Best Tips to Thrift and Revive Old Stools

Here are the Best tips to thrift old stools. Where to find them, which ones you should collect, and how to revive them to use in your home decor styling.

I have figured out a secret way to make your home decor styling amazing! When you’re styling your home, adding different levels to your accessories makes all the difference. Instead of always using books to add height, use a small stool with vintage style. Today I’m sharing my Best Tips to Thrift and Revive Old Stools. Hopefully you’ll be convinced to be on the hunt for them as you thrift!

The Thrifting with the Gals Team

Today I’m joining my Thrifting with the Gals friends. You’re going to love all the thrifty, vintage ideas these ladies have for you! We’re all in different parts of the U.S. and each have a little different style, all with a thrifty, vintage touch.

This month our guest blogger is Rachel from The Antiqued Journey. Rachel lives in my home state of Minnesota, and we’ve been able to meet up a few times! Rachel loves to thrift and find vintage treasures to decorate her home. Definitely welcome Rachel this month!

Ann, from Dabbling and Decorating decorates with classic New England style at her homes in Vermont and Maine. She shares nostalgic family memories and has the cutest dog, Ella, that loves to join in the fun.

Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse lives in North Carolina and has a beautiful custom built home on a pond. Her home is full of creative vintage style with an industrial flair. She loves thrifting and upcycling her finds.

Robyn from Robyn’s French Nest lives in sunny Florida and has a pool and palm trees in her yard. Robyn is a wonderful stylist and decorates her home with romantic, French style.

And me! I live in Minnesota. My decorating embraces each of our beautiful four seasons. I love curbside junking and every other place I can scrounge for thrifty vintage finds. Mr. Fix-it and I have spent years upcycling and repurposing for our home and my former store.

Best Tips to Thrift and Revive Old Stools

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Where to Thrift for Old Stools

Where can you find old stools? Back in the day, every house would have at least one old stool (before metal step ladders became a thing). They can be found at estate sales, flea markets and vintage shops. My favorite is when I spot one in a curbside pile;)

Church sales and garage sales may also have them. Be sure to check the kids/toy areas in your local thrift store, too. Small versions that were made for kids are the easiest to use in your home decor. They can be tucked onto a shelf, in a cabinet or sit at the top of a tall furniture piece.

Yes, this is the pile of old stools I’ve been finding lately. I’ve got plans for them all;) And I never spend more than $10 on them, since they usually need a makeover.

Which Old Stools Should You Collect?

Little stools are definitely the easiest to use in your home decor styling, especially if you’re challenged for space. Taller versions can be used as a side table or a plantstand, or as extra seating.

Get more decorating ideas in “9 Ways to Enjoy Vintage Stools in Your Home”.

You can find a wide variety of vintage stools once you start looking for them. Collecting a variety of them will give you many decorating options. Whenever I can find one with a couple layers of chippy paint, my heart sings;) Homemade versions are fun because each one is unique.

Collect spindle legged versions for a cottage style look. Bench-type stools give a farmhouse vibe. Foldable stools are easy to store and have a picnic style. Old metal versions can be industrial or give a retro vibe. So many decorating possibilities!

( yes, I was giddy when I scooped up this retro floral metal stool in the basement of an estate sale, recently)

How to Revive Old Stools

The old stools I find are usually in pretty grungy spots. They’ve been sent to the basement or garage and have a later of spiderwebs and crud on them. Before bringing them into the house to decorate, they need to be cleaned and sometimes given a makeover. Here’s how to revive different types of vintage step stools.

Chippy, Painted Stools

If you thrift a chippy painted old wooden stool, scrub it with soapy water and a soft nylon brush. The loose paint chips should come off and reveal all the pretty old layers of paint. Dry thoroughly and seal with a couple coats of THIS to seal.

I picked up this chippy white farmhouse stool recently because I spotted green paint under the white. I’ll scrub it up and maybe even sand a little to reveal the paint layers. The legs are rotten at the bottom, so we’ll cut off a couple inches. Which will make it a better size for decorating anyway!

Shiny Painted Step Stools Makeover Tips

Sometimes I find step stools that have a shiny paint job. It’s either the factory finish or someone’s spray painted it with a gloss finish:( To give the stools a more vintage vibe, I scuff up the paint with my palm sander and 100 grit sandpaper. I may also re-paint it in a more subtle paint, like I did with this black round stool. It’s painted with Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint in Typewriter. I’m going to paint their subtle orange over the top for Fall decor and distress it a little. (Find MMS Milk Paint HERE. Use Code 10OFFLB for a discount)

Upholstered Stools Makeover Tips

Upholstered stools can be given a fun makeover, too. The spindle legs on this version can easily be unscrewed to paint. Then use an electric stapler and add cute fabric. You can add a ruffle or scallop around the edge or upholstery trim for extra pizazz.

(see “DIY Chair Seat with Scallop Edge” and “Easy Stapled Feedsack Step Stool” for tips and ideas)

Collect Old Metal Stools

I love the industrial vibe of old metal stools. If they have layers of chippy paint on them, all the better. If they’ve been used in a garage or basement workshop (like many have), clean them first with a degreaser like THIS. Dry thoroughly and seal by spraying or brushing with THIS or THIS. All the great patina will be sealed in so you can use it in your decor.

Handmade Old Wooden Stools

My favorite finds are always the totally unique handmade old wooden stools. They’re even more fun if they’re made with a handle on the top, or they can be folded up. These two foldable versions, one handmade, one not, are recent finds. Think they’ll both be getting fresh paint. Maybe even a little hand painting or stenciling on the tops?

I hope I’ve convinced you to start thrifting for old stools! They can be such a fun accent when you’re decorating and styling your home. They can be the secret sauce for your home decor. (And yes, I have lost count to how many I have!)

Shop for vintage step stools HERE. (And definitely sell them if you’re a dealer;)

For more of our Thrifting with the Gals series, see HERE.

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Enjoy the rest of the inspiration from my Thrifting With The Gals friends, and be sure to Pin and Save below!

Rachel, The Antiqued Journey: “Thrift Your Way to a Vintage Ironstone Collection”

Ann, Dabbling and Decorating: “Primitive Decorating Ideas for Your Fall Dining Room”

Rachel, The Ponds Farmhouse: “How to Build a Stunning Curated Vintage Dinnerware Collection”

Robyn, Robyn’s French Nest: “7 Useful Fall Decor Items You Need To Thrift For”

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Sharing at these lovely parties:

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