Dual Piano Stool Perfectly for the Foot of a Bed

I have over 30 piano stools for sale on Etsy. They are brilliant sellers. The great thing is, as we;;, ids that they are cheap to pick up as the markets where I go the dealers cannot shift them.

A paradox? Not at all, I sell online where I have a UK-wide market and at a market, well, there simply are not that many people going to buy a piano stool.

There was a time, not so long ago, when a piano stool was a fixture in every middle-class home. From upright family pianos in front rooms to grander parlour setups, these sturdy little stools were as common as the piano itself. Usually padded, often handsomely upholstered, and always cleverly built with a lift-up lid for sheet music storage, they were the silent workhorses of the musical household.

But times change — and so, too, do the items we need in our homes.

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The Decline of the Piano Stool

With fewer households keeping upright pianos and a generational shift toward digital keyboards (or no piano at all), the piano stool has quietly fallen out of fashion. As music consumption has moved to headphones and streaming platforms, these once common place seats have been relegated to the loft, the charity shop, or the skip.

But here’s the thing: these stools are brilliantly made. Solid hardwood construction, joinery that puts modern MDF to shame, and Holy Grail of practical stools, an under seat compartment just begging for reinvention. Why toss them when they can be upcycled into something genuinely useful?

Reinventing the Piano Stool: Simple, Stylish Upcycles

There’s a quiet revolution happening among vintage lovers, interiors enthusiasts, and eco-conscious decorators, and the piano stool is ripe for revival. Here are just a few creative ways to repurpose one:

• Hallway Perch: Add a fresh fabric seat and a coat of chalk paint or wood polish and you’ve got the perfect spot to sit while putting on shoes. Store gloves, keys, or shoe polish inside. Elegant and practical, or just leave as is with all of its original vintage charm.
• Bedroom Dressing Stool: Their compact size and elegant legs make them ideal companions to vintage dressing tables. Stash hairbrushes, makeup, or small accessories inside for neat storage.
• Er….as a decorative stool. It’s amazing how many people, when they have been in my shops over the ahem….decades, have asked if we have a stool and when I show them one they turn up their nose, ‘nice, but it’s a piano stool.’ Yup, so what?
• Children’s Craft Box: Short enough for a child to sit comfortably, yet robust enough to last generations, it’s a great craft station with storage for coloured pencils and paints.
• Minimalist Bench Seat: Some dual or larger piano stools can be stripped back and reupholstered to create a longer bench seat, perfect under a window or at the foot of a bed.

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The Beauty of Upcycling Old Furniture

One of the main reasons to rescue and reuse an old piano stool is simple: quality.

Unlike the drudgery of much modern flat pack furniture, piano stools were built to last. Solid wood, dovetail joints, carved legs, it’s craftsmanship that has stood the test of time. In a world increasingly aware of sustainability, upcycling isn’t just creative, it’s responsible. You get a stylish, functional piece of furniture without adding more demand to a waste-heavy supply chain.

Plus, there’s something satisfying about giving a forgotten object a new life. You’re not just decorating, you’re curating.

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Final Note

While the music may have stopped for many pianos, their loyal companion, the piano stool doesn’t have to fade into obscurity. With a bit of imagination, maybe a few materials, and a fondness for old things with character, you can turn a faded relic into something fresh, functional, and full of charm.

So if you stumble across a piano stool at a market, in a dusty corner of a relative’s garage, or even online, look again. There might just be a seat worth saving.

#Piano Stool Revival #Upcycled Furniture #Sustainable Style #Vintage Seating #Timeless Craftsmanship