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$20 Easy DIY Round Side Table & DIY Round Stool Seating, In 1 Build

Cheap & Easy $20 DIY Round Side Table that works as DIY Stool Seating too. Great for dorms & apartments. Adjustable height for kids & adults.

Easy DIY Round Side Table & DIY Stool Seating, in 1

Today, I’ve got a quick, 1-hour build for you. And, you’ll only spend about $20 for the wood. Yaasss!

This sweet DIY Round Side Table that can also be used as a stool is such a great build project for the time and money. I love that this side table can be used as extra seating.

I wish I had a side table like this in college. It would have been so useful when I had friends visiting all the time. It’s a great little build, if you have a small space or small budget.

Image of a Cheap & Easy $20 DIY Round Side Table that works as DIY Stool Seating too. Great for dorms & apartments. Adjustable height for kids & adults. Easy woodworking project build plans.
Don’t forget to save or share this Easy DIY Round Side Table!

And, if you’re looking for a DIY side table with a bit more style, check out my DIY Round Top Pedestal Table. OK, let’s get to those build steps.

DIY Round Side Table Build Overview

If any of the steps below are confusing, watch this short video. Sometimes seeing something done can help me figure things out.

Build an Easy DIY Round Stool or Small Round Table, for $20 in 1 Hour!

How To Build A Simple Round Side Table

BUILD NOTE

Depending on where you’ll be using this build, you might want to change the size of the legs. For little kids tables or desks, you might need to remove 2 or 3 inches. You could even go as much as 9″ shorter, to build a step stool or young toddlers seat.

For a side table or end table, tables that are about level with the arm of the chair or sofa are the most comfortable to use. Generally, that’s about 18 to 20″. About 20 is the max I would go if you want it to be a comfortable seating height.

Works as a table or extra seating! This quick 1 hour, $20 build makes great DIY Easy Stool Seating or a DIY Round Side Table. With tips on adjusting the height to work for kids and adults. #AbbottsAtHome #DIYFurniture #KregJig #Stool #SideTable
How cute is this stool and Kids Kitchen together? 🙂 You can find the red DIY Kids Desk tutorial here. The Kids Kitchen tutorial is coming soon.

Cut List

  • 4 – 17″ long 2″ x 2″ Select Pine Boards, for the Legs
  • 2 – 10 1/2″ long 2″ x 2″ Select Pine Boards, for the Cross Braces
  • 4 – 4 1/2″ long 2″ x 2″ Select Pine Boards, for the Cross Braces
  • 1 – 15″ Pine Wood Round, available at Home Depot and Lowes

Tools Needed

Image of a Cheap & Easy $20 DIY Round Side Table that works as DIY Stool Seating too. Great for dorms & apartments. Adjustable height for kids & adults. Easy woodworking project build plans.
This little table looks cute without paint too!

DIY Stool or Table Build Steps

Step One

Cut your 2″ x 2″ boards to size.

Step Two

Put 1 pocket hole on each end of the 2 – 10 1/2 long 2″ x 2″ boards and each end of the 4 – 4 1/2″ long boards. Should be 12 holes total.

X Brace with pocket holes for a DIY Round Side Table or DIY Stool Seating
This build plan uses 2 of these X or cross braces. The 4 1/2″ pieces connect to the 10 1/2″ piece AND the legs we’ll add later.

Step Three

Use glue and screws to connect each 10 1/2″ board with 2 of the 4 1/2″ boards to make 2 X’s. I like to mark the exact center of the boards to make sure I have them lined up perfectly during assembly.

2 X frame bases built from 2x2 Select Pine dimensional lumber.
You can see the pencil marks I made for the center point.

Step Four

Once the X’s are assembled, glue and screw one of the X’s to the table legs. The first X needs to line up with the ends of the legs to create a flat surface to attach the round top to.

Using Kreg Screws and wood glue to attach 2x2 legs to X base.
I attached the X to the legs on the wrong side, flipping the screws to the other side would have been better. Since I built it this way, I used wood filler to hide the pocket holes.

In the picture above, I made the mistake of doing this with the pocket holes inside the legs. BUT, if I had flipped the X over, the pocket holes could have been hidden under the round top.

Building it with the screws inside the legs also made the last 2 legs harder to attach because the drill didn’t quite fit. I recommend flipping the X so that the pocket screws will be on the top of the table.

Using clamps and scrap wood to hold 22x2 Pine pieces in the right spot when gluing and screwing together.
I use clamps and scrap wood to hold pieces in place when gluing and screwing pieces together. That helps to stop the pieces from sliding around when screwing them together.

Step Five

Attach the next X 3/4″ up from the bottom of the table legs. Have the screws facing the bottom of the table frame, to make it easy to drill in the screws.

Using Dewalt Clamps and scrap wood to hold pieces in place before screwing in with Kreg Jig.
A different clamp and scrap wood piece on another leg. You gotta do what it takes, right? 😉

That’s it. Now you’re ready to apply the finish before attaching the top to your DIY Round Side Table.

Easy DIY Round Side Table – Finishing Steps

Step One

Now you can fill the pocket holes with wood filler. Once that dries, sand everything smooth. I sand to 120 or 150 when painting. Or, 220 when staining. I also sand down all the hard corners on 2×2’s. I think its a prettier look.

Building a stool or table base from Pine 2x2's. And filling pocket holes with wood filler. For DIY Easy Stool Seating.
Filling pocket holes with Wood Filler.

Step Two

Once, sanded, dust the table base off with a tack cloth or slightly damp rag. Apply your finish. I used a custom mixed red, using Magnolia Homes by Kilz in Eggshell. It is similar to a chalk paint and works well without a primer. You might need a primer, depending on what you use.

The red I used was color matched to the the DecoArt Chalk Paint color Rouge. You can just use that paint. It is a great, low cost chalk paint for furniture.

Works as a table or extra seating! This quick 1 hour, $20 build makes great DIY Easy Stool Seating or a DIY Round Side Table. With tips on adjusting the height to work for kids and adults. #AbbottsAtHome #DIYFurniture #KregJig #Stool #SideTable
I love the shade of red on the DIY Round Side Table. Not too pink, not too orange, not too blue. You can see my DIY Chevron Wall Art in the background here.

Step Three

Now, sand the wood round to 220-grit. That means you start with a medium grit first, then use the fine grit (220). This would be different for different types of wood. But, this works fine on Pine with a pretty smooth finish already.

Works as a table or extra seating! This quick 1 hour, $20 build makes great DIY Easy Stool Seating or a DIY Round Side Table. With tips on adjusting the height to work for kids and adults. #AbbottsAtHome #DIYFurniture #KregJig #Stool #SideTable
So excited about how this Kids Play Kitchen and Stool turned out!

Step Four

Clean off all the dust on the wood round. Then stain. I used Danish Oil in Medium Walnut. I love Danish oil because it is easy to apply and clean up. You can literally pour some on, then spread around with a rag. It also soaks into the wood nicely.

After 2 coats of Danish Oil, I applied 2 coats of Varathane Matte Polyurethane. Danish Oil doesn’t require a top coat. But I wanted to add a slight sheen and protect the finish a bit more, since my kiddos will be using this. And they’re rough. 😉

Works as a table or extra seating! This quick 1 hour, $20 build makes great DIY Easy Stool Seating or a DIY Round Side Table. With tips on adjusting the height to work for kids and adults. #AbbottsAtHome #DIYFurniture #KregJig #Stool #SideTable
Tutorial and plans for the DIY Kids Play Kitchen and that DIY Kids Desk are available in previous posts

Attaching The Top

Once the base and top are dry, you can attach the top. You have two options for attaching the top to the frame.

You can either pre-drill screw holes under the table bases to the top. Be sure to use a countersink drill bit to hide the screw heads. Then screw into the top.

OR, you can apply glue to the entire top of the base, center the wood round on that X. Then brad nail at each end of the X to hold the top tightly in place while the glue dries.

I nail at a slight angle to prevent pull back on those nails. Fill the nail holes with matching putty. IF YOU ARE GLUING the top on, leave the top of the base unfinished so that the glue can get a better hold

Image of a Cheap & Easy $20 DIY Round Side Table that works as DIY Stool Seating too. Great for dorms & apartments. Adjustable height for kids & adults. Easy woodworking project build plans.
A look at that table between the beds in my boys’ bedroom.

That’s it! You’re done. Enjoy you’re new DIY Easy Stool Seating or DIY Round Side Table. 🙂

Solar System bedding from Pottery Barn on two twins bed in a boys shared bedroom with a white wall and Star Wars patent blueprint wall art.
Update 2024: Here’s a recent look at the DIY Round Side Table in my boys’ space themed bedroom now. You can see the DIY Board and Batten and 25 Best Outer Space Themed Bedroom Décor Ideas in previous posts. Or, check out the Make a DIY Twin Upholstered Headboard.

More DIY Projects For You

This DIY Table Over Washer and Dryer is always a popular build.

Hide those ugly machines with this DIY Table Over Washer and Dryer or DIY Folding Table. Full tutorial and free printable build plans.

If you need a great little desk for your elementary age kids. Check out this DIY Childrens Desk with Storage Drawers.

Full tutorial, build overview video, and printable plans for this beautiful DIY Childrens Desk Plans with Storage Drawers.

Or, this easy DIY Kids Play Tent from PVC Pipes.

Plans to Build this easy PVC Pipe Tent with drop cloth cover. PVC pipe play house tent build for kids. #PVCTent #PVC #KidsTent

Feeling inspired? Now you’re ready to build your own Simple DIY Round Side Table or DIY Easy Stool Seating get to it! And, good luck with your build.

sageandivydesigns

Sunday 10th of March 2019

Great project! I like that you could make this any size you like. I am pinning it. Happy St. Pat's Day, Kippi #kippiathome

Stephanie

Sunday 10th of March 2019

Thanks so much, Kippi!

D. Parker

Sunday 3rd of March 2019

This looks cool and way easier than I would have thought. Thanks. Dropped by from #BloggersPitStop and glad I did. Bookmarked and shared. Hope the week ahead treats you kindly. :)

Stephanie

Monday 4th of March 2019

Thanks so much. I hope you get a chance to build one. :)

Chas Greener

Wednesday 27th of February 2019

What a great and versatile project, everyone needs something like this in their home. Thanks for sharing.

Stephanie

Wednesday 27th of February 2019

Thanks! It is so handy to have extra little tables and seats. :)

Jena

Wednesday 27th of February 2019

I love the stool! Now I want to build one of these! Thanks for the instructions. =)

Stephanie

Wednesday 27th of February 2019

Thanks so much, Jena! It's a fun, quick build.

Cara H (The Real Cie)

Monday 25th of February 2019

Neat project! I will pass this on to my son.

Stephanie

Monday 25th of February 2019

Cool. I hope he likes it and gets a chance to build it. :)

Comments are closed.