Don’t Sit this One Out: Easy DIY Transforms a Stool into Accent Tables/Plant Stands
You might jump out of your seat for this one! A Goodwill-found stool gets cut in half to become two accent tables or plant stands. This relatively simple project gives you a place—or two—to set your favorite fern or place your summer sips.
Here’s how:
1. Keep Your Cool at Goodwill & Keep Your Budget Happy
No need to sing the summertime blues with this hot and steamy weather. A great way to beat the heat is to stop by your favorite Goodwill nonprofit retail store. My favorite is the new one on New York Avenue in NE DC for two reasons: convenience and community. It’s close to my home, and the staff/team there are the bestest! The one featured in this blog was $4.99, so I rounded up my final sale, so the extra change went to support Goodwill’s remarkable programs.
2. Measure Twice, Cut Once
You’ll want to cut the legs of your stool about halfway. The goal is to have the crossbars holding the legs together be a part of each half. Use your tape measure to mark on the legs, then use painter’s tape as your guide.
Use a jigsaw to cut each leg along the painter’s tape as your guide. Four cuts are all it will take!
3. Create a Top for Your Bottom Half
Once you cut the stool into two parts, the top part will use the seat as its table/plant stand top. However, you will need to create or repurpose something for your bottom half’s top. My first thought was to use a round serving tray I picked up at Goodwill during an early excursion there. However, I wanted the two stool pieces to be a set, so I used scrap wood to make a top.
Measure your wood so you have a square that will rest on top of the stool’s legs. If necessary, measure a piece of wood, cut it into two halves, and combine them to form the square top you want. Cut the wood, add braces to the back, and use quick-drying epoxy, wood glue, and small tacks to hold it together.
Expert Tip:
You could use an old cabinet door or part of a desk or dresser as your top. You want something sturdy and strong—and wood. Always use what you have on hand to keep costs down and give a scrap piece a new purpose.
4. Sand Away
Use a medium or coarse-grade sanding block or sandpaper to smooth out the cut edges on your stool—now accent table/plant stand—legs. Also, give the cut edge of your tabletop a good sanding to smooth it out. When finished with that, consider giving a light sanding all over your pieces to make them more paint-friendly.
Use a damp cloth to wipe down all pieces to remove the dust caused by the cutting and sanding.
5. Brush on More Transformation
Give your two accent tables/plant stands a refreshing new look with paint. Always consider using what you have on hand and, based on the look of your original stool, consider giving it a “paint wash” treatment. This is when you add water to your latex paint to thin it out so the wood/original paint shows through the final look.
In my paint stash, I had a warm light brown paint called “Coffee Dream,” so that was an easy one to select. (And yes, I have picked paints based on their name!) Add paint to a small container like a paper cup or bowl, then add some water to thin it out. Only add a little water, then mix it all together. Try brushing it on to see if it is the right consistency.
Apply a light layer of your paint wash over your two tables/plant stands. Turn them on their sides or upside down so you don’t miss any parts or edges. Allow time to dry, then return to add an additional layer if desired.
6. Place the Pair by Your Sofa, Add as an Accent to Any Space
Put the two together as a handy place to set a book or hold your favorite beverage. Their small size makes them easy to remove and reposition. Place them on top to give your plants some stature and visual interest, making them plant stands with style. These will be well-received by all and look great in any space.
At the end of the day, this stool project is more than just a simple DIY transformation; it’s about making something beautiful out of the old and overlooked. Just like the stool, your creativity can be cut and shaped into something that fits perfectly in your space—one that serves not just a function, but tells a story of purpose and creativity. So don’t sit this one out—grab that stool, and let’s make something new together!
Similar Reads:
- DIY: How to Upcycle Mannequins into Pride Art Pieces – Finding Your Good
- DIY: How to Upcycle a Mirror to Reflect Your Pride – Finding Your Good
Tim Kime
Artist, Motivational Speaker, Life Coach
