DIY wooden stool ikea hack

i love ikea and i will do anything to visit. i will come up with alllllll kinds of reasons to justify a trip (and the inevitable trolley full of plants that comes back home with me) but now my latest and best excuse to persuade james to come? RESEARCH! 

james: what kind of research? 

me: oh you know DIY ikea hacks and stuff, so basically it's work.

james: i guess so then.

me: *fist pump* 

but seriously, even when i visit for a specific piece of furniture i can't help but hunt out smaller items to makeover. i've been planning this particular hack for a while and i'm dead pleased with the result.

you may remember my wood slice hairpin table from the start of the year -i'd originally planned to make this stool but when dad brought back a huge piece of wood from ireland i made a coffee table instead. fortunately for me i was home in ireland last month so i picked out a couple of smaller slices with this stool/side table in mind.

want to make one? all you need is a slice of wood and a cheap ikea stool..

this is such an easy hack ..and it looks waaaay more expensive than it is.

i originally spotted the marius stool in ikea late last year, i grabbed one with no idea what i'd use it for at the time. it comes in black/white/red and the best part- IT'S £3.

WINNER!!

it's easy peasy to make:

1. source a wood slice, try your local lumber yard or garden centres. you can find them online too just make sure they're big enough (mine is approx 35 x35cm)

2. lightly sand down the top with a hand sander- you could also remove the bark and sand the sides as well but i prefer the natural finish.

3. screw the stool legs directly onto the bottom of your wood slice. the screws that come with the stool are too short so switch to longer ones- at least 5cm length depending on the thickness of the wood slice! (you don't need the ikea stool seat- you can recycle it if you don't want it.)

4. flip the stool over and it's ready to use. you can treat or stain the wood but i'm going to leave mine unfinished for now. 

not bad for a £3 ikea stool? i can't decide if i should keep it indoors or put it in my garden? 

ps. those little white cacti planters are a DIY i made with clay here.

i think it looks really cute and it's actually big enough to use as a side table, ikea i heart you!

do you like it?

back soon

caroline x