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Build a pair of Adirondack chairs and you'll discover the missing piece within one iced tea: there's nowhere to put anything down. This stool is the answer — a 14-1/2" slat-top square that works as an end table between chairs, a footrest, or extra seating when the patio overflows.
It's also a tidy first pocket-hole project. Every joint is a 3/4" pocket hole with 1-1/4" screws, all hidden on the insides, so the finished piece shows clean faces everywhere. The frame is 2x2 legs with 1x3 aprons; the lower side supports and stretcher stiffen it enough to stand on.
Match the finish to your chairs — same stain or paint, and the set reads as bought-together. If it lives outside, use exterior glue and finish; the lumber list is cheap enough that weatherproofing is the only line item worth fussing over.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1x3, 8 ftAprons and top slats. | 2 each |
| 2x2, 8 ftThe four legs. | 1 each |
| 1x2, 4 ftSide supports and stretcher. | 1 each |
| Pocket hole screws, 1-1/4" | 30 each |
| Exterior wood glue | 2 oz |
Overall cost: $. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Legs2x2 | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 17 1/4" |
| Aprons1x3 | 4 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 9 1/2" |
| Side supports1x2 | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 9 1/2" |
| Stretcher1x2 | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 10 1/4" |
| Top slats1x3 | 5 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 14 1/2" |
Buy 4 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
2 boards
1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Drill 3/4"-setting pocket holes in the ends of two aprons and join each to a pair of legs with 1-1/4" pocket screws and glue. Two identical leg sets, pocket holes facing where the inside of the stool will be.
Pocket-hole the remaining two aprons and connect the leg sets into a square frame, holes to the insides. Check the top is square — the slats will broadcast any parallelogram.
Mark 3-1/2" up from the bottom of each leg and attach the two 1x2 side supports at the marks, centered on the legs, with pocket screws and glue.
Run the stretcher between the two side supports with pocket holes and glue. This little H-brace is what lets the stool double as seating — don't skip it because the frame already feels stiff.
Lay the five top slats with even gaps — the overhang past the aprons should match all around — and fasten from below through the aprons, or glue and brad from above if you don't mind tiny visible holes. Gaps drain rain; this is still outdoor furniture.
Sand everything, round the top edges and corners well (shins find end tables), and finish to match the chairs it will live between.
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