DIY ottoman made from a $2 thrift store stool and a piece of faux fur. This is a fun way to get one of these popular stools that are sold in many stores at high prices.
It doesn't happen often, but I think my husband loved how this project turned out way more than I did.
I even got him to pose for a picture with my cool thrift store faux fur stool on his head, but I have been forbidden to share it on the blog. I would like to stay married so I will honor his request. Actually I put it on my IG stories the other day (before he forbid it) but he doesn't know. Shhhh...don't tell him. 😉
A few weeks back I was browsing through one of my favorite thrift stores when I found this little old wood milking stool.
Was I looking for a stool? Umm...no.
Did I need another stool in my life?
Not exactly, but it was only $2 and I loved it. Nobody was with me to talk me out of it (yes, the hubs would have talked me down), so it came home to live with me.
It went right into the sunroom, where it sat while I tried to figure out what to do with it. At first I was going to leave it. Then I decided that I wanted to paint it.
In the end though, a spare piece of faux fur completely changed my mind. It would become a cool and trendy ottoman with faux fur
I had the stool and the fur. All I needed was a piece of foam to add a bit of a cushion.
Supplies to make a DIY ottoman stool
This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.
- stool
- piece of faux fur
- 2, 1" pieces of foam
- marker
- utility knife - to cut foam
- staple gun
- a vacuum (it's a messy project!)
This is such an easy project. I think it took me 10-15 minutes to do the whole thing.
How do you make a homemade ottoman?
To start, I put 2 pieces of 1" foam on top of each other.
Then I drew a template of the stool seat on the foam and cut it out with my utility knife.
After I cut out the template, I turned the stool over and positioned my fur so that it would cover the seat and foam.
Then I started stapling the fur to the underside of the stool seat. There was no fancy formula to this step. I just pulled the fur tight, without moving the stool, and stapled all the way around.
Ten minutes and my new ottoman had a cool new head of hair.
I think the faux fur was definitely the way to go. I thought about painting the legs but decided to leave them for now.
I'm loving it in the newly redone sunroom. It's such a fun addition. I even sit in the room petting it.
First the hubs posing with it, now me petting it. What is it about faux fur? 😉
Check out my other DIY storage ottoman that I built for the cargo trailer. So much storage!
Don't forget to check out what my friends on the Thrifty Style Team are up to this month. They never disappoint.
Melanie says
Thanks so much for this tutorial. I actually have a stool and fur already, so I will definitely do this myself!
Kristi says
Yay, so glad you're going to give it a try! Let me know how it comes out. 🙂
Vicki and Jennifer Fenton says
$2.00? And the faux fur looks beautiful! The stool really is cool and looks wonderful in your sunroom! Great transformation!
Kristi says
Thanks so much, ladies! I don't need another stool but how can you pass it up when it's only $2? 😉
jane says
Oh my goodness! Your fur covered stool is as cute as can be! I will definitely be on the lookout for a similar stool!
Kristi says
I love it too Jane! I can't believe I was going to paint it. I love it with the fur. 🙂
Bliss says
That is really cute, but you know, I sort of like it in it's rustic naked wood state too. The new way will be much softer on the tootsies however.
Kristi says
I liked it in it's rustic state too but I have a few other barenaked stools in the room (it's called stool addiction) and wanted to have something a little different. 🙂
Deborah says
First, I love wooden stools! Second, what a great job. I usually just leave them but this is adorable. Finally, that looks gorgeous in your room.
Kristi says
Thanks so much Deborah! I usually leave them too but wanted to try something different. So glad I did. 😉
Kim says
Haha...petting it. I totally would be doing the same thing. And it doesn't even need to be walked or fed. 😉 Love it.
Kristi says
I couldn't stop. It was just so soft. I caught the hubs doing it too. What do you think that says about us? 😉
Pat says
Cute, and looks just like the $50. fur stool selling at some stores.
Pat
Kristi says
Thanks! I've never looked online for one but checked them out after and they are so expensive. I'm happy with my $2 thrift store stool and piece of faux fur stapled on. 🙂
Vanessa says
That stool was just destined for a more glamorous life! I love it!
Kristi says
It's definitely more glamorous. 😉 Thanks so much Vanessa!
Debbie H says
I like Bliss would leave it rustic but as she also said, it looks good in your sunroom. My husband liked to paint wood and I liked to see the wood. Led to some interesting discussions. LOL
Kristi says
My husband and I have had similar discussions. I'm not always one to paint wood, but I have done it more than the hubs would like. I think we both liked this one though (and I can always remove it if I want a change). 🙂
Jillian says
Please let me know when you will be out as I am coming over to steal that stool. I might sand up the legs and whitewash them though 🙂 Ok, fine. I may have to make one if I can find a great stool and figure out a place for it. You are a brilliant person.
Kristi says
Haha, I'll be sure to hide it if you ever come to visit. 😉 I'm still not sure about the legs. I keep looking at it but it's just not hit me yet. I'm not worried though, I'll figure it out soon enough. 😉
I just found another stool, different shape, that's waiting for it's transformation (I did say I had a stool addiction. 😉 ).
Thanks so much for the laugh, Jillian.
Marlene Stephenson says
Brilliant and i love your stool. I have stools now all i need is fur and deciding which one to use. Thanks so much.
Kristi says
Thanks Marlene! I was going to use a different fabric but already had the fur. I think you could use almost anything. Hope you give it a shot. 🙂
Cindy says
I love your new pet, lol!! Seriously the cutest project ever and now I need one in my sunroom ????
Kristi says
Thanks so much, Cindy! I love how it turned out.
Kim says
So cute and you can never have too many stools! Great find.
Kristi says
Thanks so much, Kim. I agree...you can never have too many stools! 😉
laura janning says
oh i love your new puppy....I mean cute stool. Ha, i had to laugh when you said you were petting it. what a great find and a great transformation.
Kristi says
Thanks so much Laura. There's something about faux fur that makes you want to touch it, or maybe it's just me. 😉
MaryJean says
How cute is that! Love it!
Kristi says
Thanks so much! 🙂
Kaycee says
I am so in love with this cozy lil footstool you made! My husband just caught a glimpse of the computer screen and came back over to check out your furry lil footstool too, he liked it very much!! I enjoyed seeing your Hubs in the IG stories too! Mine is the same, he says never, ever put any photos of me on IG or FB! LOL Have a great weekend!
Kristi says
Thanks so much Kaycee! The hubs doesn't like every project that I've done but he got a kick out of this one. Clearly. 😉
Thanks for visiting!
Sandra says
Oooh there’s some pretty fur there!! Beautiful work. I was at World Market the other day and saw a similar stool w the fur priced over $100!!!
Yep, you did great!
Kristi says
Thanks Sandra! I love how it turned out! I never looked at them in stores but I've heard they are expensive. Wow, $100? I guess my knockoff is pretty inexpensive compared to that. 😉
Florence says
That is adorable! Disappointed I don't get to see your hubby modeling it though. Well, drat!
Kristi says
Thanks so much Florence. It was such a fun project. I still have photographic proof of the incident so you never know. 😉
Carol says
That is so cute, Kristi! I've been thinking about doing the same thing to a little stool in our master bath. Love it!
Linda at Mixed Kreations says
Cute stool! Looks so fluffy and soft. I've picked up a couple of stool recently that I couldn't pass up either. Haven't figured out what I'm going to do with them yet, but my granddaughter may enjoy a little furry stool. Thanks for sharing your tutorial!
Kristi says
Thanks Linda! Old stools are hard to resist when you come across them (I have a few in my basement). I totally love the faux fur as does every one who visits. People seem to love to pet it. 😉
Linda at Mixed Kreations says
What a cute little stool! Looks so soft and fluffy! I wouldn't be able to pass that up either for two dollars. You did a fabulous job on the makeover. 💖💖💖
Kristi says
Thanks so much, Linda! I didn't know what I wanted to do with it when I saw it but I couldn't pass it up for 2 bucks. 😉