Love where you live. Sign up for our newsletter

Upholstery Basics: 30 Minute Stool Makeover

by on May 18, 2008

created on: 05/18/08

From the time my husband was pulling up to the grocery store for spaghetti ingredients to when he pulled in the driveway, I had this little modern stool reupholstered from teardown to presentation.  No kidding!  I had been deliberating on what fabric to use all morning and afternoon so the hard part was over.  I chose this black and white because I needed a little friction in the room.  All the colors were looking a little two summers ago.  The contrast of the black and white feels fresh and deliberate.

what you need:

stool

3/4 yard fabric

staple gun

staples

scissors

flat head screwdriver or OFFICIAL staple lifter

Ergonomically designed pliers (also OFFICIAL)

created on: 05/18/08

what you do:

1.  flip stool over and lift and pry staples out (this was unusually easy this time)

created on: 05/18/08

created on: 05/18/08

created on: 05/18/08

created on: 05/18/08

This fabric underneath is pretty wonderful but I’m going to leave it on so I if I ever decide I want it, it’ll be there, and as I remember it was kind of expensive

2.  place torn off fabric on top of new fabric, centering design, if necessary

(this fabric is reversible, so iwill be showing up somewhere else real soon)

cut out new fabric leaving adding about 1″ extra all around for good measure

created on: 05/18/08

created on: 05/18/08

3.  place new fabric on top of stool, lining up pattern or design, carefully flip over on work table

created on: 05/18/08

4.  pull fabric up over edge firmly but not so much you pull the pattern out of place

place three staples approximately two inches from outside edge

created on: 05/18/08

5.  place three more staples on the opposite side of the first three then do the same on the left side and the right side

created on: 05/18/08

6.  now go to the unstapled sections and pull firmly, smoothing as you go and staple in place

after one section is stapled and smooth, move on the the next onecreated on: 05/18/08

7.  this photo is what happens on a round edge when the fabric hasn’t been “eased” evenly as you add staples, this had to be removed and smoothed out

created on: 05/18/08

8. when finished, cut off excess fabric up to about 1/2′ from staples

created on: 05/18/08

created on: 05/18/08

Since this was so quick and easy, I can change it with the seasons.  I sit in this rocker every morning with my 4.50 a gallon hi octane coffee and plan my day.  The stool doubles as a little side table for pen and paper.

 

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *