Last month I started a home redecorating/downsizing project that turned out to be much more work than I anticipated. Yeah, go figure, right? We switched four rooms around, which wound up giving us a much more functional TV den and an extra sleeping nook for when company visits over the holidays. I also found a place for those many things of my late mother’s I can’t seem to part with. While I have lots of small stuff left to do, like hanging pictures and finding a place for knick-knacks, I’m approaching the finish line. Whew!
One of the biggest tasks I took on was reorganizing and clearing out the closets. What a chore! I tell you, I don’t want to do that again for a long, long time. I wound up making two trips to the local Goodwill Donation Drop-Off and scheduled one special bulk trash pickup.
I decided to also use this opportunity to freshen up some of my décor. Nothing like giving your rooms a new look to lift your spirits. Along those lines, we decided to reupholster the couch and get an old table my husband inherited from his grandfather refinished. Problem is, I have this one antique buckboard wagon seat I’m not sure what to do with. It had been sitting in an unused corner of what is now the sleeping nook, so I need to give it a new purpose. To that end, I got online looking for inspiration. I think some of the ideas I came across are really cute. The questions now are 1) is what I want doable, and 2) how to accomplish it?
As you can imagine, the most popular idea is a bench. Of these three ideas, the one with cushions appeals to me the most. I think some colorful pillows would be cute. But where to put the bench?
This one where the wagon seat is turned into a painting is very cool. However, I have no artistic talent, and I don’t know anyone who does and could take on a project like this.
These last two are probably my favorites. I’m thinking of combing the two of them: putting the wagon outside my front door and staging it with an outdoor plant, a birdhouse, a weathervane, and other country decorative items. I think that might be very charming and original.
What about you? What would you do with my buckboard wagon seat if you were me? Drop a comment below, and I’ll enter you in a random drawing for a giveaway that includes two of my backlist books and some author bling, including a cowboy coffee cup and Starbucks gift card. Even if you don’t have an idea about my buckboard wagon seat, just say hi, and I’ll enter your name.
P.S. Don’t forget to check out the P&P Facebook Reader Group at: Petticoats & Pistols FB Readers Group
Good morning Cathy! My first thought was to put that bench at the end of the bed. And the second thought, don’t paint that bench! LOL And I’m an artist, but to paint over that buckboard bench just seems to take away from it. My opinion. You are right, cleaning out is a real pain! I’ve had yard sales and took to good will and I still have too much! Hopefully soon I’ll be where you are now! Thanks for sharing your home and ideas with us today. What a treat!
I’m up in the mountains near Dillard, GA this week. So I have missed P&P most of this week. The fall time is gorgeous up here! We have had a nice time. We leave to head back to Florida on Saturday.
End of the bed! I love this idea 🙂
I would turn it into a bench with cushions and pillows and have it near a window for natural lighting and use it for reading maybe.
Yes, has to be near a window!
I love the porch prop idea. You could change a few items with each season. It would be seen by anyone who comes over and make for interesting conversations.
I like that idea, too!
I it is hard to part with some things. I have been trying to go through things and throw or give away things I no longer need but a few things of my Mom’s I kept. I think the buckboard seat is a good idea.
Parting with my late mom’s stuff has been really difficult. Sigh.
oh but this is so cool. If it is wood I would sand it, stain it, put pillows on it and stick it in the guest room. It would also look pretty on the porch with plants. But either wood or metal I would put a varnish on top and bottom so any water does not ruin it. what ever you do have a lot of fun doing it.
True, outside the seat would be subject to weather.
I think it would look nice in a front or back entrance way where someone may sit to remove their shoes.
Ah! If only I had a mud room. That would be perfect.
I like the idea of one underneath coat hooks as a place to remove shoes/boots. Ot mounted on a wall as a drop zone/ shelf.
Hmm…mounted to a wall. Hadn’t thought of that.
I would turn it into a bench with storage space under it.
Who can’t use a little bit of extra storage space?
One sat on the porch at my Dad’s house for over 25 years – he put it higher up (cement blocks and wooden rails) so it was comfortable to sit on, but no cushions were ever on it!
I saw several versions of raising the bench to a more comfortable sitting height. What a great memory.
I would use it on the porch with some plants around and on it.
How cute would that be?
I love this bench! I would use it on my frontporch with some cushions. It could also be used for packages that are delivered instead of putting them in the ground.
A package station. What a great idea!
I love the bench with cushions, but if you don’t have space in a bedroom or den, it may not work.
An outdoor bench is a great idea, as long as you don’t mind it exposed to the elements.
Best wishes!
I could put it in my front entryway – if I move another old piece of my mother’s furniture. How did I wind up with all this stuff?
I like the idea of putting it outside your front door. Maybe some cushions and it could be used as a seat if you just want to relax and ejoy the fresh air. I have a very small house with limited space for things like that, so I would look for ways to use it outside. We have done several redecorating projects, some minor and others major. It is always such a relief when they are done and we can enjoy them.
I’m looking forward to the relief part, Elaine 🙂
I like the idea of putting it outside your door. What a novel idea. I have an old milk can painted black outside my front door.
I love those old milk cans. I’ve see them a lot at auctions and farm sales.
I like the idea of putting it outside the front door! Thank you for the giveaway!
Thank you for stopping by, Bridgette.
I would use it out on my front porch, with some throw pillows and surrounded by my other western themed antiques. Now I think I will keep my eye out for one! LOL
The wagon seats can be really cute, I think, with a little creativity.
I agree with everyone else Cathy I would put it outside by my front door and add a few more western theme to it Thank you for the amazing giveaway Have a Blessed Day!
Thanks for stopping by, Sarah!
I like idea of the bench with storage and a pillow or two. I would put where people see when they enter.
I agree, Debra. No more hiding the seat in a corner 🙂
We found one of those in my grandparents attic (no idea why they had it). I wish we had kept it, but we didn’t have room at the time. It would be pretty cool to turn it into a bench. 🙂
I really do like the quaint, western look of it!
I like the idea of leaving it as natural as possible. I would set a vase of sunflowers on it and put a couple of books on it.
Yeah, the rustic look is appealing. I agree.
Love the idea of putting it in the porch next to the door, surrounded by plants, or maybe even as a side table for my books 🙂
Anything to do with books has my vote!
How neat, to have inherited such an heirloom! I think I’d figure out a way to make room for it near my sewing machine and use it to hold some of my fabric and yarn (I knit on occasion) stash.
A craft table. I love the idea.
Honestly, I’d put it on my front walk (not really a porch), in front of my front windows, and put some cushions on it. I’m not good with flowers, so I won’t put flowers by it, though it would be behind one of my orchids.
Here in the southwest, I’d put some small cacti on it 🙂
I’m loving the outdoor or even foyer idea with crocks and plants and the pillows underneath. I’d probably put it in the corner of my dining room because that’s the only place in my house that I might possibly have room for it, or I could use it at the end of my bed with quilts stacked on it… hmmmm…
A place for quilts. I love that idea.
I love the outdoor idea with seasonal color as a mix of plants and accessories. I don’t suppose you have room in an entry hall, which could be another good place? Kudos to you for tackling the downsizing and clearing/cleaning projects! My husband and I have been trying to gradually tackle some of those decisions.
Downsizing is definitely not for sissies, Catherine 🙂
I would use it in front of the picture window so that I can always look out and see the beauty, sunshine and trees. New colorful cushions and a soft blanket for a cold day.
Pillows are getting a lot of votes, and I can see why. Very charming.
What a wonderful piece of history and you’re so lucky to have that buckboard wagon seat! I’m in agreement with the suggestion of cushions and keeping it a bench.
I am lucky, which I why I couldn’t part with it during downsizing.
I like the outside bench idea but with cushions on it so you could sit outside on it.
And they make so many kinds of cute waterproof cushions now.
Wish I had the energy to go through my closets and get rid of a bunch of stuff. I did carry a load of things to the thrift store but that was before I hurt my back. lol Love the buckboard ideas. I’m not creative in coming up with new uses for old things but like the one putting it on the front porch with a plant beside it. People could sit and take off their muddy shoes before entering the house, if there is room.
It does take a lot of energy to go through the closets. I bit off more than I could chew most days.
I love the last idea
I would use the wagon seat on my porch for decorating as the holiday and seasons change. It is such a beautiful wagon seat, a great piece to use in a decorative way. Examples;
FALL SEASON: OCTOBER
I would make and dress a homemade scarecrow with Jeans, flannel shirt, work boots, and a straw hat. Situated on the wagon seat with a pumpkin on his lap, Fall leaves and different sized pumpkins around a small bale of hay that has sunflowers, small pumpkins and Fall leaves on top.
NOVEMBER:
I would use the same scarecrow dressed the same to sit on the wagon seat. Maybe change the straw hat for a Pilgrim hat or work hat. I would have the scarecrow holding a stuffed turkey. Beside the wagon seat, I would keep what I had in October and add a small pen or box with turkeys inside it.
I love decorating and could give lots of ideas for every month, holiday or season. Love when you have a focal point that is stable in every month. Your unique and historical wagon seat is such a beautiful focal point and the dressed figure sitting on the seat draws your eye to the display. Wow! You have such an amazing opportunity ahead of you. Enjoy whatever you decide to do. Post a picture for us to see.?
Oh, gosh. I can just see a cute scarecrow sitting on the wagon. Maybe I should put a cowboy hat on him 🙂
I love the idea of using it as a bench with storage. I would put it next to my front door. Right now, I have an old plastic toybox that I use as a place to put my purse and my bag where I keep things I need for my job, plus anything else that I need to remember to take with me when I leave the house. This would be so much cuter!
A bench with storage is certainly a grand idea.
I’ve seen one without the bottom part before, and thought it would make a great swing in a tree. It was smaller than the pictures above, sort of a large one seater. I wished I had an old oak tree to put it in!
A swing on a tree. what an unusual idea!
I love the idea of it as a bench for the porch. Seems so welcoming!
Yes, it does seem welcoming. I love it.
Growing up we had one that my mom placed under the tree where we kids played. I don’t know where she found it, maybe in one of the barns. It was there for several years used as a bench and whatever our imaginations determined it to be. I do remember thinking it would not have been very comfortable sitting on it for any distance. For that reason I think inside the house, if used for seating, it would need some decorative and comfortable pillows. There have been some great suggestions in the comments. Makes me wish we had taken better care of the one we had.
I am going to have to find a good craftsman to either paint or refinish it, for sure.
So practical and special. Refinish, add a striking cushion and sit and read with tea. In my bedroom as a relaxing area.
Wouldn’t that be nice, Anne?
Hi. Thank you for the opportunity. I am not able to get into a wagon. I am in a wheelchair. I do not think it would be very comfortable. God bless you.
God bless you, too, Debra. Thanks for stopping by.
Hmmm, I like the art/painting on the seat. I also love the ideas for the wagon with all the outdoor “necessities” for birds and such.
For the artwork/painting, maybe try looking at an art school/high school art teacher etc for someone that could do it for you. Many talented people in those places.
Makes me wish my late mother was still alive. She was a decent artist, and I still have a little table that she painted the top of.
use it as a seat
Indeed! What it’s intended for 🙂
At the end of a bed or near a window.
Sorry I missed the great giveaway. I just got home from surgery and am BIT later than usual.
I have a wagon/buckboard seat. I got it so long ago, I’m not sure where I got it. Likely at an auction or yard sale. I had great plans to fix it up for our “western” room, but it is still in the garage shop waiting to be refinished. We are currently taking a reupholstery class, so I will be ready to do the seat when we are ready. Another option would be to put it in our sunroom. I never thought of using it for anything other than a seat, but it would work well for a display stand.
I would put it in our gazebo for a seating area.
so on Pinterest there are these vintage flowery jewelry boxes that look like mini cabinets and there are videos of how to add the vinyl flowers to them you could do that and the depending on how big it is you could hook it up to the wall like a shelf and put pictures or a tea set on it or something to that effect. (on Pinterest if you search “vintage jewelry box with vinyl flowers” it should come up)