What can I do with a broken office chair?

Having a broken office chair can be frustrating, but before you throw it out or pay for expensive repairs, there are many creative ways you can repurpose and revive it. With a little bit of imagination and DIY spirit, that worn out office chair can find new life around your home.

What are some quick fixes to try and repair a broken office chair?

Here are some quick things to try if your office chair is broken:

• Tighten loose screws underneath the seat or on the wheels – this can often fix squeaks or wobbles.
• Adjust the gas lift cylinder if the chair doesn’t stay up when raised.
• Replace cracked casters and wheels if they are damaged.
• Add lubricant to moving parts like hinges, cylinders, and joints.
• Replace broken pneumatic gas lift cylinders if the chair won’t stay up.
• Switch out busted arm rests with new ones if they are cracked or unstable.

Doing some minor repairs like these can potentially get your office chair functioning again without having to buy a brand new one.

Can I fix a broken office chair or is it better to just buy a new one?

Whether you should fix or replace a broken office chair depends on the extent of the damage. Here are some key considerations:

• Cost of repairs vs. cost of a new chair – minor fixes like tightening screws or replacing wheels tend to be inexpensive compared to the price of a whole new chair.
• Age and quality of the chair – older, worn out chairs or lower quality models may not be worth investing repair costs into vs. a new chair.
• Type of damage – Severe damage like a cracked seat base or backrest may warrant replacement as some breaks can’t be fixed.
• Availability of replacement parts – Some unique chairs may not have replaceable components still in production.
• Your repair skills and time – Assembling replacement parts and reupholstering requires DIY skills and time.

As a general rule of thumb, minor repairs to the arms, base, casters, or hydraulic cylinder are often worth trying before buying new. But major structual damage or worn out upholstery may signal it’s time to replace the chair.

Creative Ways to Repurpose Your Office Chair

If you decide not to repair a broken office chair, there are still many creative ways you can give it new life:

1. Turn it into a kids’ seat

Kids love rolling chairs, so put your office chair in a playroom. Remove any small hazardous parts and it can be a fun, spin-able seat for kids to sit on while playing, reading, or doing art projects.

2. Make a drafting chair/stool

An adjustable office chair makes for the ideal drafting seat. Simply remove the back to allow your body to move freely when using a drafting table or work bench. The height adjustment will allow you to dial in the perfect position.

3. Create a quirky planter

Give your outdoor space a playful touch by turning an office chair into a planter. Drill drainage holes in the seat base, add soil and plants for a fun way to grow flowers or herbs. The wheels allow you to move it around.

4. Upcycle it into shelving

With some basic DIY skills, you can disassemble an office chair and reuse the parts, like the base and seat, to build creative shelving units for your home. The backrest could even become a handy wall-mounted magazine rack.

5. Make a chair-desk

Transform your office chair into a adjustable-height desk by attaching a wide board across the seat and arm rests. Sit on it backwards and you’ve got a wheeled workspace or laptop station.

6. Turn it into a gaming chair

An office chair with good lumbar support and adjustable height/tilt is ideal for long gaming sessions. Add some character by reupholstering the seat with bold gaming fabric or attaching accessory holders onto the arm rests and sides.

7. Give it a pet bed makeover

Pets love lounging in chairs and your office chair makes for the perfect pet bed. Simply pad the seat with a comfy blanket or pillow and watch your furry friend curl up in it. The confined seat space gives them a nice sense of security.

8. Make an artsy display piece

With some imaginative paint work, you can transform an old office chair into a quirky art piece. Spray paint fun colors and patterns over the seat, back, and base. The wheels even allow you to spin it and enjoy the artwork from all angles.

9. Create a lawn/beach chair

Bring new life to your broken office chair by turning it into an outdoor reclining chair. Replace the casters with lawn chair legs, attach some removable cushions to the seat and back, and now you’ve got adjustable backyard seating.

10. Donate it

If you don’t need your office chair anymore, consider donating it to charity, thrift stores, schools, or organizations like the Salvation Army. This keeps furniture out of landfills and gets your chair to someone who needs it. Even a partially broken chair can potentially be repaired and reused.

Best Uses for Different Office Chair Components

When breaking down an office chair, think creatively about how you can repurpose all the individual components:

Chair Component	Creative Repurposing Ideas
Wheels/casters	Furniture sliders Rolling storage caddies Mounted in a board to make a wheeled cart
Hydraulic gas lift cylinder	Adjustable lamp Lifting mechanism for a TV cabinet Standing desk converter
Seat base	Small tabletop Mounted storage bin Rotating artwork display
Arm rests	Laptop stand Bookends Mounted bike storage
Backrest	Wall mounted shelf Room divider/privacy screen Chalkboard or message board
Levers and adjustment knobs	Bag hooks Hanging planters Coat rack mounts
Upholstered fabric	Recover dining room seats Make throw pillows Line small storage baskets

Step-By-Step Guide to Repurposing an Office Chair

Follow these key steps if you want to creatively repurpose and transform your broken office chair:

1. Remove the Upholstery

– Carefully detach the upholstered padding from the chair frame using pliers or a flathead screwdriver. Try to keep the fabric intact.

– Cut away upholstery staples or screws holding the fabric to the frame.

– Set aside any usable fabric for other DIY projects.

2. Take Apart the Chair

– Use your tools to fully disassemble the chair and take all components apart.

– Separate and organize all detachable parts like wheels, arms, base, gas cylinder, etc.

3. Clean the Chair Parts

– Give the disassembled chair pieces a thorough cleaning before repurposing.

– Use warm soapy water, plastic-safe cleaners, steel wool on metal areas, etc.

– Make sure to remove any grease, grime, or debris.

4. Sand Down Any Rough Edges

– Lightly sand any rough or sharp edges to smooth them out.

– Be sure to sand metal parts by hand, not power sander.

– Wipe sanded components clean afterwards.

5. Prime/Paint Components

– For a refreshed look, apply primer then spray paint to the chair parts you want to repurpose.

– Allow proper dry time between coats for best results.

– Use masking tape to create patterns.

6. Reassemble Components in a New Way

– Based on your specific repurposing idea, reassemble chair components in creative new ways.

– Wheels can be mounted to wood boards to make rolling carts.

– The cylinder makes a great lifting mechanism for a cabinet.

– Armrests become useful shelving.

7. Add Your Own Touch of Personalization

– Add fun embellishments to your chair project to make it your own.

– This could include fabric/cushions, hardware, accessories, stenciling, etc.

– Be creative and put your personal flair on your upcycled chair project.

Conclusion

Don’t be so quick to toss out that broken down office chair – it likely still has a lot of useful parts and repurposing potential. With some inventive thinking and DIY spirit, you can give that chair new life in ways you may not have imagined. Reusing and upcycling is also far better for the environment than sending old furniture to landfills. So next time an office chair breaks, see it as an opportunity to unleash your creativity, not just a hassle. Those wheels, armrests and seat parts probably have many more miles left in them yet.