Thrift Shop Decor: How to Repaint that Stool
Thrift shoppers often face a similar dilemma. To get the best value from a thrift store piece it helps to have a little know-how.
Decide ahead of time what you are looking for. Do you need storage? Or are you just looking for a chair or stool? Are you looking for something stuffed or something lightweight that can be moved easily? If you know what you need you are more likely to come home with the perfect item.
This article will focus on recreating a basic stool. It is a (relatively) quick project and is an easy one for a beginner. You need a minimum of supplies.
Don’t worry too much about the condition of the upholstery on the top of the stool. (You’re going to change it.) But do pay attention to the overall sturdiness of the piece. Before you buy it, lean against the stool or sit on it. If it won’t hold your weight in the shop, it won’t hold your weight at home. Check to see that it sits level and doesn’t wobble. Pay attention to the height. If it is too tall or too short you won’t feel comfortable on it. If the stool isn’t a comfortable height for you, then no matter how good it looks when you’re finished, you won’t use it.
The stool I chose for this article is approximately 30″ tall. It is made of wood and had a foam rubber top. At the thrift shop where I work it would have sold “as is” for about $3.00. The stool was in good condition. It was sturdy and without major blemishes or cracks in the wood. The dowels were snug and everything fit tightly together. This all combined to make it the perfect candidate for this article!
Next I gathered the supplies. These included:
Standard Flathead Screwdriver
Fabric
Foam Rubber (optional)
Batting
Scissors
Pencil
Staple Gun and Staples (Alternatively, you can use tacks and a hammer.)
Sandpaper
Yellow Spray Paint (or color of your choice)
3 Bright colors of acrylic craft paint (your choice)
Stencils (Optional)
Clear Sealer or Polyurethane Spray
Mahogany Colored Varnish
1″ Wide Sponge Brush
Round Paint Brush
Rags
Container of Water
Paper Towels
Gloves
Several Sheets of Newspaper
Tape
No-Fray or White Glue
Working outdoors, I prepared my work surface by taping several sheets of newspaper to a large table. This ensured that the edges of the newspaper didn’t blow onto the stool while I was working on it. It also ensured that every surface of the table was protected from paint spills or over-spray from the spray paint.
Next, I turned the stool onto it’s top. Using the flat screwdriver, I began prying off the existing staples to remove the fabric from the back of the top of the stool. I worked my way around until the cloth was completely free from the stool.
After you do this set the stool aside. Take your new fabric that you are going to use to cover the top of the stool. Lay it on the table wrong side up. Using your scissors, make slits in the old stool cover so that it will lay flat. You will use this as a pattern against the new piece of fabric. Lay the old piece on top of the new piece. Trace around it carefully with your pencil. Next, remove the old piece of material and discard it. Carefully, cut out the new piece of fabric with your scissors. Put the excess material in your scrap bag for your next project.
(For this stool, I was able to reuse the foam rubber underneath the old cover. If you can’t do this you will need to either forgo the foam rubber completely or make a trip to a foam rubber outlet. At the outlet, they will be able to cut a piece to match the same dimensions as the old piece. Just be sure to take the old piece with you to the store. If you decide not to use the foam rubber you can stack up several layers of batting and cut to size. It’s up to you and how thick you like the top of your stool to be.)
If reusing the foam rubber, unpack your batting and spread it out flat on the table. Pick up the stool and lay it upside down, flat against the batting. Hold in place firmly.with one hand. Trace the outline of the top of the stool using a pencil in your other hand. Trim the batting. Put the newly cut piece with your cut piece of fabric and place the rest of the batting in your scrap bag for another project. Secure both your new stool cover and your batting in a place where they won’t accidentally be sprayed with paint.
Put your stool on your prepared work surface. Using the sandpaper, rub the entire stool vigorously. Smooth out any rough spots. Make sure you go over the entire stool. If you miss a spot the paint will not stick. When you are finished, wipe down with a damp paper towel to remove any sawdust that was left behind. Let the piece dry for a few minutes.
Now you are ready to apply your base coat. Use the spray paint. Apply according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure you cover the sides and edges of the legs and dowels with paint. It is not necessary to paint the top because you will be recovering it. When complete, give this base coat ample time to dry before painting the decoration onto the stool.
I chose to freehand the design onto the stool. The design was created by using the paint brush handle and placing dots in a flower pattern on the sides of the legs and on the dowels. Five dots were placed is a circular pattern. A contrasting color was placed in the middle of the dots for the center of the flower. The vine was created by painting a thin line with the paint brush. Leaves were created by using the same paint brush, laying the bristles flat against the stool and lifting the brush up in a quick motion. It took a few practice attempts to get this just right. I used extra newspaper for the practice work.
When you are finished painting let the stool dry.
If you are not comfortable with freehand work, you may choose to use stencils. Lay the stencils on the stool in a pleasing pattern and paint accordingly. Remember, this is your piece and should represent your own personal style. There is no right or wrong way to decorate your stool. If you don’t like your design you can always spray paint it black later. Relax and have fun experimenting!
When the stool is dry it is time to antique the stool with the varnish. You will be working quickly through this stage. Put on your gloves. Shake or stir the varnish according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Use the sponge brush apply the varnish in a small area. Leave it for a few seconds then wipe with a rag. Keep repeating this for the rest of the stool. The more you wipe the more varnish will be removed. Keep the coverage consistent throughout the piece for the best effect. Additional coats can be applied for a darker effect. When you are happy with the way the stool looks let it dry thoroughly for a few hours or even overnight.
When dry, spray with clear sealer or a coat of polyurethane and let this final coat dry completely. This will keep the finish looking great for years to come!
Now, you are almost finished. Clear and clean your work surface. You are now ready to cover the top of the stool.
With the stool standing on its legs put the piece of foam rubber back on the top. Next, apply the layer of batting. Place the fabric piece right side up over the layers on the top of the stool. Turn the entire piece (fabric, foam and batting) upside down onto a chair or your work surface. Gently pull the edge of the fabric toward the center of the back side of the stool and staple or tack into place. Go to the other side opposite of this staple, bring the fabric toward the center of the stool and put in the next staple. Move over 1-2″ and repeat the pattern along the back side of the stool until all edges are stapled (or tacked) into place.
While the stool is still upside down apply either No-Fray or white glue to the edges of the material. This will keep the fabric from unraveling.
Now you have a beautiful stool to enjoy for years to come!
