How to Make a Modern Wood Stool

I love making things for my kid’s rooms. They love it, I have fun making the items, and it gives me an opportunity to take a risk and do something bold and unique that I might not try in the main areas of my home.

In the spirit of fun and bold, I recently made a bright pink modern stool for my daughter’s room. It was a fun experiment in using a unique modern design and a fun color choice.

Below are the easy steps you can take to make something similar for your own home.

For Building:

1″ x 6″ x 3′ Oak Board

1″ x 12″ x 2′ Oak Board

Miter Saw

Jigsaw

Measuring Tape

Pencil

Twine or String

Random Orbit Sander with 120 grit and 220 grit sandpaper

Tack Cloth

Minwax Stainable Wood Filler

220 Grit Sandpaper

Clamps

1 1/2″ Wood Screws (8)

Drill

For Finishing:
Minwax Water Based Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner

Minwax Wood Finish Water-Based Semi-Transparent Color Stain in Pure White

Minwax Wood Finish Water-Based Solid Color Stain in Blossom Pink

Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish

Purdy 2” XL Sprig Paintbrush

Synthetic Pad

Rags

STEP 1: Cut the wood for the base of the stool

Using a miter saw, cut the 1″ x 6″ oak board into three sections, two 14″ long and one 5″ long.

Draw a circle on the top of your 1″ x 12″ oak board. The circle should be approximately 11″ in diameter.

To draw a perfect circle, tie a pencil to the end of a piece of twine or string. Hold the other end of the string in the middle of where you want your circle to be. Move the pencil around in a circular motion to draw a perfect circle. Keep the string taut the entire time. Use a jigsaw to cut out the circle.

Using a random orbit sander, sand your wood smooth first using 120 grit sandpaper and then using 220 grit sandpaper. Pay special attention to the outside of the circle to make sure that it’s smooth in case your cut with the jigsaw wasn’t perfect.

The two 14″ boards will be the side legs. Attach those to the 4″ board on either side, creating the base. Use a drill and 1 1/2″ wood screws to attach them together.

Then screw on the top of the stool using wood screws and a drill.

Use stainable wood filler to fill in your screw holes. Overfill them a bit and let the filler dry.

Once dry, sand them down to be smooth with the wood and use a tack cloth to remove any dust.

Using a Purdy 2” XL Sprig Paintbrush, apply the wood conditioner to your stool.

Brush it on and after 1-5 minutes, use a rag to wipe off any excess that hasn’t yet penetrated the wood.

After 15-30 mins, lightly sand the surface with 220 grit sandpaper to eliminate any raised grain.

Using a Purdy 2” XL Sprig Paintbrush, apply the solid color stain to your stool.

I love this stain! It’s water-based, which means clean-up is really easy. It dries really quickly to reduce wait time when doing projects. Also, it’s really thick and easy to apply. It’s so thick that it almost feels like you are painting when you apply it. It comes in over 200 colors!

After you apply it, immediately (<2 mins) remove any excess stain using a synthetic pad.

I chose to create a two-toned look with the Blossom Pink solid stain and a Pure White semi-transparent stain. Therefore, I took this extra step to apply the semi-transparent stain.

Apply this stain using a Purdy 2” XL Sprig Paintbrush.

Immediately (<2 mins) remove any excess stain with a rag.

Using a Purdy 2” XL Sprig Paintbrush, apply a thin coat of polycrylic. Allow to dry at least 2 hours.

Lightly sand with 220 grit sandpaper and use tack cloth to remove any dust.
Apply a second coat of polycrylic.

Now you’ll have a beautiful and unique wood stool! My daughter loves it. She loves sitting on it and loves pushing it around (because that’s just what little kids do! Hah).

You can change the dimensions or colors to make it fit your space and your style preferences.

Interested in More Easy Home DIY Projects?

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