How to Build a Step Stool

Building a step stool is a fun and practical project that can help children reach new heights while adding a functional piece of furniture to your home. This simple yet sturdy step stool can be used in various rooms, from the bathroom to the kitchen, and can even double as a checkerboard for family game nights. In the video, This Old House‘s Richard Trethewey walks through each step of how to create this versatile step stool with the help of two young assistants: Kiara and Roman.

Materials and Tools For Building a Step Stool

Before beginning this project, you need the following tools and materials:

• 1×12 oak or maple board
• Wood glue
• 1⅝-inch finish screws
• Latex paint
• Non-skid tape
• Nail-on furniture glides
• Stainable wood putty
• Tape measure
• Combination square
• Jigsaw
• Drill/driver with 3/32-inch and 1/4-inch bits
• Random orbit sander
• Putty knife
• 2-inch paintbrush
• Utility scissors
• Safety glasses

Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Step Stool

Building a step stool is a simple project the whole family can partake in. Each phase requires attention to detail for a flawless end product.

Cutting the Wood

In a This Old House family project, Richard Thuy demonstrated how a simple step stool can make a big difference. As he explained: “Kids want to grow up so fast. But before they can reach new heights, they sometimes have trouble reaching everyday objects.” The project featured a young girl named Kiara who was tall enough to turn on the bathroom sink but still couldn’t see herself in the mirror—so her family built her a sturdy step stool that doubled as a checkerboard.

The first step is to measure and cut your wood pieces. Mark an 11 1/4-inch square for the top and a 14-inch section for the legs. Divide the leg section in half lengthwise. Using a jigsaw, carefully cut out these pieces. Wear safety glasses, and have an adult supervise or perform this step if working with children.

Pro Tip: Richard Thuy, a This Old House contributor, recommends using oak or other hardwood for the top and crisscross legs of a step stool to ensure durability. He emphasizes: “Have a parent do the sawing and make sure your workpiece is clamped down and everyone has on their safety glasses before” cutting begins.

Creating the Leg Slots

To allow the legs to interlock, you’ll need to create slots. Mark a 1-inch wide rectangle that extends halfway into each leg piece. Clamp the leg piece to your work surface, and drill 1/4-inch holes at the inner corners of the slot marks. Use a jigsaw to cut out the slots, staying inside the marked lines.

Sanding and Smoothing the Wood

Sanding the wood pieces will result in a smooth finish. Start with 60-grit sandpaper to round over corners and edges before switching to 120-grit paper to smooth all flat surfaces. Make sure the dust bag is attached to the sander for cleanliness.

Pro Tip: Norm Abram, master carpenter on This Old House, advises patience when working through sanding grits: “I start with 80 grit to strip a finish on solid wood. Otherwise the first step is 100 or 120 followed by 150. I stop there if the surface will be painted. If I’m staining, I go to 180 grit and then 220.”

Assembling the Stool

With all components prepared, the stool can be assembled safely and securely. Just follow these steps:

1. Draw an X from corner to corner on the underside of the top piece.
2. Mark points 7 inches from the center along each line.
3. Drill pilot holes along these lines, stopping at the 7-inch marks.
4. Slot the legs together to form an X shape.
5. Center the top on the legs and transfer the pilot hole locations.
6. Drill pilot holes into the legs.
7. Apply wood glue to the top edges of the legs.
8. Screw the top to the legs using 1 5/8-inch finish screws.
9. Fill the screw holes with stainable putty and sand them smooth once dry.

Painting and Finishing the Stool

Add a personal touch and paint the stool with your chosen latex paint color, and once it’s dry, attach nail-on furniture glides to the leg corners. Find the center of the top and create a grid of 8×8 squares, each 1 1/4 inches wide. Cut 32 squares of non-skid tape and apply them in a checkerboard pattern.

Additional Step Stool Building Tips and Considerations

Keep the following tips in mind when building a step stool:

• Choose hardwood for durability, but be aware it’s more challenging to work with.
• Always use safety glasses when operating power tools.
• Have an adult perform or closely supervise cutting and drilling tasks.
• Customize the paint color to match your decor or child’s preference.
• The non-skid tape serves a dual purpose: creating a checkerboard and preventing slips.

Pro Tip: Tom Silva, general contractor on This Old House, recommends applying a protective finish to any step stool that will see regular use: “You definitely want to put a finish on it if it’s going to be used, like, in a bathroom to wash his hands, brush his teeth or whatever. Gets up on the stool. So you want to protect it. So you could clear coat it, you could stain it or even paint it.”