What to do with footstool?

[Sprat12]

We have a very well used, but very gross looking footstool that I am growing to hate looking at.

It's not the same colour as the couch (came from a previous set), but we kept hold of it as it has storage and wheels, which is very handy.

It's really comfy to put your feet up on, so I am loathe to get rid of it. Replacing will cost a lot, and re-upholstering will also cost a lot. It's all fabric. Any ideas of anything I can do DIY to make it nicer?

In what way is it manky? Dirty? Or just looking a bit shabby/used?

Let's have a look

Need pic - but quick answer - a throw or faux or real sheepskin rug over it?

Reupholster it yourself, you'll be able to find tutorials online. Can probably get a fab fabric offcut cheap online as well.

It's stained, and I can't get the stain out despite scrubbing at it like a mad woman!

A throw could be a good shout in the interim. At least I won't be mortified if we have guests over. I promise the rest of my house and furnishings are actually lovely 🙈

I had a very brief look on YouTube earlier but couldn't find anything particularly helpful about reupholstering. Though I probably need to have a proper trawl through.

I think that's probably the best option but I'm worried I'll cock it up

You could dye/ paint it another colour?

Putting a throw on it will look silly.

it Is grubby looking, you are right.

I would just make a loose cover ( a bit like a fitted sheet iyswim.)
throw fabric over inside out, leave 2 inches longer than you need, pleat corners and pin and stitch, run a channel around the bottom to run elastic through.
Easy enough to pull off if you need to open the footstool.

My sister has used fabric paint to liven up an old chair. It looks fab
www.furnitureclinic.co.uk/fabric-products/fabric-paints-dyes/fabricoat-fabric-paint?gclid=CjwKCAiAleOeBhBdEiwAfgmXf1Ey1LVh0yKP49Xz-xPHQlNYWJDNlEKywNvkOarGpBGT8uLlimLZ5RoCX54QAvD_BwE

You can buy footstool covers which are more or less like a fitted sheet.

Blanket and some kind of styling will hide that

What about a tray the same size as the top?

The problem with having a tray / decor on top is that it is very regularly used for feet, so would be a faff taking stuff on and off. Also have a DS that is now on the move and into everything so I'm trying to keep nice stuff out of arms reach.

I love the fabric paint idea though, and the footstool covers! I'm off to have a Google

Defo some footstool cover, I'm sure there's something on the market?

Do you have local carpet upholstery cleaner with proper equipment?
We have a local one. Posts before and after on local Facebook and does great jobs of disgusting carpets and things.

I reckon it would come up great 👍

@Sprat12 that's for you. Since this is been around since Tues !

You could cover that with fabric and a staple gun really easily

I've ordered some fabric paint, with the view that if it looks god awful, I can always reupholster myself. I'll get round to it in the next few days, will post an after photo if it isn't rotten!

It probably would, but the problem is that the base colour doesn't match the sofa. So I've decided to fabric paint it the same colour as the cushions we have on the sofa (quite an emerald green).

It will probably look frigging dreadful, but I'd rather try the cheaper option first 🙈

Update - I went with the fabric paint and really pleased with the result. It probably does need one more coat but a very cost effective option!

That looks really good. I might update a thing or two myself with the fabric paint.

That looks great! Does it hide the stain? I can’t see any stain in the pics.

That looks so good. How do you apply it?

That looks amazing!