Make a smart footstool from an old drawer.



It's a shame to consign old furniture to the scrap heap. Why not find ways of giving it new life? These versatile footstools started out as drawers in a rather outdated chest of drawers. Here's how to breathe new life into them.

You'll need:
Drawer
Screws
Wood filler
80 grit sandpaper and sanding block, or electric sander
Acrylic undercoat
Low-sheen acrylic paint
PVA and Selleys Liquid Nails
1m calico
1.3m upholstery fabric
1m lining fabric
2 pieces 12mm MDF, cut to size
1 piece medium-density foam, cut 2cm larger all round than the MDF top
Timber beading (1m x 15mm x 15mm)
Brass handles, legs and leg plates
Tools: drill with countersink bit, staple gun, handsaw
Timber varnish and stain

Here's how:
Step 1
Remove the drawer handles. Measure the length and width of the drawer, from the outer edges and then from the inside edges. Have two pieces of 12mm MDF cut, one to fit the top and one to fit inside the drawer. Spread PVA on the inside bottom of the drawer with a paintbrush and drop in the smaller piece of MDF. Press down well. This will reinforce the drawer.

Step 2
Drill into the sides of the drawer at three points, level with the MDF flooring. Countersink the holes, insert the screws and cover with wood filler. Fill the holes left by the handles with wood filler and leave to dry.

Step 3
Sand back the varnish on the drawer. Sand the wood filler smooth. Wipe away dust, undercoat and apply two coats of paint. Pre-drill and fix the new handle.

Step 4
To make a lining for the drawer, measure the length and width including up the sides, and add 1cm all round. Cut lining fabric to fit and iron under 1cm allowance all round. Brush PVA over the inside of the drawer. Align the folded fabric edge with the front edge of the drawer and smooth fabric down inside the drawer, across the bottom and up the back edge. Repeat, working left to right. Let glue dry.

Step 5
Position the leg plates and mark the placement for the screws, including the legs. Remove plate and pre-drill screw holes. Fix the plates and legs in position. Stain and varnish the legs.

Step 6
To upholster the top, spread Liquid Nails over one side of the larger piece of MDF and centre it on the foam, glue-side down. Let dry. Measure the length and width of the foam, including down the sides, and add 25mm all round. Cut calico and upholstery fabric to this size.

Step 7
Lay the calico on your worktop and centre the foam on top. Pull the calico firmly up over the foam and staple to the back of the MDF in the centre of each side. Pull the fabric corners firmly across the grain at 45 degrees and staple to the MDF at each corner.

With the corners neatly secured, staple 3cm apart around all sides, smoothing the fabric as you go. (You'll cover the calico with upholstery fabric in the same way).

Cut a piece of upholstery fabric the same size as the MDF. Iron under a 15mm hem all round then staple to the bottom of the MDF to hide the raw fabric edges.

Cut two lengths of beading about 40mm shorter than the front-to-back measurement of MDF. Screw beading to MDF over backing fabric, parallel to and about 20mm in from left and right edges. This will stop the top slipping.

Now sit back and put those feet up!

Source: Better Homes and Gardens