The dad-what? This would probably be the reaction of most young people today when they hear about papasan chairs. It’s perfectly understandable, though, because papasan chairs aren’t as popular anymore these days, unlike in the 1970s when virtually every home in the United States had at least one of these chairs.
If you’re one of the millions of people who’ve owned a papasan chair for years and are now trying to decide whether to sell it at an online auction, donate it to charity, or just throw it away, you might want to stop for a moment. and reconsider your options. Although there are people who are convinced that the days of the papasan chair are behind us, there are also those who believe that it can still be used as an important feature in modern interior design.
There are actually a number of things you can do to update the look of your papasan chair so that it fits nicely into any room in your home. Here are some of the easiest makeover tips you can follow:
- Stain the base a different color. Most traditional papasan chairs are made of wicker and treated with clear lacquer to bring out the light brown color of the wicker. You can change the look of your chair considerably by re-staining it a darker shade like mahogany or even black. Not only will this make the chair look new, but it will also give it a more elegant and sophisticated look. Painting over the rattan base is generally not recommended, but it can work if you plan to move the chair into your children’s room or playroom, in which case a brighter color would certainly be more appropriate.
- Make a new cushion cover. By changing the color, pattern, or fabric of your papasan chair cushion, you can make it look like a completely different chair than the one you’ve been using all these decades. An easy way to do this is to make a new cushion cover. The options are practically endless because you have all the fabrics in the world to choose from. While you’re at it, you may also want to make several additional slipcovers so you can change the look of your chair as the seasons change, for example.
- Simplify the design. Many papasan cushions from years ago have quite bold prints and bold colors. These may have worked perfectly with design trends back then, but now, it’s more about elegance and sophistication in simple elements. So if you are going to change the covers of your papasan cushions, it would be a good idea to stick to plain tones, preferably light. A papasan chair with a luxurious off-white cushion and a dark stain on the base would certainly look very elegant indeed.
Of course, before following any of these papasan makeover tips, you should first check that the chair is still in relatively good condition. If there are minor repairs that need to be done to the base, they should be taken care of before you start painting or staining. If the cushion has already become thin due to age and overuse, it would be best to throw it away and purchase a completely new cushion.
On the other hand, if you’re not trying to get rid of an old papasan chair but are looking for one on the market, you’re in luck because there are so many of these wonderful chairs being sold all over the country at extremely low prices. . Used ones can be had for as little as ten dollars if you are a talented negotiator, while new ones can be purchased for $50-$100.
When shopping for a new papasan chair, one of the most important factors to consider is the quality of the craftsmanship. Papasan chairs are handmade and most of them are imported from Southeast Asia, where native workers expertly create these works of art. These chairs go through an intensive quality control process and you can be sure of their excellence and durability.
However, there are also some papasans that are not as high quality as these authentic pieces of furniture. Rattan or wicker may not have received proper treatment and be prone to rot or other types of damage a few months after purchase. You can avoid these kinds of problems by making sure you only buy your papasan chairs from a reputable dealer or retailer.
Whether you’re repurposing an old papasan chair or purchasing an entirely new one, you can be sure that these chairs will be able to provide you and others in your household with comfortable seating for many years to come.
