Small Stool Makeover | Chalk Couture Style

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I’m doing a small stool makeover for this month’s Thrift Store Décor Project. It’s really been a difficult project. You’d think for it being so small and so easy that it would have been a piece of cake! I never wait till the last minute for this team project. I love doing these easy makeovers. But it’s been so crazy busy around here.

How To: Small Stool Makeover

A new thrift store opened near me. I stopped in last week and spotted this cute little stool.

This is the sticker that was on the stool. It’s actually a kid’s stool.

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Sand Small Stool

I used an orbital sander to remove the varnish off the top of the kid’s stool.

Clean and Degrease

Upon closer inspection I noticed there was quite a bit of grease and grime on the small stool. I used TSP and latex gloves to wipe it down before painting it. Painting over oil or grease is not recommended for any project. It’s an extra step that is worth taking.

Of course I used my favorite homemade diy chalky paint primer for the small stool makeover. A little plaster of paris mixed with regular latex wall paint is my favorite way to start any project, big or small. It makes the paint very flat and helps it adhere to almost any finish.

Paint small stool with paint sprayer

My Super Finish Max Extra is perfect for large or small projects. It really makes painting spindles (legs) so much easier. I always start by painting the underneath side of my projects.

Paint really improved the look, don’t you think? I could have stopped there…. but no! That wasn’t enough. It was hot and steamy outside. Sweat was dripping from my face, but I trudge on.

The next step was pretty much a project failure. I was hot, in a rush to complete my fabulous small stool makeover—and I failed! I actually tried the transfer twice. The first time I did it, it started raining and smudged the chalk paste. On my second try (bottom right) the transfer pulled off the paint a little.

Plan b!

I repainted the top of the stool and put a fan on it to help it dry in the dampness of the carport.

Add glaze to small stool

My secret weapon! Smoked Glaze by Rust-Oleum and a cheap chip brush . This stuff never fails me. Well…. almost never. I even struggled with applying this glaze—for the first time ever! It must have been due to the extreme humidity.

Watch my video of How To Glaze Painted Furniture

Seriously folks! This small stool makeover should NOT have been this difficult. I had to use my battery operated fan in the carport in order to get the glaze to dry. The fan actually moved the glaze around a little, and I had to use a clean brush to smooth it out a little.

Watch my video of How To Glaze Painted Furniture

Pin it now so you can find it later.

The small stool would be perfect for a grandma’s house. She could use it to reach items in the upper cupboard, and pull it out when the grand kids visit. For now, it’s left with the glaze. After I get over messing with it, I may decide to do the chalk transfer on it after all. Maybe I’ll do it with a pop of color instead of the black I originally tried.

Would you have kept at it, or given up? I usually have a lot of patience, but when I’m melting in the heat I suddenly lose all patience!

I’m sure my friend’s projects below will not disappoint! Hop over to check out these fabulous thrift store makeovers . . .

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