How to make a kids stool

Make your little one a characterful step stool so they can reach the bathroom basin a little easier.

• Drill
• Router
• Jigsaw
• G-clamps
• 16mm supawood
• Self-cutting screws (3,5 x 40mm)
• Wood glue
• Compass and pencil
• Dulux Pearlgo – white
• Dulux Pearlglo – Harvest Fruits 1
• Dulux Pearlglo – black
• Harlequin water-based wood primer

16mm supawood cut to the following:

• 220 x 330mm
• 2 x 220 x 180mm
• 260 x 50mm
• 2 x 260 x 40mm

Step 1

Measure and mark the midpoint of your legs and then, using a compass, mark up a semicircle. Make sure you keep the measurement accurate for both legs.

Step 2

Cut out the semi-circle using a jigsaw. This job is much easier if you have one with a laser light.

Step 3

Round off the edges of the top of the table top and the legs using a sander or router. If you’re using a router, choose a round bit and set it so it just lightly curves the edges. If you like, you can set it deeper for the top to give it a beveled edge.

Top Tip: Test your router settings on an offcut and adjust until you’re satisfied before starting on the ‘real thing’.

Step 4

Mark up where you’ll need to put screws and drill all pilot holes (use a 3mm bit for the 3,5 x 40mm screws). Even though you’re using self-cutting screws, you need to drill pilot holes in supawood or it will split.

Step 5

Use a countersink to recess the screws that will face outward.

Step 6

Assemble the frame first using clamps to keep the pieces in place. The rule is “glue and screw”. This will ensure you have strong joins. Once the frame is assembled and the glue has had a chance to set, glue and screw the top on.

Step 7

Fill the screw holes with wood filler and allow this to dry thoroughly, then sand smooth with 220-grit paper. Give the rest of the stool a sanding to smooth the edges, particularly where you’ve routered. A detail sander is great for this job.

Step 8

Prime the stool using waterbased wood primer and a sponge roller on the flat surfaces to ensure a smooth effect. Once the primer is dry you should give the surfaces another light sand to remove any ‘hairy’ bits that appear after priming. Follow this with two coats of white Dulux Pearlglo water-based enamel.

Step 9

Make a print out of the creature you want to paint on the stool – keep it simple and quite large. Then, using a craft knife, cut out the template.

Step 10

Stick the template to the top of your stool (only once the paint is properly dry), then trace around it using a pencil.