• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Partner
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Southern Hospitality

Adventures in Decorating, Thrifting, Cooking, Fashion & Gardening

  • My Home
  • Categories
    • A+ Blogs
    • My Blog Story
    • Decorating
    • DIY/How-To
    • Family
    • Gardening
    • In the Kitchen
    • My Home Tours
    • Thrifting
    • Travel
  • DIY Gallery
  • Fashion
  • Feature Friday
  • Shop My Home
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Updating a Yardsale Vanity Bench

April 2, 2013 By Rhoda 34 Comments

3 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

One more of my yardsale finds got an update last week.  This cute vanity bench that I scored in Birmingham for $10 finally got some new fabric on it.  This bench had stumped me forever, since I couldn’t figure out how to get the darn cushion off the top to staple new fabric on there. I finally gave up trying and just stapled the fabric around the base of the cushion and added some wide trim to hide the staples and that worked like a charm.

bench before

Here’s what it looked like when I brought it home and it’s been like this all this time.  Not very pretty fabric, but it sort of went with my old colors, but definitely not with my new ones of blue and green.  Time for a facelift!  I just had to figure out a way to recover that cushion.  Nothing I tried would get the seat off, so I had to resort to another method.

with fabric added

I had this pretty lime green velvet in my stash for years. It originally came from Ballard Designs and I picked up a few yards of it in their Atlanta store. Since I already had it, I worked with it and it blends in nicely with my greens and blues in my bedroom.   I simply stapled it with an electric staple gun all the way around the perimeter of the bench, hitting wood along the way and securing the fabric in place.  Then, I went back with my scissors and trimmed off the fabric so that it was just above the wood part of the bench under the cushion.  The trim will cover up all the imperfections.  Sorry, forgot to take a pic of that part!

trim to add to bench

This cute 1” trim was perfect for my project and I got 2 yards of it.   With my hot glue gun, I simply wrapped it around the base of the cushion and secured it all in place.  All the ugly staples are covered and I’ve got a brand new looking bench.

vanity in place

Much better than the old original gold fabric, don’t you think?

with closet doors

This little girlie spot is so perfect for my vanity and putting on my makeup.  I just love it!

bench recovered

The freshly covered cushion really makes me happy too.

bench up close

Amazing what a little fabric and new trim will do for an old piece.

Have you got a bench that needs a facelift?  Got fabric and trim?  For just a few dollars you can get a new look too!

Related


Don't Miss a Post, join my list!

Filed Under: Decorating Ideas, Projects and How-To, Uncategorized 34 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. susan maclean says

    April 2, 2013 at 5:34 am

    Well done (again!) Rhoda – I can’t keep up with you!

    Reply
  2. Mary says

    April 2, 2013 at 7:07 am

    Another job well done! Love the velvet and I’m so, so happy you didn’t paint that pretty wood!! Such a pretty vanity too.

    Reply
  3. [email protected] Designs says

    April 2, 2013 at 7:12 am

    So pretty Rhoda….you did a fantastic job…I love blue and yellow!!

    Reply
  4. Cindy says

    April 2, 2013 at 7:14 am

    So pretty. Great find and it is beautiful now that you’ve gussied it up!!!
    Happy Tuesday…
    Blessings,
    Cindy

    Reply
  5. Sharon says

    April 2, 2013 at 7:31 am

    the bench turned out beautiful! i love the color of the fabric. now to do something about the ugly electric cords – i hate to see them! i always have to cover mine if they are as visible as the ones in your pic. they are such an eyesore to me!

    Reply
    • Rhoda says

      April 2, 2013 at 8:55 am

      Oh well, the cords don’t really bother me that much and that is part of life unfortunately. There was so much going on with my renovation that I didn’t have my electrician move the outlet down below, since there used to be a sink in that spot. Something I live with and I don’t think it looks so bad either!

  6. Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads says

    April 2, 2013 at 7:52 am

    Your vanity is gorgeous, and now you have a stool to match its beauty! That trim worked perfectly to solve your problem.

    Reply
  7. Colleen says

    April 2, 2013 at 7:55 am

    Once again, perfection! As for the cords that were mentioned, there is so much gorgeous going on, I didn’t even notice them. I actually had to go back and search for them. Sometimes we just have to leave room in our lives for function!

    Reply
  8. sumaya warwick says

    April 2, 2013 at 7:59 am

    Its a whole lot cuter now. I love that color with the dark wood and a little bit of blue always cheer me up!:)

    Great job! love your blog and try to read each and every post!

    Reply
  9. Sheila says

    April 2, 2013 at 8:20 am

    Very creative. I love seeing old furniture with new “outfits.” Sheila

    Reply
  10. Vicki says

    April 2, 2013 at 8:32 am

    Very pretty…and very clever!!

    Reply
  11. Krystle @ Color Transformed Family says

    April 2, 2013 at 8:34 am

    Wow! That is such a beautiful area to put makeup on in. The seat look lovely and so much younger with its new facelift.

    Reply
  12. Patricia says

    April 2, 2013 at 8:35 am

    I love that trim and your girly spot. It looks great.

    Reply
  13. Mary Lou says

    April 2, 2013 at 8:51 am

    Love the fabric. How many things have we given away
    because we did not know how to redo things. This is
    great!!

    Reply
  14. Jane H. says

    April 2, 2013 at 9:14 am

    Love this! You’ve given me an idea for a foot stool I have. Thanks!

    Reply
  15. Amanda - Cupcakes and Corndogs says

    April 2, 2013 at 10:05 am

    I love this stool! I have a chair I need to recover. Yours turned out great!

    Come visit!
    Amanda

    Reply
  16. Whimzy Thyme Vintage says

    April 2, 2013 at 10:27 am

    I love these old vanity benches. Great job.

    Reply
  17. Mimi says

    April 2, 2013 at 10:35 am

    The bench looks super and more modern!

    Reply
  18. [email protected] Charm says

    April 2, 2013 at 10:42 am

    Another pretty makeover you have here and it looks wonderful with your vanity.

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
  19. Janine-Marie says

    April 2, 2013 at 11:17 am

    I love the colors you used to recover the bench – they are such happy colors!!

    Reply
  20. beth says

    April 2, 2013 at 11:22 am

    Gorgeious Rhoda! Another winner! Love the solid velvet green fabric with the cute trim. Cords? I didn’t even see them because this space is so beautiful! I too had to go back and look for them. Good news – the cords are white and they are up against white beadboard wallpaper. Can’t wait to see your next project – the porch? Everything you do is so classy and beautiful!

    Reply
Newer Comments »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Thanks for stopping by! I’m Rhoda, from Atlanta, GA and I love decorating and DIY projects. Decorating a home doesn’t have to cost a fortune and I’ve spent years thrifting at antiques markets and yard sales, finding those treasures that make a home unique. I’m here to inspire and encourage other women to find their own inner creativity. Won’t you join me?

Click Here

Click Here

Email Series
How to Decorate in
Classic Timeless Style
.....without breaking the bank!

House Renovation Journey!

Our Paint Colors

Archives

Categories

Footer Widget Header2

Featured here:

Better Homes and Gardens
Atlanta Magazine
Better Homes and Gardens

Footer

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Contact
  • Partner

Copyright © 2023 · Southern Hospitality · Blog Design by Little Blue Deer
Privacy Policy

Get my FREE Email Series How to Decorate in Classic Timeless Style....without breaking the bank!
After years of decorating my own homes, I've learned a few tricks on how to create a classic home on a budget. Hope you'll join me!
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.