Refinished Vanity Stool {a trick for making perfectly circular cushions}

You may have noticed the little vanity stool in my Fancy Nancy invitation shoot last week.

This little stool started out as an outdated lackluster gold wire stool with a pretty disgusting lace edged cushion.  We found it at a yard sale for $3.00.  I love the shape and knew it could look cute with a little updating.  Sorry I don’t have before pictures but I wanted to share what I did to cheer it up a bit.

First things first, it was given several coats of cream spray paint.  The stool has gone through a beating over the past year and only has small spots of wear.

I would suggest taking the extra step(s) of using a primer and/or sealer if you are opposed to chips happening.  I always tell myself I need to do this and then forget or get lazy.  So instead I’ll have to redo it again when it starts to bother me….IF it starts to bother me.

Next, was a new cushion.  I used part of a striped pale mustard and white striped sheet for one side and drop cloth for the other side.  I think it gives it a bit on interest and allows for two different looks depending on your mood.

Here’s where my round cushion tip comes in!!  Can you guess what I did!?  I used a 5-gallon bucket!

image via Home Depot

Simply lay it on top of the fabric, trace, and cut.  I cut slightly outside of the circle for a seam allowance.  This way I could stitch directly on the penciled circle.  Put the right sides of your fabric together and stitch around the circle leaving an opening to flip the right sides out.  

Stuff the cushion with poly fill and stitch the opening closed.

We had planned on selling this little stool but since it never found a home it’s been living in ours.  Our kids like to climb on it to look out the window.  I’m hoping to eventually find a better spot to put it but for now it will continue to sit under our bedroom window and be used as a photo prop.