DIY Concrete Stool

Katie
by Katie
DIY Concrete Stool – easy to make bucket concrete stool for just $5. Add fun bright patio paint for pops of fresh modern color. It’s perfect for an outdoor stool or plant stand.
Hello there! Are y’all into the concrete trend right now? Today I am sharing a fun DIY Concrete Stool project. I made the stool with inexpensive materials from my local home improvement store for just $5. The concrete stool itself was pretty easy to make with just a few simple steps, which I’ll share a bit later. Since the stool is a sleek modern design, I wanted to add some fun pops of color using DecoArt Patio Paint. The bright neon colors really complete the look of this project. This concrete stool can be used for sitting on outside or as an outdoor planter. The possibles are endless!
Materials:


5 gallon bucket


Quikrete 5000 concrete mix


Water hose


Wooden legs (1 – 6 foot x 1 1/4 inch dowel rod cut into 3 – 18 inches pieces)


DecoArt Patio Paint ( I used neon yellow and pink)


Paint brushes


Painters tape
Steps:


First I started by placing approximately 3 inches of ready-to-use concrete mix into a 5 gallon bucket. This was the size I preferred.
Next, I used a water hose to spray water onto the concrete. You want a wet mix but not too wet to where the concrete is loose. I stirred the concrete using a piece of scrap wood.
Finally, I placed the 3 wooded legs 1 1/2 inches past the surface of the concrete and let the legs rest against the sides of the bucket. I tapped on the bucket several times to release any air bubbles. You will have some air bubbles that will float to what will be the bottom of the stool. Air bubbles are just unavoidable. Let the concrete set until complete hardened and dry. After approximately 20 hours of drying time, bend the sides of the bucket in each direction to loosen the concrete from the bucket, then pull the stool out by the legs.
Now, comes the fun part! Since the diy concrete stool is modern in design, I choose DecoArt Patio Paint in neon yellow and pink. DecoArt’s Patio Paint can be used on concrete, wood and other surfaces. It is easy to use, non-toxic, weather-resistant, water-based, scuff resistant and will not crack or peel. It’s perfect for any outdoor use!
I started by painting the outside rim of the concrete base with one coat of DecoArt’s Patio Paint in neon pink. I left the top unpainted because I wanted to be able to see some of the raw concrete.
Next, I used painters tape to tape the legs of the stool. I went 6 inches from the bottom of each leg, leaving some of the raw wood showing. Then I painted the bottom of the legs using two coats the Patio Paint in neon yellow. Once the paint is dry, the stool is complete!
I just love how this DIY Concrete Stool turned out! It is very modern and bright. Perfect for my front porch!
Katie
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
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  2 questions
  • Dsa21610955 Dsa21610955 on Aug 14, 2017

    Very cute idea. How did you get the legs to stay at the correct depth and insure the stool would be level when you stand it up?

  • Jki21879859 Jki21879859 on Jul 05, 2018

    How long did u wait before painting? Didn’t u have to wait for the concrete to cure before painting?

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4 of 51 comments
  • Lori Lori on Sep 08, 2018

    You might want to credit Ben Uyeda with this idea. Your directions are almost verbatim from his book, “HomeMade Modern.”

  • Tedward Tedward on Aug 05, 2019

    Please think twice before posting projects. These projects are so intriguing for most people who may not be very knowledgeable in building anything. Think about the families with little children! If someone were to make this project and not have the base of the legs at a safe distance apart, what would happen to a little toddlers foot if it feel over on him? That is a lot of weight sitting up there on a tippy 3 legged stool. Making a nice radius top and bottom of the seat helps soften the bumps for those little ones too. I love those little guys to bits and hate to see them get hurt on our account. I wish I could be looking over your shoulder to help all of you. Thanks to you all. Please keep up the good work.

    • See 1 previous
    • Evelyn Evelyn on Oct 02, 2019

      That is up to the parent.

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