DIY Wooden Stools: 16 Clever Builds That Fold, Stack and Need No Nails

DIY wooden stools are having a big moment right now, and it is easy to see why. On October 6, a short video of a solid wood folding stool, held together with clever joints and not a single nail, passed 1.7 million reactions and 82,000 shares. A day later, another simple no nail stool hit almost 360,000 reactions, and a folding chair build has gathered 184,000 more in just a few days. People love a project that is small, useful and finished in a weekend. A stool also makes a lovely handmade Christmas gift that gets used every single day. Below you will find 16 designs, from a kids step stool to a hidden storage seat, with simple steps for each. Grab a tape measure and a cup of coffee, and pick your favorite..

DIY Wooden Stools Everyone Wants to Build Right Now

A good stool is the most humble piece of furniture in the house, and somehow the most loved. Kids climb on it to reach the sink, grandpa props his feet on it, and it holds a plant, a stack of books or a cup of tea. That is why these little builds keep going viral. They take a weekend, a few boards and some patience, and they last for years. Once you make one, you will want to make one for everybody you love..

You will need: Pine or hardwood boards, wood glue, sandpaper, a tape measure, clamps, wood finish and an adult helper for any cutting.

How to make it: 1. Pick one design from this list and sketch it with measurements. 2. Have the boards cut at the hardware store or cut them carefully with adult help. 3. Glue, clamp, sand and finish.

The Folding Stool With No Nails That Went Viral

This is the build that started it all this month. A short video of a solid wood folding stool posted on October 6 has passed 1.7 million reactions and 82,000 shares. The legs slide through each other with mortise and tenon joints, so the stool folds flat without a single nail or screw. People could not stop watching it open and close. It is the kind of clever, old fashioned making that feels like magic. Would you hang yours on the wall when it is folded?

You will need: Hardwood boards, a wooden dowel for the pivot, wood glue, sandpaper, a chisel and a careful adult maker.

How to make it: 1. Cut two leg frames, one slightly narrower so it fits inside the other. 2. Drill a hole through both frames at the center and push a dowel through as the pivot. 3. Glue slats to the top of each frame so the seat closes flat.

A Simple Three Leg Milking Stool

Before fancy chairs, farm families sat on little three legged stools to milk the cows. Three legs never wobble, even on a bumpy barn floor, which is a smart bit of old wisdom. Today they look sweet by the fireplace or in a kitchen corner. A round seat and three angled legs are all you need. This is one of the easiest DIY wooden stools for a first timer. Who in your family would love one by their back door?

You will need: A thick round of wood or a round cutting board, three wooden dowels or legs, wood glue and sandpaper.

How to make it: 1. Mark three spots evenly spaced on the bottom of the seat. 2. Drill angled holes with adult help and glue the legs in. 3. Trim the legs level, sand and finish with oil.

DIY Wooden Stools for Kids: A Step Stool With a Handle Hole

Every family with little ones needs one of these. A two step stool helps small kids reach the sink to brush their teeth and wash their hands all by themselves. The cut out handle in the top step lets them carry it from room to room. It is one of the most useful things you can build, and grandparents love making them as gifts. Paint it white, blue or their favorite color. How proud would your little helper feel standing on it?

You will need: Pine boards, wood glue, screws or dowels, a jigsaw or hole saw used by an adult, sandpaper and kid safe paint.

How to make it: 1. Cut two side pieces shaped like steps and two step boards. 2. Cut a handle hole near the top with adult help. 3. Glue and fasten the steps, round every edge and paint.

DIY Wooden Stools From 2×4 Offcuts That Stack

Got a pile of leftover boards in the garage? Turn them into a set of stacking stools. Simple square stools made from short 2×4 pieces stack neatly in a corner and come out when guests arrive. They are perfect for holiday crowds, kids tables and game nights. Make four in an afternoon and stain them all the same color, or save one for our list of DIY wooden Christmas gifts. Making DIY wooden stools from scraps feels great because nothing goes to waste. How many extra seats do you need this Christmas?

You will need: 2×4 offcuts, a plywood or board seat, wood glue, screws, sandpaper and stain.

How to make it: 1. Cut four equal legs and four short rails for each stool. 2. Glue and screw the rails between the legs to make a square frame. 3. Add the seat on top, sand and stain.

A Round Top Stool With Splayed Legs

Splayed legs lean out a little at the bottom, which makes a stool steady and gives it a graceful, modern look. Paired with a smooth round seat, it fits right in next to a sofa as a side table or a spare seat. Ash, oak or even pine will work. Of all the DIY wooden stools here, this design looks most like it came from a pricey shop, but it is just four legs and a circle of wood. Would you use it as a seat or a side table?

You will need: A round wooden seat, four tapered legs, wood glue, sandpaper and clear oil or wax.

How to make it: 1. Mark four leg spots on the underside of the seat. 2. Drill holes at a slight angle with adult help and glue the legs in. 3. Trim the legs level and oil the whole stool.

A Japanese Style Slat Stool

Calm, low and simple, this slat stool is inspired by Japanese design. Evenly spaced slats make the seat light and airy, and the clean joinery lets the wood grain shine. It looks lovely in an entryway for putting on shoes or in a bathroom as a spot for towels. Cedar smells wonderful and handles a little moisture well. Among DIY wooden stools, less really is more with this one. Could this be the peaceful corner your home needs?

You will need: Cedar or pine slats, two leg frames, wood glue, small spacers and sandpaper.

How to make it: 1. Build two leg frames of the same height. 2. Lay the slats across the top with spacers between them. 3. Glue and fasten each slat, remove the spacers and sand smooth.

A Folding Camp Stool With a Fabric Seat

This classic camp stool folds into a skinny bundle and goes anywhere: the lake, the park, a ball game or the backyard. The canvas seat stretches between two wooden bars and the legs cross in an X. It is light, cheap to make and surprisingly comfy, one of the most practical DIY wooden stools you can build. Make a matching pair for weekend trips. Would you take yours fishing or to the next family picnic?

You will need: Hardwood dowels or square sticks, a bolt with a nut for the pivot, sturdy canvas, a sewing machine or strong glue and sandpaper.

How to make it: 1. Make two U shaped leg frames that cross in an X. 2. Join them in the middle with a bolt so they fold. 3. Sew loops on both ends of the canvas and slide them over the top bars.

DIY Wooden Stools With a Woven Rope Seat

A woven rope seat turns a plain wooden frame into something special. The weave is soft to sit on, it breathes, and it adds a cozy, handmade texture that people always touch. Cotton rope, paper cord or jute all work. Weaving is slow and relaxing, like knitting for woodworkers. You could finish one in a couple of evenings while watching a movie. Which color rope would you pick?

You will need: A square wooden stool frame, cotton rope or paper cord, small tacks and scissors.

How to make it: 1. Tack the end of the rope inside one rail of the frame. 2. Wrap it around the rails front to back, then weave across in an over and under pattern. 3. Tuck and tack the end underneath.

A Plant Stand Stool

Plants look happier when they are lifted up toward the light, and a small wooden stool is the perfect stand. It gives a trailing plant room to spill over the sides and makes a dull corner come alive. Build it a little taller than a regular stool, or make three in different heights for a pretty group. A coat of clear finish keeps water rings away. Which plant in your home deserves a little throne?

You will need: Wooden boards for a small square top and four legs, wood glue, screws, sandpaper and a water resistant finish.

How to make it: 1. Cut a small square top and four legs of the height you like. 2. Join the legs with short rails for strength. 3. Attach the top, sand and seal well.

A Painted Farmhouse Step Stool

A soft sage, cream or barn red step stool brings instant country charm to a kitchen. Lightly sand the edges after painting so a little wood peeks through, and it will look like it has been in the family for years. It helps you reach the top shelf and doubles as a cookbook stand. This is one of those DIY wooden stools that gets compliments from everyone who walks in. What color would match your kitchen?

You will need: A simple two step stool or a plain store stool, chalk paint, a brush, fine sandpaper and clear wax.

How to make it: 1. Paint two coats of chalk paint and let them dry. 2. Rub fine sandpaper along the edges for a worn look. 3. Seal with clear wax and buff it to a soft shine.

DIY Wooden Stools With Hidden Storage Under the Seat

Small homes need furniture that works twice as hard. This stool has a lift up seat that hides a box inside, perfect for blankets, magazines, toys or holiday wrapping supplies. Guests sit on it without ever guessing what is inside. It is basically a little wooden box with legs and a hinged lid. Make one for the living room and one for the kids room. What would you hide inside yours?

You will need: Plywood or pine boards for a box, short legs, a piano hinge or two small hinges, wood glue, screws and paint or stain.

How to make it: 1. Build a simple open box with a bottom. 2. Add four short legs to the corners. 3. Attach the seat lid with hinges and add a soft cushion on top if you like.

Bar Height Stools for a Kitchen Counter

Tall stools turn a kitchen counter into the coziest spot in the house, and you can build them from new pine or from old barn boards, heat treated pallets stamped HT and leftover beams. Reclaimed wood has nail holes, knots and color changes that new lumber can never copy, so each stool tells a little story. Be sure to brush the wood clean and sand it well first. A set of these will make your kitchen feel like a cozy cafe. Do you have old wood waiting for a second life?

You will need: Clean reclaimed boards, four tall legs per stool, foot rest rails, wood glue, screws, sandpaper and a clear finish.

How to make it: 1. Measure your counter and make the stools about 10 to 12 inches shorter. 2. Build a tall square frame with a foot rest rail low on the legs. 3. Add a thick seat, sand and seal.

A Footrest Stool for a Reading Nook

There is nothing cozier than sinking into an armchair with a good book and putting your feet up. A low footrest stool with a soft cushioned top makes that moment perfect. You can cover the cushion with tweed, velvet or an old wool sweater for extra charm. It is low, so it is one of the quickest DIY wooden stools to build. Who in your house would claim this spot first?

You will need: A low wooden frame or short stool, foam padding, fabric, a staple gun and four short legs.

How to make it: 1. Build or buy a low wooden top with four short legs. 2. Lay foam on top and cover it with fabric. 3. Pull the fabric tight and staple it underneath.

A Personalized Stool for a Grandchild

Here is a gift that will be treasured long after the toys are forgotten. Paint a small stool in happy colors and add the child’s name, initials or birth date on top with paint pens or stencils. Kids feel so special having their very own seat. These DIY wooden stools often get passed down to the next generation. Wrap it with a big red bow and set it under the tree. Can you picture their face on Christmas morning?

You will need: A small wooden stool, acrylic paint, letter stencils or paint pens, a clear sealer and a wide ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Paint the stool in a base color and let it dry. 2. Add the name and little stars or hearts with stencils. 3. Seal it with two clear coats and tie on a bow.

A Folding Chair With a Slatted Back

Ready for the next step up? This folding chair build has gathered 184,000 reactions and 11,000 shares in just a few days this month. The slatted back and seat fold flat for storage, so it is perfect for patios, balconies and extra holiday seating. It takes a little more time than a stool, but it uses the same simple ideas. For fans of DIY wooden stools, this is the natural next project. Would you build a pair for your porch?

You will need: Hardwood boards and slats, wooden dowels or bolts for the pivots, wood glue, sandpaper and outdoor finish.

How to make it: 1. Build the back legs with slats across the top for the backrest. 2. Build the front legs and seat frame so they pivot on a bolt. 3. Add the seat slats, test the fold and seal everything.