Wooden Counter Stool Makeover
Since we wanted to use our counter though, I decided to go with the cheapest option possible. And after scanning Craigslist for several weeks, I decided to give up since I just couldn’t find any cheap and pretty options.
Well for me, once again Target was the answer with their cheap, but “oh so plain and boring” Landon 24″ counter height stool. At $15 each it was affordable. And I’m sure you are thinking, why is plain and boring the answer??
And come on say it! It’s so boooooring. Yawn!
What I didn’t mind is the light colored wood since I have always loved my light wood floors. I’ve had the maple colored flooring for 13 years now and didn’t regret or get tired of them once. I have the feeling they’ll get more popular again too. Do you know what the best part is about them? Take a guess? DO IT! (Oh, I’m kind of bossy today…sorry! My friends would tell me that I have the TONE again. They laugh at me when I say “do it” though.)
…Well the reason is that it doesn’t show dirt and dust as much as darker floors do. My neighbor can’t stand trying to keep her dark floors clean. I don’t really have that problem even with 4 cats but I wouldn’t recommend lying on my floors because you’ll look like a used Swiffer pad when you get up, haha! It’s tricky like that 🙂
Now back to my stools.
how to paint wood bar stools
I couldn’t live with the plain look of them and decided to whip out the good old spray paint. My hubby actually sanded them down for me, yay! He can do it if he tries!
I taped the entire top of the stool, turned it upside down and cut around the edge of the stool (while it sat on a cutting mat) with a craft knife. Keep the blade really tight against the wood. When you turn the stool around again, it’s a perfect circle and you only have to press down the edges again before spray painting it.
Sorry, I don’t have more painting photos…I know, I know…but I forgot!
This iPhone photo is the only one I have 🙁
I used Kilz spray primer for the legs and then some coats of Rustoleum white semi gloss spray paint.
When that dried, I stuck each stool into a large trash bag and tied it close around the top so only the rim would be exposed. Then I used some turquoise spray paint (Krylon Blue Ocean Breeze) that I had left in the garage to add a colorful detail to the top.
And I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. (In case you are wondering, I’m still not done with the tile backsplash but don’t tell anybody, ok?)
I love our new and cheap counter stools or should I say barstools??
(In case you are wondering what sink I bought, I bought THIS extra deep one with THIS sink basket strainer and THIS faucet. The combo has worked really well for us. You can find a very similar pendant light HERE)
The honeycomb light fixture doesn’t look as green on the photos as it actually is. The stools and light coordinate perfectly in my book.
You can find the tutorial for the wood bead pendant HERE.
And the gold faucet HERE and pineapple HERE.
What do you think? You like them as much as I do?
Since this post a lot has changed in the kitchen. Click HERE and HERE to read and see more!
So “guten Tag” friends and come back on Friday, ok?
Tschüß
(Youleeya)
Sara says
April 17, 2013 at 11:50 amI love them–they are absolutely perfect for your kitchen! Such a complement to the honeycomb light above the sink 🙂
Julia Konya says
April 17, 2013 at 12:57 pmThanks Sara!
Tiffany says
April 17, 2013 at 11:54 amThose are so pretty! I have the same stools, but I have left natural for the time being while I decide how to paint them. I love your idea. How will the paint wear, I wonder.
Julia Konya says
April 17, 2013 at 12:58 pmSo far so good on the paint wear. I’ve had them like this for a week now. I’m sure it would be a different story had I painted the top of the stool.
[email protected] says
April 17, 2013 at 12:04 pmMy favorite type of post…cheap and adorable! I’m in need of new bar stools as well, so I will have to keep this in mind. Love it.
Julia Konya says
April 17, 2013 at 12:58 pmThanks Ashley!
Anonymous says
April 17, 2013 at 1:36 pmThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says
April 17, 2013 at 2:17 pmLOVE how these turned out- so you! what a great vision you had for them!
Anonymous says
April 17, 2013 at 3:05 pmHallo Julia,
Germany – twelve points!
They look perfect, what a great idea, Glückwunsch!
Grüße, Katrin
Julia Konya says
April 18, 2013 at 1:35 pmHallo Karin und vielen Dank!
Brittany Cramer says
April 17, 2013 at 4:20 pmso cute! I love them! the pop of blue is perfect for your kitchen
Megan @ Rappsody in Rooms says
April 17, 2013 at 12:32 pmWow! What a quick and easy transformation that really packs a punch! I love these, especially the teal around the top!
Julia Konya says
April 17, 2013 at 12:58 pmThank you so much Megan!
Christina @ Floridays Mom says
April 17, 2013 at 6:34 pmThese look great and these stools are found in so many homes so I know tons of people can be inspired to jazz up their less-than fabulous stools Julia style!
Jessica says
April 17, 2013 at 6:34 pmI really like the stools. They fun and the colors are light and airy. I love the pendant, too.
pam {simple details} says
April 17, 2013 at 1:39 pmPerfect idea for a custom look, and the accent color is such a fun detail! Awesome photos, too!
Anneke at This, That and Life says
April 17, 2013 at 2:50 pmThey turned out SO great Julia! I love how they look with the other details in the kitchen. And yay for Germany! 😀
Shavonda says
April 17, 2013 at 3:27 pmHi Julia! I love them! They look awesome. I love that you’ve added the blue accent. I adore them with the rest of your kitchen! Great job.
Patty Day @Pattys Epiphanies says
April 17, 2013 at 3:33 pm🙂 🙂 🙂
I WON! WOW!
I will be so excited when my Jonathan Alder Ear Bud arrives….
WOW WOW WOW
The stools might now have cost a million, but they look it! They are perfect! They look great in the space and the light compliments it beautifully!!!
Thanks again….A wonderful way to start the day!
Jennifer BNHblog says
April 17, 2013 at 10:49 pmLove it! Very sweet. I have the same bar stools and recently did a little makeover myself. It’s neat seeing someone do something different with the same piece of furniture : ]
Sarah {Lacquer and Linen} says
April 17, 2013 at 5:25 pmLove this transformation Julia!!! Your edge work is so crisp, it looks photoshopped! Nice work girl! And I LOVE the light blue with the white and wood!!
Caitlin @ Desert Domicile says
April 17, 2013 at 6:27 pmYour new stools look great! I love the band of blue and how perfectly the color ties in with your honeycomb pendant 🙂
Jesse Bodine says
April 18, 2013 at 1:54 amI love that you kept the tops as they were! They look great with the pop of blue and contrasting white. You made it work! Love that. Jesse @ Scout & Nimble
soitwasweekend says
April 17, 2013 at 9:00 pmOh, they look great! I especially love the colored border 🙂
Love, Midsommarflicka
[email protected] says
April 18, 2013 at 3:01 amLove, Love them Julia, the way you matched them to your honeycomb light fixture is really nice! a very nice accent color! and they don’t look as if they cost only$15, they go well in your kitchen WOW! great job Julia! (now, I want to spray paint mine too!) YAY! I’m following you now through bloglovin’, glad you joined! 🙂 (btw, we had dark brown wood floors installed all through our entire main floor back in October and it’s really hard to keep them clean with a 22 month old running around and 2 dogs that enjoy playing outside) 😉
Crystal @ 29 Rue House says
April 18, 2013 at 3:03 amvery nice! I love how they tie into the honeycomb light!
Julia Konya says
April 18, 2013 at 1:37 pmWOW, thank you guys for all the awesome comments. If you aren’t a non-reply-blogger than I already replied to you per email. And thank you sooooooo much for all the other comments. You guys make this world go ROUND for me 😉
Karen L. Bates says
April 18, 2013 at 2:07 pmLove what you did with the stools…perfect. I love the combination of paint and just the wood top…gorgeous. Looks lovely in the kitchen.
Genevieve Chambliss says
April 18, 2013 at 4:29 pmI love this! That little turquoise trim is so simple yet effective. I have some boring bar stools like this that I got off Craigslist when I moved in purely for function. Maybe a trim around the edges is just what they need! Thanks for the inspiration my dear!
Crissy @ House of Marlowe says
April 18, 2013 at 4:45 pmThese look fantastic! What a great project.
Mrs. DeVore says
April 18, 2013 at 6:06 pmI love them! The blue is such a nice little touch.
Brandi says
April 19, 2013 at 2:48 amI saw your bar stools over at Home Talk but I wanted to pop over to see the full post and tell you how much I adore them. I wish I had a spot in my house for bar stools. Yours look great!!
Gretchen says
April 20, 2013 at 1:54 amI love it! So simple, but so pretty!
Julia Klimek says
April 21, 2013 at 5:00 pmSweet colors! Totally on board the saving money and just making them your own. Cute! I love the transformation, HOWEVER, now you’ve got me eyeing my stools, which are rather boring as well! I will pin this and let you know if I copy your idea! 🙂
Claudia says
April 25, 2013 at 1:56 amI have those stools… wish you lived closer and could fix up mine (and the rest of my apartment)!! Have a nice time with your dad – tell him I say hi! =)
Julia Konya says
April 25, 2013 at 11:20 amThank you Claudia and I will tell him you said hello. And I totally would fix up yours 😉
jdlfloor1 says
April 26, 2013 at 4:06 amthese are some great designs and i use them in my kitchen also thanks for thisWood floors installed
Unknown says
August 29, 2013 at 2:03 pmAh, I love these. Please tell me how you taped off the top!? I cannot figure out how to tape off a circle for painting. Help!
Kaiti Arendsen says
June 17, 2014 at 3:42 pmI was wondering the same thing! Did this ever get answered, I’d love to know!
Julia Konya says
June 20, 2014 at 1:23 amHi sorry for the delayed response,
I taped the entire top of the stool, turned it upside down and cut around the edge of the stool (while it sat on a cutting mat) with a craft knife. Keep the blade really tight against the wood. When you turn the stool around again, it’s a perfect circle and you only have to press down the edges again before spray painting it.
Hope that helps.
ahmed wwet says
September 30, 2013 at 9:31 pmWow,It’s nice
thanks for this information,this is good information
kitchen counter stools
Tara Corley says
October 4, 2013 at 9:25 pmOh my goodness! I love, love, love your bar stools!
Unknown says
March 23, 2014 at 5:47 pmLike your other comments, I would love to know if you have tips for getting such a crisp edge on the circle seats. Please help us other DIYer with suggestions on how to tape a curve for such crisp results. Thanks.
Unknown says
March 23, 2014 at 5:48 pmOh, and my email is [email protected]
Kelly says
April 6, 2014 at 7:31 pmI LOVE the kitchen paint color!! What is it??
Julia Konya says
April 7, 2014 at 6:38 pmThat’s my old color and it’s Rocky Bluffs by Valspar. Now it is white!
Donna Kelly says
June 17, 2014 at 6:25 pmLike so many others just wondering how you achieved such a crisp line on the top?
Julia Konya says
June 20, 2014 at 1:22 amHi Donna,
I tried to answer this a couple days ago and just noticed it never went through. I’m so sorry.
I taped the entire top of the stool, turned it upside down and cut around the edge of the stool (while it sat on a cutting mat) with a craft knife. Keep the blade really tight against the wood. When you turn the stool around again, it’s a perfect circle and you only have to press down the edges again before spray painting it.
Hope that helps.
Kelli H says
July 11, 2014 at 12:58 amI love these and your whole kitchen too! This caught my eye on Pinterest because my son’s name is Landon. 🙂 Definitely re-pinning!
Julia Konya says
July 16, 2014 at 1:24 pmThank you!
Kaitlyn says
March 5, 2015 at 11:39 amLove the stools! Can you explain how you did the ring around the top? Thanks!
Kaitlyn says
March 5, 2015 at 11:41 amNevermind! Just saw your reply to Donna!
Julia says
March 6, 2015 at 1:53 pmOk good, I’m glad it answered your question. Thanks for the visit.
Christine C. says
May 19, 2015 at 1:09 pmViele dank (is that how it’s said/spelled?!). Just discovered your blog. You are so talented, and I appreciate this tutorial!
Julia says
May 19, 2015 at 4:24 pmThank you and yes Vielen Dank is right 😉
Jane Gordon says
July 9, 2015 at 9:30 amThis is a great way to add a little style to a basic bar stool and also add a little pop of color to the room! 🙂
Julia says
July 9, 2015 at 12:57 pmThank you!
Holly says
October 12, 2016 at 6:47 amAmazing how something so simple can make such an impact,
Julia says
October 12, 2016 at 11:52 amThanks, small changes go a long way.