How to Build a Wooden Step Stool

It’s March! And still chilly in many parts of the country, unfortunately. I’m ready for spring already!

But this month’s project is something that can be tackled inside, rain or shine! It’s an adorable and perfect way to give your little helpers a boost in the kitchen, bathroom or playroom!

I built it for a certain little girl named Kennedy with the help of her mom, Kyndall. It came together easily enough and the results are great!

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own:

• 1×12 at 32 inches
• 1×8 at 30 inches
• 1×2 at 50 inches
• pencil
• speed square
• tape measure
• straight edge/level
• wood glue
• countersink pilot bit*
• 2-inch wood screws
• disposable gloves
• wood stain*
• clean rag
• polyurethane*
• paintbrush
• safety glasses
• drill
• jigsaw
• circular saw
• sander
• 220-grit sandpaper

For the lumber, we used oak that’s sold by the foot. So they’ll cut it to size for you at the store. We also used Minwax Red Oak wood stain should you want to replicate the same look.

Before we cut anything, we sanded our 3 wood pieces and stained them using disposable gloves to protect our hands and the rag. Dip the rag in the stain and rub it in the direction of the wood grain. Then go back over it with a dry part of the rag to wipe up the excess. Use long strokes to help get the most even stain application.

We stained before we cut and assembled the stool since it’s easier than trying to stain in tight corners once it is assembled. It also gave it more time to dry so we could apply the polyurethane soon after it was put together. Of course, doing it this way you will still have a few spots to touch up later on. So keep the stain can handy!

Once the stain was dry to the touch, only a few minutes, we used our circular saw to cut our lumber to length. Here’s what you’ll need:

• (2) 1x12x16
• (2) 1x8x15
• (4) 1x2x12½

Then you’ll take one of the 1x12s and trace out this lovely design (watch the video for close up of how we traced the circular cut-out on the bottom using the stain can):

Use your circular saw and jigsaw to cut it out. Then set on top of the other 1×12 and trace the cuts you just made. And cut again!

With your 1x12s cut to shape and your other material cut to length, sand the cuts and apply stain to the raw edges. Now you’re ready for assembly!

We marked where the screws for the braces would go so they’d all look the same. Hold each brace in place while you use the countersink pilot bit to drill at each mark. After applying wood glue on the end of each brace, you can drive in your total of 16 wood screws.

Now set your 1x8x15 treads on top of each step and follow the same steps to pre-drill, glue, and screw the 2 treads using one screw in each corner.

The stain should be dry enough at this point to lightly sand every surface using 220-grit sandpaper since the stain raises the grain of the wood. Then we’re ready to seal it off with polyurethane. I found this new stuff that applies a triple-thick layer with just one coat, reducing the amount of drying time and number of applications. It’s available in the paint department of your favorite home center from Varathane.

We applied it on the underside first before flipping it over to paint it on the sides and treads. And once it dried, little Kennedy was more than willing to test it out while brushing her teeth!

And that’s a wrap! This project is very easy and would be a fun thing to build with your child to make memories along the way!

Thanks for Checking In! ~ Chelsea

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