DIY Telephone Chair Makeover — Upcycle a Gossip Bench That Looks Amazing

Post Update: I first shared this DIY telephone chair makeover back in 2021, but I’ve updated it with clearer steps, fresh insights, and new details so you can easily recreate this timeless piece!

Skill Level: Intermediate DIY
This DIY telephone chair makeover didn’t start as a show-stopper. These old telephone chairs (also called “gossip benches” or “telephone benches”) were designed back when phones were stationary and required a built-in table + chair combo.
I love the idea of taking a non-functional piece of furniture and up-cycling it into something modern, useful, and beautiful.

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Finding or identifying the piece

When I started my first telephone-chair makeover with my sister at Double Arrow Designs, we found one that needed a major transformation. So now this is my second Telephone chair DIY!

• Look for “telephone chair”, “telephone bench”, or “gossip bench” in listings.
• Note the condition: many have dark stains, built-in table surfaces, maybe a drawer or shelf.

All of this can be refurbished, check out my video below for a quick take on how I refinished this telephone chaor from start to finish.

Check out My YouTube video on the telephone chair process!

Original Telephone chair

This original telephone chair was bought in this condition. Right away, I knew I would need to strip and reupholster the seat. Also, the dark wood finish needed to be changed. In the past post How to Refinish A Secretary Desk I bleached part of the wood. I loved how this came out so much that I decided that I would use this same bleach method on the tabletop of this telephone chair. Then paint the rest a neutral color.

Prepping your furniture piece

Before I start any furniture project, I clean my piece well. I get a bucket of warm sudsy water and a sponge or a rag and wash down my piece from top to bottom. A lot of these older pieces have collected dust, grime, and dirt. This is so important to remove any of this before you start.

Stripping and preparing the wood

• If the wood finish is dark or varnished, use a gel remover (I used Klean Strip Paint & Varnish Remover) and apply as directed.
• Let it sit, then scrape in the direction of the grain for even removal.
• After the bulk of removal, use a hand sander (I used a cordless with a spare battery handy) to remove the remaining finish.
• Make sure all varnish/stain is removed before proceeding.

Steps to bleaching wood

Once I had stripped the old varnish off the wood and hand-sanded the remaining stain off, I was ready to bleach! I break down the process below in super easy steps, and the supplies you will need.

Supplies

• Household bleach
• gloves
• distilled white vinegar
• water
• sponge brushes
• protective eyeglasses
• sanding block fine grit– I used 220 (The higher the number, the finer the git- the lower the number, the coarser the grit is)

Process for bleaching wood

• Ensure all previous finishes (varnish/stain) are removed and the wood is dry.
• Brush bleach onto the surface along the grain.
• Let it sit about 4 hours (you’ll see the wood lighten).
• Mix equal parts white vinegar + water; wipe the surface to neutralize the bleach. (stopping the chemical reaction on the wood)
• Let it dry completely (surface may feel slightly rough).
• Lightly sand with the fine-grit block to smooth out roughness.
• Seal the surface: I used a clear matte poly-acrylic because this tabletop will get heavy use. After the first coat dries, lightly sand then apply a second coat for full protection.

Priming my telephone chair

Now that I have bleached the table of my telephone chair, I will cover this with paper and painters tape to protect it from my next step. PRIMING

I am a huge fan of Zinsser BIN primer. You can use any primer you have; however, on dark wood pieces like this, you need to use a primer that will block any tannins of the wood seeping through. Zinsser BIN primer is a shellac-based primer that will do the trick. A few important things to know when working with this primer.

• Pour what you need into a small container. I do this so I do not contaminate the whole can of primer by redipping my brush into the can.
• Cover the can of primer once you take what you need. This primer dries FAST. To keep the balance of your primer in good condition, keep it covered.
• Use a brush, and in one fluid motion, apply the primer. THEN LEAVE IT ALONE. As I have said above, this primer dries fast, and if you try and go over it, it will be tacky and you will have a rough surface. Set it and forget it!
• One coat of primer makes your project look like a disaster! Keep in mind that a second coat will fill in more of the brush strokes and areas that are peeking through.
• Once your two coats are complete, let your piece thoroughly dry. Then will a fine-grit sanding block will smooth out any roughness or paint drips.
• Cleaning your brushes. Because Zinsser BIN is a shellac-based primer, regular soap and water will not clean your brushes. I use equal parts ammonia and water and let my brushes sit in this for a few hours. Then I wash off with soap and water, and your brushes are as good as new!
• I only use purdy brushes. They are more expensive, however, if you take good care of them, they will last you a long time.
• Once both coats of primer are dry, you are ready to paint!

Painting your telephone chair

Wow, lots of steps before you get to the fun part! I will always tell anyone who is painting a piece of furniture. That if you prep well, the painting will look amazing! I have done a Telephone Chair Makeover in the past and used Benjamin Moore paint on this. On this project, I have decided to use chalk paint. I usually use regular Benjamin Moore, however, I had bought this Annie Sloan chalk paint a while ago in Louis blue and thought it was a perfect match to pick up some of the blue in the textile I had used.

I used a contrasting color and a different brand of paint for the chairs’ “bullseye” and stenciled birds. This was Fusion Paint in their Champlain color. I used both these colors and brands because I had them in my closet, and they worked well together and complemented the upholstered fabric I ended up using.

Let’s recap:

• Good prep = awesome paint job.
• For this piece, I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in “Louis Blue” for the chair frame (to pick up the blue from the fabric I selected).
• For the display table portion (“bullseye” area), I used Fusion Mineral Paint in “Champlain” as a contrasting brand & color (because I already had both).
• Choose paint colors/brands based on what you already have and the textile you’ll use for the seat.

Reupholstering your telephone chair

When you find these telephone chairs, they are usually in a worn condition. This includes the upholstered seat. By replacing this textile on your chair, you will transform your piece immediately! See below for all the steps to ensure a perfect upholstering job.

• Pick out your textile! This is very important that you pick a home goods textile and not an apparel textile. You are like, what Susan? What’s the difference? I’ll tell you! Home goods textiles are more durable and will stand up to use. A lighter-weight apparel fabric will become worn and break down over time. When purchasing your textile (fabric), note the description, as this will help you make the right decision.
• Remove all the old batting, foam, and fabric. You will be left with a wooden board. This is the bones of your seat.
• Lay your bare seat onto a piece of foam; this will be your stencil. Then, using a sharpie marker, trace the outline of your board, then cut the foam to size and shape.
• Place your fabric over the board and cut the foam to size. Position how you would like it to look. Then flip it over onto a table top.
• Cut your fabric down, but leave enough to be able to wrap the back of your board by a few inches. Keep in mind that the foam will take up a few inches, so do not do this until you have the board and foam in place.
• With your staple gun, hold and staple your sides in place. What I like to do is this: Staple in the middle of one side, and then do this on the balance of your sides, while slightly pulling the fabric in. Then staple on the outer sides, then rotate and do this on the other sides. This will ensure that you have distributed the tension evenly on all sides.
• Corner of your upholstered seat. This is a little trickier. You will need to trim your fabric. I like to fold my corners in as neatly as possible and staple them into place.
• Once all your corners are complete. Fill in the open areas with additional staples.
• Screw your seat into place!

Furniture Stencil

Most of my pieces the time will have an added painted detail. I create all my own stencils and love this added art feature. As an artist, this has given me a creative outlet to add an art element, which helps to incorporate a feel or a look that is totally unique to each of my pieces. You can find all my stencils here on my Double Arrow Etsy store. I am always adding new ones once I have created and used them on a piece to ensure they are workable.

Art for my telephone chair

In the case of this piece, I love the trees that are on my upholstered seat. I decided to create a stencil of birds. By adding this extension, the birds in flight, the tree motif, and the design continue from fabric to wood. I love this transition! You can buy the same stencil I used here on my Etsy store!

Finishing touches

Once your painting is complete, it’s important to seal your piece. I use polyacrylic matte finish for the majority of my painted furniture pieces. This goes on clear and dries quickly. I have tried polyurethane in the past, but I do not like the yellow look it leaves behind.

Add felt tabs to all the bottoms of your feet! So important that your furniture can be easily moved without scratching your floor surface, which also helps to level out any wobbly pieces. You may have to add a double layer on one foot to even this out.

Each step during the upcycle of this telephone chair, I documented. I did this in order to show the actual process. As an artist, I always love a visual! Hope you enjoy, any feedback is always welcome!

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Related posts

If you enjoyed this DIY post, check out some additional similar ones here!

• The Staircase Makeover That Transformed My Entire Home
• Small Space, Big Impact: How to Make a Wood Slat Accent Wall
• 10 Must-Have DIY Tools for Furniture Makeovers (with Budget Finds)

Thanks for stopping by!

This post is all about telephone chairs, gossip chairs, and telephone benches.

Last update on 2025-11-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API