Scavenger Chic

Repurpose Bar Stools into End Tables

• By Joan
• June 28, 2023
• 6 Comments

Repurpose Bar Stools into End Tables

I’ve noticed more and more of these saddle stools hitting the thrift stores lately, and  when I was requested to find or make a pair of smallish end tables I immediately had these stools in mind. Now I just had to find a pair.

I have created a table from a round stool before and that was still a possibility but I did manage to find exactly what I was looking for in only a couple weeks of searching.  This pair of stools was only $12.

They are about to become the base of a pair of diy side tables.

Unscrew the seat from your stool.  Because the seat had an indent where your tushy would go so it was not useable as a nice flat surface.

These stools were also a little wobbly, I wonder if that was the reason they were donated, but this was an easy fix, the screws needed to be retightened.

We’re starting with a shelf for the lower part of the stool.  I’m using reclaimed old oak hardwood flooring.

Cut the hardwood flooring so that it fits between the lower rungs of the stool.

Cut off the tongue and grooves on both sides of the shelf and sand.

I cut my hardwood a little wider than the rungs would allow and then had to notch where the flooring would go around the legs. That was on purpose btw. 😀 

Use a pneumatic nailer and 2 inch nails to attach the hardwood flooring directly to the stool.

My top is one floorboard wider than the lower shelf and a few inches wider than the actual stool.  Adjust your lengths and widths for how much space you have.

Once again, cut the old hardwood floorboards for the tops of the side tables.  Cut off the tongue and grooves on the front and back pieces.

Instead of nailing directly to the stool, the top is held together by 2 more pieces of flooring cut one inch wide.  Nail thru the side pieces, again with the pneumatic nailer, directly into the flooring.

Use the existing screws and screw holes to attach the top to the stool.

Remove any existing finish on the hardwood flooring and soften the edges with a sander.

Finish the shelves as desired.  Stain, poly, wax, paint or oil.  I’m using the same finish I used on my diy bar back in March.  This is black paint mixed with water, wiping off the excess.  When the paint is dry, finish with polyurethane.

The new repurposed bar stool nightstands in their new space.

Until next time, stay inspired.

Related posts:

Painting a Nightstand and Creating an Heirloom DIY Nightstands from an old Desk Maryland Flag DIY Table Fall Market Days and Blue Pumpkins