I’ve been looking high and low for the perfect bar stool and finally decided it was time to take matters into my own hands! I headed off to one of my favorite stores, Garden Ridge. It’s the mecca of cheap home imports…grin.
I loved the lines of this one…but the color not so much.
It wasn’t bad, it just didn’t go with my new kitchen makeover.
First, I started by priming and painting the legs using my go to color Copen Blue from Sherwin Williams. Next, I distressed the edges bringing back out some of the black and touching the edged with Walnut Stain.
The seat of the bar stool wasn’t bad, but it didn’t match with the dark walnut stain of the island.
I lightly sanded the surface to remove the protective finish and then applied a heavy coat of stain. After allowing the stain to thoroughly dry, this may take a few days, I added the finishing touch.
I purchased this baroque stencil from Hobby Lobby and centered it on the seat of the bar stool.
Then using a sponge roller I lightly rolled on Greek Villa (my other go to color) from Sherwin Williams.
After it had dried completely, I lightly sanded the stencil to distress it slightly and applied a coat of spray matte finish varnish to the entire stool.
I’m really pleased with how it turned out.
When trying to find the perfect piece for your home or a project you are working on, remember just about anything can be modified to work with your décor.
It’s so nice to have a place for people to sit when they visit with me in the kitchen, and with my island modification and my new bar stool I finally have my wish of keeping people on “that side” of the kitchen, instead of in the middle of my kitchen like before. 
Thanks for joining me…at the picket fence!
Leave a Reply
30 Comments on "How to customize a barstool"
Beautiful stool, I love it! Which makes sense because I love anything that involves paint, blue and a stencil. It looks perfect in your kitchen!
Love the stool makeover. Looks very chic.
AWESOME job Heather!! LOVE IT!
Nice custom touch, Heather. I love the design.
Oh makes me want to come on over and sit down.. 🙂 It Looks Fabulous!!!
Beautiful job. Love the color and the stenciled detail.
Looks fabulous. Love the stencil.
Those look great!
I love this style of stool, but I’ve never bought one because I don’t like the color. Now I’m smacking myself in the forehead – DUH! Time to go buy one…
That looks great, Heather! I love the way in goes with your island! Great stencil, too. I really like the look of the dark stain with the white base on furniture.
It looks awesome! I love it! You rock Heather!
debbie
Love how that turned out! I used to have some wooden barstools that I was always repainting to suit my changes in decor. That’s such a good idea to reuse what you have and put your own signature on it. The stencil looks great.
My kind of project here! I have redone our bar stools twice now..they are so reasonable to begin with like you said, you don’t mind painting them and making them your own.
Looks great, Heather! I just bought black stools like that at Target on Sunday with the intent to distress and modify them. Great minds! 😉
You have trully made it your own. It’s lovely.
Looks great! I need to do my two kitchen benches….now I’m inspired!
Lorraine
Love it!
What a difference…looks amazing. I have similar stools , maybe I’ll try it and hope that it comes out as beautiful as yours.
Great makeover…you created a beautiful “run of the mill” stool into a real beauty!!..Thanks for the tutorial!…
I’m a stencil chicken! This turned out so super cute though. Love the whole makeover.
From Ho-hum to fab…You are amazing!!! Love the barstool!
Frani
That turned out great Heather! I love that stencil and have used it on a table I redid. It is the perfect size for a lot of projects.
My goodness. . . I’ll bet you ARE pleased with how it turned out, Heather! I love the light look of your stools. I worked so hard painting my barstools black a couple of years ago, and I still love them black–but hmmm. Now I’m thinking I need to paint something around here lighter and brighter! 🙂
I’m so glad that you’re getting such great press about your kitchen. Your hard work and love shine through so clearly–you deserve it!
perfect!! You must be very happy every time you see it!
I am your newest follower..pls follow back if you can.
I would sit right on that seat!
I really do love this, and I think it does your new schmancy kitchen justice. I love the stencil. I’m just a stencil lover.
I love love love it. And you’re right – you can always ‘fix’ something that is almost there, but not …quite. Do it all the time 😉
Awesome! I love your stencil pattern. Love the way it looks in your kitchen.
Gorgeous stool makeover!! Very chic!
xo-Lisa
I have those exact stools and have plans to customize them a bit. I’m glad for the tutorial because deepening the stain on the seat is a part of my new design plan as well as a stencil. I want to paint the legs, but not sure what color yet. Maybe cream, maybe blue….I hope my stools turn out as fabulous as yours!
Sharon @ mrs. hines class
This looks so pretty. I hope to see you at My Dream Canvas. Visiting you from Wow Us Wednesday.