2 stools need new use..

Lynn Hutchison
by Lynn Hutchison
2 stools (pic. below) are not sturdy enough to sit on, mostly decorative, need a new idea to repurpose and make them usefull..any ideas, like to include them in my patio setting..tks.
2 stools, stain and painted design on top..
This is our back garden,small, veg. grdn on left, flowers on right, fence on both sides,
  25 answers
  • Sia@South 47th Sia@South 47th on May 17, 2013
    Hi Lynn! If you'd like to keep them as stools, you can simply remove the tops and add new legs, which is very easy to do. You could remove the tops and stick the legs into a planter or into your yard on each side of your patio etc, for tall veggies to grow. Then repaint the tops, add a font or pic etc, put a hanger on the back of them and hang them from your cabana front side supports. There are tons of things to do with these!! Can't wait to see all of the great ideas that come your way! And please post a pic of what you've done with them xo
  • Barb Rosen Barb Rosen on May 17, 2013
    How about screwing on a tray on the top of each and using them as little side tables or planters?
  • Kimberly C Kimberly C on May 17, 2013
    My thought was similar to Barbs, I was thinking you could attach a piece of wood across both bar stools, using the stools as legs (sort of like a desk) paint all to match and using as serving sideboard outside or plant stand for an herb garden, you would probably want to seal everything with polyurethane.
  • Sia@South 47th Sia@South 47th on May 18, 2013
    Great ideas Ladies!!! If you do that, please re-enforce the underside, or whatever you put on there that has any weight to it will topple ;)
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on May 18, 2013
    Re-gluing legs on stools & chairs is not that big of a problem. You should be able to google "how to reglue table legs" or such and get plenty of advice. We have even glued the braces between the legs using string and a pencil to tighten it until the glue dries. Hubby cleans the old glue off the ends and out of the holes, puts in new wood glue...this is not a difficult task and worth the effort. These would make excellent planter stands. Also, they make excellent smal1 tables where you need one...I have a short stool in my bathroom that serves as a small table between the toilet and vanity for my remote house phone and charger as well as charger for my cell phCommentone.
  • Trudie S Trudie S on May 18, 2013
    Cut the legs shorter, so the little ones(children) can enjoy. I'm 5'2 and I hate sitting on stools that my feet hang down. You could also cut them down and milk paint them, put buckets next to them and paint the word (MILK) on the side of the buckets. Just an idea.
  • Lynn Hutchison Lynn Hutchison on May 18, 2013
    Tks everyone for all the ideas, you see i'm not a very good idea person, but with all of the above ideas, I can visulize the end results.. @ Jeanett S, we have glued the chairs and I guess we did a great job of hiding our wire holding the legs together so they don't spread when we sit on them..Its just we have got two new ones and I thought we should try to reuse the old ones before sending them to the curb for pick up.. Tks for the advice, this is one of the reason I luv this site, the advice is top notch..tks again everyone..
  • Tanya Peterson Felsheim Tanya Peterson Felsheim on May 18, 2013
    At a local upscale repurposing and refurbishing place she would look for these stools and made these awesome shabby chic stool covers that came down about half way to the bottom of the stool and sold them for about $50 each! Ok the closest I could find I will show you a link..she would add a pillow cushion top and a drop down skirt made of vintage white material usually and have little ties, kind of like an apron, but she could remove and wash them, was a great idea! She even would use square small pillows on round stools here is kind of close (imagine stool instead of the short vanity chair and no back..) http://blossomsvintagechic.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-weekend-at-glitterfest-and-country.html
  • Emilia Emilia on May 19, 2013
    I would use them as a plant stands or I would take off the tops and add the top boards to create a desk or side table.
  • Francine C Francine C on May 19, 2013
    These are all great ideas! How about putting an old wash basin and using one as a bird bath and the other as an open bird feeder?
  • Allyson Packer Allyson Packer on May 19, 2013
    flip them over, plant a tomato plant in a bowl or bucket and use the legs as a trellis to keep them from toppling. Good luck finding a use fpr them! :-)
  • 153091 153091 on May 19, 2013
    Place them next to one another leaving 4 to 5 foot space in between. Measure the width of seats and cut top board a bit wider then seats and 4 to 6 inches longer on each side...then screw board onto both seats from the bottom of seats making certain the screw length doesn't go through seat! Then measure width of second rungs on stool, cut next board the width but somewhat shorter in length and slide through the rungs in the stool...do the same with the last rungs, looks like it is a bit wider..but cut it the the same length as first rung board.Now you have a patio counter space for plants or for a serving buffet-type for patio area. For fun...paint several summer colors!
  • Cindy Cindy on May 19, 2013
    I would reglue the seats, cut the legs off at just above the bottom rung on one, and a few inches shorter on the other. Sand the bottoms of the legs, paint your favorite color in outdoor paint, and use and potted plant stands.
  • Tanya Peterson Felsheim Tanya Peterson Felsheim on May 19, 2013
    Ok @Lynn Hutchison its all your fault I bought 2 stools at a yard sale today! hehe I got one or 2 or maybe a few more other items.. I can tell my hubby your fault too?http://www.hometalk.com/diy/-1497200
  • Sia@South 47th Sia@South 47th on May 19, 2013
    @Tanya Peterson Felsheim Bwahahahahaaaaa!!!!!!!!!! Face it we are HOARDERS! We just haven't been on the show ......YET! ;)
  • Marci N Marci N on May 19, 2013
    If you want to use them as plant stands you could cut the legs shorter (too short to use as chairs) and put a pot on top of it. But wood glue can go a long way into making them more sturdy. But once the wood breaks its a moot point to glue it.
  • Tanya Peterson Felsheim Tanya Peterson Felsheim on May 19, 2013
    I'm afraid I have had to admit that much too late in life I am doing so much better than when I was younger though! I don't keep things unless I know they have potential...I rarely keep things anymore for that "I might need it someday" well...except for craft supplies! hehe
  • Eleanor P Eleanor P on May 19, 2013
    Like others, I have used unwanted stools for plant stands. I would cut the legs way down and use one beside the bathtub to hold a book, reading glasses and maybe a cool drink while relaxing in said tub. They also make nice nightstands if you add a larger top, a small round table cloth would hide the finish and legs.
  • Linda McVicar Linda McVicar on Jan 22, 2015
    I have one that I turned into a nice mini table for a corner in my living room. I just took a cheap round piece of fiberboard (like you get at the lumber yard), placed it on top and added a table cloth. I have a plant and candle on it. If you really love the top design, use a round glass piece. You could also change the height of one of the tables and place them both in the same corner.
  • Luvmypeanut Luvmypeanut on Jan 22, 2015
    I just bought a short one that I'm going to paint with grey chalk paint and stencil with a french stencil and use as a plant stand!
  • ALLYSON DUNCAN ALLYSON DUNCAN on Sep 22, 2016
    I had a similar idea as many of the other responders as far as making them into plant stands but I would take it one step further: completely remove the legs and add casters to the bottom of the seats so that you have rolling plant stands. That way, if you have a very heavy planter, you an put it on one of these stands and move it around without difficulty.
  • Abbigail Hunter Abbigail Hunter on Nov 14, 2016
    You can turn it upside down and use it to store garden tools and spray bottles on for your gardens. It would make a cute side table for drinks out on the patio between 2 chairs.
  • Choice Solutions Choice Solutions on Nov 14, 2016
    Interesting idea. Thank you.
  • Lyn Buerger Lyn Buerger on Nov 15, 2016
    I turned one upside down and stored rolls of wrapping paper. Made pouches on the rungs to hold tape and scissors, etc. easy to store and grab to use.
  • Lyn Buerger Lyn Buerger on Nov 16, 2016
    I like wheels on everything, but since it has smaller bottom than top I was afraid wheels might be worth the trouble. But it works great without wheels. If I can turn it upside down I put on wheels. Always watch for wheels in auctions and/or being discarded on some something being thrown away.