In a world increasingly saturated with mass-produced goods, there's a certain allure to finding and refurbishing vintage pieces. Whether it's for sentimental value or a desire for unique decor, giving new life to old furniture can be a gratifying experience. Such is the case for this vintage footstool, purchased at an auction.
It didn't have a cushion, but that was not a problem since I typically remove the old upholstery anyway.
Materials Needed:
Below are some links to products I used in this project. Disclaimer: Junk is My Life is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
Upholstery fabric
Scrap lumber or small piece of plywood
Let's Get Started!
This footstool was a little wobbly and a little bit dirty. I used an all purpose cleaner to remove the dust and dirt from the footstool.
Next, I used wood glue to stabilize the piece. Some of the joints were loose. I added the glue to the loose joints and stabilized the piece with wood clamps.
I allowed the glue to dry for at least 24 hours. Now the piece was very sturdy and was ready for paint. I applied two coats of Rustoleum Milk Paint in the Eclipse color.
When the paint had fully dried, I used 100 grit sandpaper to distress the piece.
I wiped down the footstool with a damp cloth to remove the dust from the sandpaper. I applied a coat of Varathane Crystal Clear Polyurethane in the Satin finish. Now that the base was complete, it was time to work on the cushion!
I measured the inside dimensions of the base and cut a spare piece of .25" plywood to size. I had found a cream and black striped upholstery fabric at Hobby Lobby I really liked. I thought it would be perfect for this piece. I have several posts describing the step by step of upholstering a cushion such as this. Align the fabric, foam and batting and begin in the center of each side stapling the fabric and batting to the plywood. Work your way around the piece, adding a few staples to each side, then turning the piece to add a few more staples. Work your way out to the corners.
I used 3 inch foam for this project. I needed the extra depth because of the design of this particular footstool. The cushion simply sets in the interior portion of the base. I suppose you could add some screws on the underside, but it fit in there really well, so I didn't feel the need to secure it.
Using the 3 inch foam allowed this to puff up just over the edge to ensure comfort for the user!
Embrace the beauty of vintage charm and let your creativity shine as you breathe new life into old furniture. Whether it's a footstool, a side table, or a dresser, the possibilities for refurbishment are endless. So go ahead, pick up that paintbrush, and unleash your inner DIY enthusiast!
I didn't have time to stage this particular project. I needed to get it in my booth right away. Furniture sales have been great lately! Below is the finished piece.
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Below are some links to products I used in this project. Disclaimer: Junk is My Life is a participant in the Amazon Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
Below is an image to pin to Pinterest if you would like to save this idea!
