Although I’ve completed my fair share of them, I’m actually not too big on major furniture makeovers. They require a TON of work and although it’s almost always worth it in the end, it’s definitely the type of project that tends to get put off until the last minute – Or it waits for a gutsy or adventurous whim. Yet, when I saw this bright canary yellow chair on Pinterest, it lit a fire under my bum and I couldn’t help but dive head first into a brand new furniture redo.
Source: Better Homes and Gardens
While my “Pinspiration” project used a chair as the foundation, I didn’t happen to have one available. But I DID happen to have a pretty vanity stool in desperate need for a makeover. It had the same curvy silhouette as the chair, so I figured it would have the same effect when completed. As you can tell, my little thrifted bench (pre blog) was in desperate need of some TLC.
Between the paint stained fabric seat and scratched wood finish, it was time for new fabric AND new paint. As for the fabric, I picked up a yard of this adorable gray, white, yellow and black fabric from JoAnn’s for less than $7. Truth be told, I didn’t really have any plans for the fabric when I bought it – I just loved it too much to leave it behind on the shelf. But after deciding that the old vanity bench needed a fresh coat of yellow paint, it just made sense to break out the bird print for the upholstery.
The first step, obviously, was paint. I went with a bright yellow Valspar spray paint this time, which was layered on in two coats after I gave the entire frame a good sanding with our Black and Decker Mouse Sander. The wood was a little more beat up than I had anticipated though and I quickly ran out of sanding sheets, so it’s not as smooth as I would have liked…But it makes the piece look rustic, which isn’t the end of the world for me. It gives it character!
And the final step? Ripping the old fabric off the now detached seat cushion, and replacing it with the new bird print. I decided to remove the old fabric rather than simply covering it because the seat was looking a little strained and puckered around the edges because of the many layers underneath. This stool had seen one too many makeovers it seemed, so I simply took it back in time.
To “measure” my new fabric, I laid the bench seat upside down on top of the also upside down bird fabric. Then I just cut it down, leaving a good 2-3 inches on each side for wrapping. (Did you catch Ginny’s kitty paw photo bomb?)
A few quick pulls and staples around the edges and corners, and we were all done! I plopped the seat back on the frame, screwed it in and promptly styled it for its closeup downstairs in the entry way. It’s the perfect little spot for us to sit to put on shoes, or to drop purses, dog leashes and springtime scarves.
I’m in love with the happy new yellow color and that print makes me smile every time I walk by – No, really. Every time…
Hope you have a great Monday!
