Clever storage
Spruce up an old stool with a lick of paint and DIY upholstery for a fresh look.
Spruce up an old footstool
INFORMATION Materials
* Old footstool
* Fine sandpaper
* Furniture paint
* Paint brush
* Screwdriver and claw hammer
* Fabric to fit the top, plus a 12.5cm
(5in) seam allowance on all sides
* Padding
* Staple gun and staples
* Lace ribbon trim
* Glue gun and glue sticks
* Clear furniture wax
Size: 33 x 52 x 36cm (13 x 20 x 14in)
Skill level: Moderate
Footstools are a great item for your first upcycled upholstery project, and can also provide useful storage in any room. They’re easy to source and, with a little imagination, easy to update. Choose a style you’d like to recreate for your footstool – the vintage vibe is still really strong – and pick fabric and trims to suit. We’ve taken you through the basic techniques to get you started but there’s plenty of scope to use your creativity. Just remember to use fabrics and finishes to complement the heritage of the footstool and you won’t go far wrong.
How to make the footstool
1 Take your item apart using a screwdriver and clean away any debris and dirt. Remove old nails and staples using the claw hammer.
2 Remove the fabric from the top to use as a template for the new cover and take out the padding (it may be in good enough condition to reuse).
3 Sand down your stool lightly, removing the top layer of varnish or paint and brush clean. Apply two coats of paint, allowing drying time in between.
4 While the paint is drying, place the lid on the new padding (if you’re using new padding) and draw around it. Cut the padding to fit and glue into position. Be generous with the glue to ensure a tight fix.
5 Once the glue has dried completely, take your pre-cut fabric and staple it in place along the edge, folding a seam underneath for a flush trim.
6 Pull the fabric tightly across your padding and staple the edge underneath on the opposite side, as in step five. Using hospital corners, fold your corners and staple both the remaining ends in place.
7 Using a glue gun and starting from the mid point at the back of the stool, stick your trimming firmly in place. Once dry, screw the lid back onto your stool and touch up any nicks and scratches to the paintwork.
8 Using a clean, lint-free cloth, rub the clear furniture wax onto your finished piece. All waxes are different so read the instructions on the tin for best results and to make sure it is compatible with the paint you’ve chosen to use.
9 For a more rustic finish use fine sandpaper to gently rub away areas of paint where the stool might be most worn – the sides of the legs and the corners.