Ikea Hack: Ingolf Bar Stool Makeover

by Gabi Ralea

6 Materials

$35

3 Hours

Medium

I love this stool’s shape, so I had to find a way to make it look lovely again after ten years of usage. I could not miss the opportunity to put my creativity to work for another Ikea hack.

I sanded, I painted, and glued, then painted again. Here’s the result and the steps to take if you want to replicate my project!

a creative makeover for an ikea bar stool

The trigger for this new design was a pack of red zig-zag striped paper napkins that I found in a dollar store and totally fell in love with.

Step 1

Sand the stool to help the paint stick better, but also for cleaning the surface profoundly.

Beside the need to make the paint stick better, this tool had a small problem: a broken part in the backseat that I had to remove totally.

Wipe the stool with a piece of cloth drenched in rubbing alcohol, to remove all the dust from sanding.

Step 2

Apply a coat of white paint all over the stool. Let it dry, then apply a second coat only on the legs. It would be the basic color for this piece of furniture.

Step 3

Cut the paper napkin in the shape of the seat. Apply a coat of mod podge then cover the seat with the top layer of the napkin. Be careful not to stretch the napkin during the process or it will smash to pieces. Let it dry.

Step 4

Bring the green paint closer to create the green “socks” you see on the legs. Use the masking tape to create a straight line around each leg at 4-in high from the ground, then the area below this line.

Add another pop of color on the backseat, and paint the top rail green.

Step 5

Add a final coat of clear varnish on the seat to protect the paper napkin, and you can do the same on the rest of the stool if the paint requires sealing.

I love the new face that this Ikea stool has! And it will fit in in my new home design pretty soon!

Do you want to know what was different with this stool and see even more pictures and tips for this DIY project? Check the complete story on my blog HERE!