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Making it in the Mountains

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A SUPER Quick and Easy IKEA Step Stool Makeover

DIY Farmhouse Projects, Kitchen, Old Black Cedar House

Having had SUCH a busy June, we’ve been taking things pretty easy around here so far through July. Instead of DIY projects, we’ve been enjoying the warm weather with some super fun trips to the beach and of course eating every single meal we can in our lovely new outdoor space! There’s just something about Summer … it always seems to be the busiest time of the year and that sunshine gives me more energy than ever, yet I can always find a few moments to just slow down and enjoy the beauty of it all knowing it’ll be gone much too soon!

That being said, I couldn’t help but tackle a small project that’s been on my to-do list for a while … these IKEA step stools were just begging to be put to work!
 
 
Collage Ikea Stool Makeover @ making it in the mountains
 
 
You may remember our being stuck with a flat tire on our road trip last month and the silver lining IKEA trip that made it all okay. That glorious trip to IKEA gave me the chance to finally pick up a couple of IKEA step stools that have been on my wish list FOREVER! Our not so little guy has recently been asserting his independence by pushing a dining chair all around my house to reach whatever it is he needs. Instead of watching him struggle to climb onto something he probably shouldn’t be learning to climb on, I figured it was time he get his own step stool. At least this way he can wash his hands in the sink without completely soaking one of our dining chairs. And, if I’m being honest here, it likely won’t be all for Carson, or even mostly for Carson – it’s quite likely that his 4′ 11 3/4″ Mommy will be putting it to good use as well (where do you think he learned to climb on the dining chairs?).

So, at our seemingly only break in our busy weekend – NAPTIME – Brady got these babies built up for me lickity split!
 
Ikea Stool Makeover @ making it in the mountains
 
And I got to work staining.
 
Ikea Stool Makeover @ making it in the mountains
 
Then priming and painting.
 
Ikea Stool Makeover @ making it in the mountains
 
And here’s the transformation:
 
Before Ikea Stool Makeover @ making it in the mountains
 
After - Ikea Stool Makeover @ making it in the mountains
 
I chose to play it pretty safe with the first stool – since it will live in our kitchen, I thought I would match the colours to our Paint Dipped DIY Side Tables in the living room. Unsure of where I will put the second one to work in our home, I decided to simply stain it all over with some Minwax Special Walnut stain, with the intention to add a bit of colour and personality down the road.
 
Ikea Stool Makeover @ making it in the mountains

Ikea Stool Makeover @ making it in the mountains

Ikea Stool Makeover @ making it in the mountains

Ikea Stool Makeover @ making it in the mountains

Ikea Stool Makeover @ making it in the mountains

Ikea Stool Makeover @ making it in the mountains

 
This was SUCH a super simple project, but it’ll definitely make our everyday lives SO much easier!
 
Ikea Stool Makeover @ making it in the mountains

 
Have you been using your Summer to tackle all sorts of projects around your house, or are you slowing things down and soaking in every minute of it?

Wishing you all a very lovely Wednesday!
 
 
 

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Reader Interactions

I can't wait to hear your thoughts!

Comments

    • Amber Myers says

      Great idea! I just re-did my own Ikea stool inspired by your wood/white one. Turned out beautiful. It took a week for me though, because of the multiple steps involved including Polycrylic application. I worked on it each night.

      Reply

      • Kristi says

        That’s SO awesome Amber! I’m thrilled that you felt inspired!!! I bet it looks fantastic! Plus, it’s always handy to have a step stool around 😉

        Reply

    • Kristi says

      Thanks Tara! Hoping to add some real colour to the all wood one, but I’m totally digging the white and wood in our Kitchen 🙂

      Reply

  6. Kim @ {enjoy the view} says

    I love what you did with the step stools! Do you remember where they were located in IKEA? And how much they cost? I’m terrible at finding things there – I had to go 4 times before I finally found the spice racks, LOL!

    Reply

  7. Erica says

    Love how these turned out! Particularly the white one 🙂 And I’m with you – I’m super short as well and always need a chair or something to help me in the kitchen. One of these would help a lot!

    Reply

  9. Emily @ Table + Hearth says

    Man, I got this same stool a couple of months ago and have been meaning to paint/stain it ever since but have yet to do it too! They are so cute and versatile (and cheap!)! I love your two-tone. Did you seal it with any poly after you stained it? Thanks for the nudge to get mine done 🙂

    Reply

    • Kristi says

      Thanks Emily! I think they were on my shopping list for over a year (we live over 6 hours from the closes IKEA), so a month of sitting in the spare room was long enough 😉 I didn’t put poly on, I thought about it, but I’m okay with things wearing a bit.

      Reply

  11. Ai Lin says

    Hi Kristi! I am gobsmacked at what you did with the Ikea step stools. It may be easy for you but it certainly blew me away. Love the wood stain. I have the same stools..for myself…I am about the same height as you are 😀

    Reply

    • Kristi says

      Awwww, thank you SO much! I swear it was SUCH a simple project, but I’m sure you can understand how life changing a stool in the kitchen can be 😉

      Reply

  15. Rina @ Oomanoot says

    What a difference some paint makes… I painted one of these green ages ago, I think it might be time to spruce it up a bit with some two toned action 🙂

    (Visiting from Flamingo Toes)

    Reply

  18. Kristin says

    I actually just bought this same step stool…thank you for the inspiration!! They both look lovely, especially loving the two toned look!

    Reply

    • Kristi says

      Thank you Kristi!!! I really like the white and wood look too! I’ve got some more adventurous plans for the wood stained one in our guest room 😉

      Reply

  22. Caroline says

    This is such a cute project! I really need to get my little guy a step stool of his own. Your photos are beautiful!

    Reply

    • Kristi says

      Thank you Caroline! Carson’s been pushing it all over the kitchen every time he gets it in his head that he needs something, so it’s definitely getting a ton of use!

      Reply

  25. Laura says

    The Ikea stools turned out great! I am featuring your project from this week’s The Creative Exchange! xo, Laura

    Reply

  27. Erlene says

    Don’t you just love Ikea? Our store is pretty far away from us, but I could spend a whole day in there just wandering around. Your stool came out wonderful and I love the two toned one a lot. Thanks for sharing on Merry Monday.

    Reply

  30. Jocie@OPC says

    i totally want to try this! want a great ikea hack! Thanks so much for linking up last week at creativity unleashed. featuring you tomorrow and hope to see you back.

    Reply

  35. Steph @ The Silly Pearl says

    I think this is my favorite makeover of these step stools. Mine are sitting in the garage still in their plain state, not knowing what to do with them. Thanks so much for the inspiration!
    And thanks so much for linking up to Project Inspire{d}! I’ll be featuring your awesome stepstools this Monday.

    Reply

  40. Carisa Smith says

    Hi! I’m visiting from Messes to Memories. I found you a little while ago and loved your stool. I bought the same stool earlier this summer and it’s still waiting for me to re-do it! I’m heading out to buy paint and stuff to fix it up now and came back to look at your stool for inspiration! I love the contrast of the white and stain… 🙂

    Reply