Hello, dear friends, and welcome back! Today’s project is a dated bar stool makeover that I found at the thrift store for $9.99.
Before we get to it, I wanted to share that I have completely updated my Project Gallery!
Now, you can find everything sorted into a few categories, to make it easier to find the projects or tutorials you are looking for, and it looks like this:
My Project Gallery
You can find it any time you like at the top, left side of my homepage (or in the drop down menu at the top on mobile), and at the bottom of every post.
Now, let’s get to that bar stool makeover!
It started like this:
Pretty dated! I’m pretty sure we had some bar stools very similar to this back in the 80s.
Clean
This stool started out like any other furniture makeover, with a good cleaning with White Lightning.
I like the concentrated powder version, mixing one TBSP with a half gallon of warm water, but it is also available in a ready-to-use formula.
A terry cloth applicator pad is perfect for this step:
This stool was pretty clean except for the top there where it had been handled for decades…pretty gross! That required a little elbow grease.
Paint
You know how I love to take a big, ugly basket and paint it and a pretty blue, and all of a sudden it looks SO good? (Like HERE, especially HERE, and most recently, HERE.)
Well, I thought I would try that same theory on this sad, lone bar stool!
I mixed Vintage Duck Egg Blue about 50/50 with Cotton to get this gorgeous lighter version:
And painted away using my favorite mini angle brush:
It’s like I’m painting the ugly away lol!
Sand
Next, I gave it a light sanding all over using traditional 220 grit sandpaper. I wanted a bit of distressing on this one.
If you prefer no distressing, go with these fine grit sanding sponges instead.
I vacuumed up all the sanding dust with my shop vac.
Adding some pretty
Then, it was time for some pretty, and the best way to pretty something up is with transfers!
I chose this Delicate Roses transfer:
(See how I upcycled that cabinet door so easily with this transfer HERE.)
I just love this transfer against a blue background though.
After deciding which pieces I wanted to use, I got to work, burnishing it to the surface with the stick that is included in the package:
I continued to add a couple more pieces…
Until I had it just the way I wanted.
Seal
To seal, I used Dixie Belle’s Clear Coat in the satin finish, applying it with my blue sponge applicator:
Dated Bar Stool Makeover After
Here is how this once dated bar stool looks now!
Better, no??
While my original plan was to just paint it blue and call it a day, I’m glad I added a feminine touch with the roses!
Not only did I add them to the seat…
I also added them to the leg…
And to the back of the seat…
Fun! Transfers are so fun to create with!
Remember those baskets? I redid them as a set when we first moved here about seven years ago. (Can you believe it’s been that long??)
The middle one got crushed when a younger Brennan used it for a chair, so I had to find a fix for it.
I shared a quick fix for that HERE.
Did it work?? Did painting it fix it?
I think so! Too bad I only have one, but I thought it would be cute in the corner of a kitchen.
It can be pulled over to the counter when a little one wants to help bake or something, right? Or it can just sit there looking cute!
And that is one more project to cross off the list!!
SO many more to go!!
See what you’ve missed so far below:
Update a Yard Sale Tote for the Holdiays
Painting the Smalls #31 (the dollar edition)
IKEA Bookcase Makeover
I’ll be back on Tuesday with my Trashy Treasures crew sharing what I did with this fabulous $6.99 find:
UPDATE: No need to wait!! Go right now and see what I turned this table into HERE!!
Have an amazing Fall weekend!!
XOXO,
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Marcie Lovett says
I have to say I was skeptical about a single bar stool, Christy, but you made me a believer ???? With its new paint and transfer, it could brighten a kitchen or hallway. Perfect place for someone to hang out with the cook.
I laughed when you mentioned the baskets because I thought – of course, those are Brennan’s toy baskets – like he’s still 7 ???? Time sure does fly, and that means more projects to look back at and forward to.
Christy says
Ha ha thank you, Marcie! Yes! Those are Brennan’s toy baskets…I should have shown inside them. He is 14, but all his toys are still in there ha ha! XOXO
Janice Redden says
Christy, you definitely fixed It! Sweet and feminine from a chunky man stool….
Looking forward to Trashy Tuesday and what you will do with that interesting piece! And, my Christmas transfers arrive today ……whoopee yay!!
Christy says
A chunky man stool ha ha! That is a great description of the before. Thanks, Janice! I’m looking forward to get started on that table and yay!! Happy mail!! XOXO
Sue says
Great job upgrading the bar stool. I have one also and I love the color
you chose with transfer. Kitchen corner stool is a great idea!
Christy says
Thank you, Sue! Even for just a pop of color in there! XOXO
Kathy W says
Hi Christy – How pretty the barstool turned out. The placement of the transfers is perfection!!!! I am so happy you added them. What a difference they make!!
LOVE your updated Project Gallery. It will be so helpful to find specific projects that you have done in the past. Thank you!!
Side note: Sadly, I am having so much trouble entering the giveaway. We don’t have great internet service where we live. “Maybe” that’s the reason?? 🙁
Have a lovely day!!
Kathy W
Christy says
Thank you, Kathy! I’m so glad I added the transfers too! And yes, my new project gallery is so much more functional now. I’m sorry to hear you’re having trouble with the giveaway. This one does require you to follow Dixie Belle on Instagram. Is that the issue, maybe? If you can’t get it to go through, you know I’ll be having another Etsy shop giveaway, so stay tuned for that! XOXO
Nana Diana says
Adorable—or, as the kids say, Adorbs! Love the color and what a change! I think many of us ‘oldsters’ have had chairs, or stools, like that at one time or another. xo Diana
Christy says
Thank you, Diana! Ha ha yes, it’s as if this stool was the only one available at Sears at the time lol. Have a wonderful weekend! XOXO
Dolly says
I have 3 bar stools just like that and hate them. My husband won’t let me change them. Can you suggest a way to paint them for every day use? They are awful, worse than yours. Thanks.
Christy says
Oh no ha ha! I would paint them the very same but seal with Dixie Belle’s Gator Hide instead as it is their toughest topcoat. If you use a transfer, you have to seal with Clear Coat first, so I went with that, but I may go back and seal this with Gator Hide also. XOXO
Denise - Salvaged Inspirations says
So pretty Christy! I love the ‘custom’ Vintage Duck Egg you created – this color is beautiful! Pinned XOXO
Christy says
Thank you, my friend! I love Vintage Duck Egg, but I love it even more lightened up a bit. Appreciate the pin always! XOXO
Fran says
This would be great for a bathroom too! Great to sit on and style your hair. So pretty!
Christy says
Oh yes, it sure would! Thank you, Fran! XOXO
Denise says
I love the barstool and I especially love what you did with arranging your site. Everything is so easy now. Thank you. Take good care. Denise
Christy says
Thank you so much, Denise! I’m so glad you find the Project Gallery easier…it was awkward when everything was together! XOXO
Mary Kaiser says
You fixed it up so beautiful! I love the flowers with the color! Everything you touch becomes beautiful!
Christy says
Aww thank you, my friend! I had to add a little pretty to it ha ha! Enjoy your weekend!! XOXO
Cyndi says
This turned out SO pretty! I had three stools like this that were left in our house when we bought it. We finally set them out at the curb and they quickly disappeared. I wish I still had them now! 🙁 Anyway, great job!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Cyndi! See? They were so ugly that the previous owners left them behind lol. I’m glad someone scooped them up though. They really do paint up pretty nicely! XOXO
Virginia says
Oh my word. I have almost the exact one except mine swivels. I was contemplating kicking it to the curb.
I have a new weekend project!!!
Love all your work!
Christy says
Yes! Ours swiveled also! Definitely give painting them a try… It worked miracles! Enjoy! And thank you so much, Virginia! XOXO
Koleta Scott says
Do you have a Decor Transfers ” Beautifully Native “? I need the transfer of the large cow skull. The one I have lapped over itself and I can not separate it.
Christy says
Hi Koletta! Oh no…I’m afraid I don’t have that one and I believe it is discontinued. Reach out to whomever you purchased it from and see if they are willing to send a replacement sheet or offer a refund. It’s worth a try! XOXO
Michele M. says
Oh how you transformed that boring dated ugly into the prettiest new chair. It’s so feminine and lovely. Love the mix of those two colors. It’s such a gorgeous color.
Christy says
Thank you, my friend! I figure even if it sits a while in my booth since it is a lone bar stool, it will still add some pretty to my space ha ha! XOXO
Cecilia says
So much better! Did you have to put a coat of Boss on first? It looks like you did on the bottom. ???? I like your updated project gallery too. It will make finding things easier. Have a great weekend!
Cecilia
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! I did not use BOSS this time. The bottom front rung of the barstool was worn down to the bare wood there since that would be the natural place to rest your foot. I am so excited to have my new project gallery finally complete…so much more helpful for sure. I hope you have a lovely weekend as well, my friend! XOXO