Hey there, hope you’re having a happy week. What have you been up to? We were supposed to go to a birthday celebration this weekend. Sadly, the hubby had to work. UGH, the joys of being an IT Nerd. So while he was stuck in front of his laptop I pottered around in the workshop trying to figure out what I could make with all the awesome stuff we have. And that’s when I found this broken chair back.
How To Turn a Broken Chair Back Into a Shelf
I have no idea what that other thing is., so it got tossed back into the pile for another day, while I tried to figure out what to do with the chair back. I’ve seen quite a few chairs repurposed as shelves, but they all had the seat portion still attached. So that wouldn’t work………… or would it? Mmmmm, maybe I could just add a shelfie bit. But first things first. That broken chair back needed to be cleaned and all the old varnish had to come off, along with those wooden bits.
The chair back is curved and there’s a decent amount of space that’s worth exploring. Using a piece of cardboard I made a template to fit that curved space.
And then I used the template to cut a piece of wood to fit.
Pretty good for someone who still trying to figure out how to cut curved lines with a jigsaw.
Have you ever wondered what a chair would look like if our knees bent the other way?
Okay moving on. Sand and stain all the bits, before gluing and screwing the piece of wood to the broken chair. And just like that we had a tiny little narrow shelf. It’s just wide enough to display a treasured photo and other small bits.
Don’t you just love that photo? We took it a few years ago when we went away for a weekend with some really good friends of ours.
Good friends have no shelf life
And those cute hugging salt and pepper shakers?
I draped a string of stars that I cut out using our Sizzix Big Shot over the shelf. Love that little machine. I can’t tell you how easy it makes my life. Imagine trying to cut all those stars out by hand. We’ve even used it make a wreath that we hung behind our pom pom Christmas tree. Anyways, let me know what you think. Do you have a broken chair lying around somewhere.
Oh and don’t forget to pin just in case you want to repurpose yours into a shelf too
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And as always wishing you a very blessed and beautifully crafty week.
Last update on 2026-08-16 / Source Amazon Affiliates
72 comments
Michelle, I love this shelf!! Great idea to just add the missing shelf bit. I also love how you styled it. The picture is awesome and those stars are beautiful!!
? Thank you Keri, I’m glad we could use the poor broken chair for something
Michelle, you are truly a genius when it comes to taking broken, unwanted pieces and creating something unique and charming. And I love how you decorated the shelf with that string of stars. It turned out so beautifully 🙂
Thank you so very much Jelica ? I’m really happy with how the little shelf turned out. We’ll probably be taking it down to our tiny little holiday home at the coast. It’s the perfect size and fit for a small eclectic space.
I am so impressed by this. I love how you styled the shelf, it looks so chic and it’s just a great use of the chair back.
Thank you Ellie ?
First, I love the photo! And that shelf – my heart be still. I just love it. You always manage to make me say wow at your creations. You are such an inspiration!
Thank you my friend ? I really appreciate that. I’m so glad I discovered you in this big virtual world
You know what I like about your little shelf? It doesn’t jut out so far like a chair with a seat would. It’s just right, like you say, to display a little photo or special things like you’re doing. And the only thing I don’t like about your vignette is…I can’t see that picture very well, LOL. Here I am trying to make the screen bigger so I can see it. Not happening.
? LOL Florence, you’re so sweet. The photo was taken in a beautiful little mining town called Pilgrim’s Rest. The whole town is a historical monument and filled with so many interesting things. You would love it.
That is just adorable, as is everything you make or even touch. You have magic hands, my dear. Have a great weekend.
P.S. That other ‘thing’ looks like a chair leg to me. It has a hole for the stretcher, no?
Mmmmmmm I think you might be right Jas. Oh dear I wonder where the other legs have gone ?
Very unique! Great job
#sweetinspiration
Thank you Katelynn
Come on Michelle! You drive me crazy… the broken glasses, the broken chair… what is next??? You are so clever on how to repurpose things… so creative!
? Awww Christina, thank you so much, that means a lot my friend
Wow!! This is really amazing. I really like this wall decoration and you are so creative to give new life in an old broken chair.
Thank you so much Agnes. It’s one of the thing we love doing the most. Trying to breath new life into something that someone would normally just throw aways
Aww!! How nicely you have made this cute shelf from a broken thing that many of us will definitely abandon saying it is of no use anymore.. You have got such a talent of craftsmanship… I am amazed…
Thank you Jagriti. It’s so much fun finding new uses for things that other people would discard. Everything deserves a second chance ?
You did a great job with the jigsaw, Michelle! Electric saws freak me out a bit. Your shelf turned out so cute! You always come up with such creative ideas! Very well done, my friend!
Thanks my friend. They freaked me out in the beginning too Julia. I think it’s the noise they make, well for me anyways ? but I’m slowly getting the hang of using them and love all the things you can do with them
What a brilliant idea! This is just so creative and smart. I think it looks great with the items you added around and on it as well.
Thanks so much Steve, I really appreciate that
Hi Michelle, every time I come to your blog, you amaze me with so cute DIY project. This is really a cute back shelf, and the hugging salt and pepper shaker are cute. I have the same like that, which I bought in Pretoria.
Those little shakers are so cute, if I remember correctly I think we bought ours in Pretoria too at on of the markets.
This creation really amazed me! At home, we just throw out the broken chairs or other stuff but this is very wise, smart and artistic way of using things again.
Thanks Angela ? We love taking broken bits and trying to turn them into something new. It doesn’t always work but it’s so much fun trying
This looks absolutely amazing, love it. You have such a creative mind, looking at the broken chair back shelf and the finished shelf, the shelf looks like it was made to fit that place. Love the cute photo 🙂
? Thank you Preet, I’m real glad you like it
This is totally impressive. Your DIY back shelf looks so cute and perfect for a wall decoration.I would like to have one.
Thank you Shub ? I’m glad you like it