She Uses Quikrete To Give A Plain Stool A Durable Makeover

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When compared to a soft, comfy chair or a round ottoman, a plain ol' stool can get overlooked by home decorators wanting more elaborate pieces. From an interior design perspective, this can be shortsighted. A stool can transform into a mini coffee table or plant stand in a matter of seconds. At least one DIYer is challenging the stance that stools are kinda ho-hum. TikToker Liz Fenwick (@lizfenwickdiy) created a stylish yet durable seat out of Quikcrete and added it to a cheap metal stool. Her makeover turned a stool into a unique piece of furniture that can hold its own in any room.

Fenwick started with a plain four-legged metal stool with holes in the round seat. Although any stool will probably work for this DIY, sticking with something similar would be the easiest option. An IKEA Marius Stool in black is comparable and will set you back just $8.99. If you think you may want to transform multiple stools, this six-pack of Costway Black Round Plastic Stack Stools costs about $75. 

You'll also need some Quikrete Concrete Mix. If you're unfamiliar with this construction material, it's a pre-mixed blend of cement, sand, and gravel that you only need to add water to use. The project also calls for a plastic oil pan that's a little wider than the stool's seat — one of these Gisafai Plastic Oil Drip Catcher Pans should do the trick. Finally, gather a plastic mixing bucket, a stir stick, water, and rubber gloves. To finish everything off, you'll need fine-grade sandpaper and a heavy-duty adhesive like E6000.

Decorating your home with stools starts with a tutorial from crafty TikToker Liz Fenwick. Working with the Quikrete makes up the bulk of the work for this DIY project. First, you need to make enough mix for a 2- to 3-inch stool seat. Mix the Quikrete until it reaches the ideal consistency — as Fenwick said in the video, it should resemble pudding. Pour the prepared Quikrete into the oil pan (or whatever mold you're using) and then upturn the stool on the wet cement. The stool needs to stay in place for about 24 hours or until the cement hardens. After that, remove the stool, turn the seat out of the mold, and sand it to remove rough spots. Glue the seat to the top of the stool using E6000 or whatever metal-to-concrete epoxy adhesive you prefer.

If you model your own design on Fenwick's example, your creation would look oh so cool in a room filled with other industrial decor. In this context, your durable, minimalist stool would look anything but plain. There are also some ways to go beyond Fenwick's tutorial to make this project your own and, of equal importance, help your Quikrete creation fit your preferred decorating style. For example, you could switch out the metal stool for another material. If you can find something like this Giantex Wood Stackable Stool either new or secondhand, you could use it as the base for this DIY project. You may have to use a little less Quikrete, creating a thinner, more lightweight seat. Furniture pieces that pair wood and concrete feature in many guides to rustic decor.