How to Make a Bar Stool More Comfortable

DIY Soft Footrest for Metal Bar Stools

9/7/2022

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Steph purchased these West Elm bar stools three years ago and quickly discovered the foot rest were uncomfortable! She came up with a solution that worked quite well.

After daily use for three plus years, the insulation she used for cushioning had started to degrade and compress. They were no longer soft, so it's time for a refresh.

Materials/Tools:

Self-Seal Pipe Wrap Insulation (Amazon)
RYOBI Cordless Compact Glue Gun (Home Depot)
Silicone Finger Guards - Hot Glue Protector Caps (Amazon)
VELCRO Sticky Back Hook and Loop Fasteners (Amazon)

You'll need scissors, preferably fabric cutting scissors, self-stick velcro, fabric, and self-seal pipe wrap. If you want to make this a no sew project then you'll need a hot glue gun or fabric glue.

This is the interior of the self-seal pipe wrap. It is sticky on both sides of the cut.

First step is to cut the pipe wrap to the length of the footrest. Don't use your fabric scissors on this step!

Cut the velcro to the length of the pipe wrap.

We are using a battery powered Ryobi hot glue gun to finish the footrest covers.

This step is optional but it does give a nice finished edge to the fabric helping to keep it from fraying. We are using a hot glue gun, but this can be sewn, or you can use fabric glue and then wait for it to dry.

Using the Silicone Finger Guards - Hot Glue Protector Caps which we found on Amazon which protect your fingers from hot glue.

These pink hot glue fingers protectors are a must when working with hot glue. While wearing them, it's easy to fold over the fabric and press it into place. Don't try this bare fingered!

Putting the pipe wrap into place. The pipe wrap is available at the Home Depot.

The protective plastic is removed from the sticky sides and the pipe wrap is put into place on the foot rest.

The cover is easily put into place with the velcro.

After finding how much fabric is needed to go around the pipe wrap, it is cut to size and the velcro added. The fabric is then put into placed over the pipe wrap

Ahhhh, comfortable once again!

Because velcro is used, the cover can be removed to wash or when a decor change is made.

Because velcro is used, the cover can be removed to wash or swap pipe insulation when it compresses overtime.

West Elm bar stools with and without the comfort foot rest cover.

Before and after--cute stools but so uncomfortable on your feet. This is an easy, simple solution to adding comfort.

Once again, comfort has returned to these barstool footrests! In the first alteration of this technique, the fabric was glued to the pipe wrap. With this velcro method, the covers can be washed when needed.

Another simple solution to an everyday annoyance!

Please note: This is not a sponsored post.

FYI: We are not professionals, and we don't claim to be. This is what we found worked for our project. Yours may need a little different approach. Safety first!

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