeff Mindell
On Me: Smiley bathing suit c/o Batoko | Floppy hat c/o Apparel
Also pictured: striped towel, pink towel, and sequin beach bag.
If you spot what looks like a giant pop tart lounging on the sand, that’s probably my chair. Give this makeover a try and make your beach gear as bold and playful as you feel. What would your chair say — gym or something else?
P.S. Try pairing this project with other summer DIYs like a watermelon floppy hat for a coordinated beach look.