If you've ever thought about making a tree stump table, fall is a good time to actually do it. That's right. It's tree stump season! Fall sees a lot of firewood deliveries and trees coming down in storms which gives you, the intrepid reclaimer, easy access to tree trunks. Let's get started.
10 years ago I made a tree stump table. It got shared, copied and posted about so much it's one of 3 posts that I consider to have kickstarted my blogging career (thanks in part to Design*Sponge loving it too.) That table still sits in my living room looking as good as the day I made it.
Stump tables, made out of tree trunks, are one part architectural piece, one part table, one part bugs. Don't worry. We'll get rid of the bugs.
The point is they aren't just a place to put your coffee, a stump table brings the outside in giving your room a cozy organic feel.
They can feel modern or completely hygge and organic. It depends on how you finish them.
FYI! You can also use these as bases for a stump table with a glass top.
These two tree stump ideas are for using them indoors and no chain saws are involved.
I'll show you how to make an unfinished table that's similar to the famous Crate and Barrel tree stump table and a finished one that sits on tall legs.
First the finished stump table that's on legs.
Table of Contents
Materials
- Tree stump
- Sandpaper (medium and fine grit)
- Polyurethane (high gloss, semi-gloss, satin … whichever you want) I used satin which has just a nice sheen
- Paint brush
- 1 package of 4, 6" Capita legs from Ikea (these legs aren't available at Ikea anymore but they ARE available on Amazon.)
- Drill and appropriate bits
First things first. You have to get yourself a tree stump.
Where to find a tree stump?
Keep your eye out for city workers or private tree companies taking down trees. Pull over, ask them if you an have a section of a branch if they're big or the stump. Simple as that.
Call up places near you that sell firewood. They advertise a lot during this time of year so they'll be easy to find. That's what makes fall tree stump season!
I got my stump delivered with my yearly wood order.
How big should it be?
It depends if you want your table to be on legs or sit directly on the floor. I like the look of legs.
Your legs will be 6 inches high, so figure out how tall your stump needs to be for where you want to put it.
Generally you're going to want a tall tree stump for this.
If your sofa has arms at 25" and you want it to be around level with the arms, then you need a stump that's 18" tall.
My stump is 15" across by 18" high, with the 6" legs it's a total of 24" high. This brings it to just below the arm of my sofa.
Steps
Step 1 DRY IT
Allow your stump to dry out for at least a month. It’ll lose several pounds and the bark will loosen, making step 2 easier.
Coincidentally if you allow yourself to dry out for a month you’ll lose several pounds too.
You can dry the stump outside for a couple of months, then bring it inside for a couple of weeks.
If your stump was already cut and dried from wherever you got it, you can just bring it inside for a couple of weeks.
Step 2 REMOVE THE BARK
Now the work begins. You have to remove the bark. Sometimes this is easy, sometimes it isn't.
The first stump table I made was from Oak. The bark just pulled off with my hands.
The second stump table I made was from Walnut. The bark was a nightmare to remove. I needed an array of tools and a 14' length of prayer beads.
To remove the stump's bark, you'll need these tools to do it:
A Hammer
A Prybar
After your stump has dried inside for a couple of weeks insert the prybar between the bark and the stump. Hammer it enough to loosen the wood then either keep hammering or pull the bark loose with your fingers. Keep doing this all the way around the stump until all the bark is off.
And yes, you do need to remove the bark. If you don't, over time it'll loosen and fall off on its own leaving you with a cruddy looking piece of crud as a table.
If the bark is particularly stubborn, like this stupid thing was ... do the same thing but with wood chisels. They're sharper and will cut through the fibres between the bark and the stump better than a prybar. Be careful not to hack into the wood with the chisel though.
Do not hack into yourself either. Wood chisels are sharp on all sides, not just the tips, so be careful.
Now your stump is cleaned of its bark.
When it's dried out the stump might split a bit like this. That's O.K. It adds character.
Step 3 - SAND IT
The stump now needs to be sanded to get all the little hairs and slivers off it.
You need a smooth stump. Use a variety of sandpaper grits to sand it smooth.
Start with the coarsest grit, gradually working your way to sanding the stump with the smoothest grit.
Get rid of all the hairs.
Sand until you can run your hand over the stump and it feels smooth.
Once your stump is smooth wipe over it with a damp, lint free cloth or a tack cloth.
A lot of wood dust will come off. Keep wiping until your cloth comes away clean.
Now flip your stump over and get ready for the fun part.
Step 4 - ATTACH THE LEGS
Get your pre-purchased legs. Like I said, mine are the Capita legs from Ikea which are soon to be discontinued. You can buy the exact Ikea Capita legs on Amazon though.
To make the end table more like the $900 Crate and Barrel one, ditch the long legs and use little bun feet like these instead. You'll also need a wider, more squat stump.
Each leg comes with a bracket that you screw into the base of your table.
Whatever kind of legs you get make sure the height is adjustable like these are. Adjustable legs on the table means you can make sure it's level without having to squish up a folded up piece of paper. Or if you're a certain age and type - a book of matches.
Don't forget. Adjustable legs are the way to make sure your stump table is level.
Place your legs on the underside of your stump. You can use all 4 legs or just 3. I'm partial to 3, but 4 is definitely more stable.
Use a measuring tape to make sure they're an equal distance apart.
Once you have the legs positioned, mark the holes in the plates with either a pencil or a marker.
Remove the legs and fit your drill with the appropriate sized drill bit.
Pre-drill holes at the spots you marked for the screws.
Once all your holes are predrilled, place your legs and brackets back on and screw them into place.
To make my life easier, I put all my screws into a little dish. Don't question it. Just do it.
Now all your legs are on!
Step 5 - STAIN & SEAL IT (OPTIONAL)
If there are any sections where you accidentally took too much of the wood off (it's lighter underneath) you can skim over it with some stain. I have a whack of different cans of stain so I picked the one I thought would match the best.
Appropriately, it was "Walnut" stain for this walnut stump.
Just wipe it onto the light portion of your wood with some paper towel. It just darkens it up enough to make it blend in a little better. There will still be a colour variation, just not quite as distinct. Again, the look and colour and grain will be different depending on what type of wood stump you're working with.
The staining is a matter of choice. On my first stump table I didn't do it ... on this one I did.
Let your stain soak in and dry.
SEAL IT
Now you have to seal all that hard work in.
To stop your stump from drying out even more and to keep it from getting marked on top when you put things down on it you should seal your tree stump.
You can use any wood sealer. If you want a completely natural look I'd recommend sealing it with Thompsons Water Seal which will give the look of having no finish on it at all. Just remember that Thompsons Water Seal is water based which means it can only go on natural wood or wood that has been stained with a water based stain.
I used an oil based Polyurethane to make my stump top as durable as possible. I tend to be a bit spilly and bangy.
If you're using an oil based finish use a natural bristle brush.
Seal the whole stump.
Seal the top, sides and bottom of the stump with 2-3 coats.
The top of the stump will get really dark, but it'll lighten up once the finish sinks in and dries.
After your first coat dries, gently sand off any burrs and bumps.
The sanding will leave the finish with a white haze. Don't worry about it. It'll go away once you apply another coat of finish. Seal the sides and underside again 1-2 more times according to the manufacturer's directions.
Your stump may need up to 6 coats on the top. Because of the open grain, the finish soaks into the top a lot more and requires more coats. Always let your finish dry the recommended amount of time in between coats.
Once you've completed all coats of finish you're done.
Want to paint it?
If you're rather have a painted stump table, after sanding and wiping it apply a coat of primer. Once the primer has dried you can paint it with either water based or oil based paint.
Tree Trunk Table
How to make a tree stump table.
Materials
- Tree stump (your choice for size)
- Sandpaper (medium and fine grit)
- Polyurethane (high gloss, semi-gloss, satin … whichever you want) I used satin which has just a nice sheen
- Paint brush
- 1 package of 4, 6" Capita legs from Ikea (or similar)
Tools
- Drill
Instructions
Get your stump and allow it to dry out for at least a month. It will lose weight over this period and the bark will shrink away from the wood.
If you let your stump dry outside, as opposed to inside you'll still need to let it dry out inside for another couple of weeks to acclimatize it.
Once the stump has dried out remove the bark from it using a prybar and a hammer to chisel it away. Be careful not to gouge the wood stump.
If the bark is difficult to get off let it dry longer or carefully use a chisel with a hammer to remove it.
Sand your stump to get it smooth and then run over it with a tack cloth or damp cloth to remove any sawdust.
Flip the stump over so you're working on the underside of it and screw in the legs. Pre-drill your screw holes and make sure to measure so your legs are equal distances apart.
Stain and seal the table if desired.
Notes
If you want a very natural look to your stump, use a water based stain followed by Thompson's Water seal.
For optimal protection and a bit of a sheen on your stump use an oil based stain and a Polyurethane finish in satin.
Recommended Products
I'm an Amazon affiliate some I get a few cents when you buy something I've linked to.
Unfinished stump table
This is pretty obvious, but if you'd rather make a more natural looking log side table, just skip adding stain and any finish to it.
For an even more organic look, leave the legs off of it.
To make one just find a log, let it dry out, then sand it smooth.
Wood from deciduous trees: Ash, black walnut, birch, cypress, cherry, elm, maple and oak are all good choices.
You should AVOID conifers. Those trees that have resin that are a sticky mess. Trees like cedar, fir, juniper, pine, redwood, spruce, yew, larch should not be used. (think of how sticky the bottom of a Christmas tree is after cutting it)
The only drawback to these tables? Everyone is going to want you to make them one. So you can either start a blog, get a following, contemplate quitting, keep at it, and then one day write a post about how to build a stump table that you can tell them about.
Or you can just skip all that and direct them to this post instead.
→Follow me on Instagram where I often make a fool of myself←
lookingfornicethings
living in the mean streets of east london i dont come across abandoned tree-stumps like your one very often, but i really love this little guy and keep a special place in my heart for it.
what i'm going to do is re-blog it immediately to spread the word and remind myself of its beauty at lookingfornicethings.wordpress.com
keep up the awesome work
Crystal
"A swear jar," heeheehee.
I loved the tutorial for the table; now can you do a tutorial on how to make that swear jar? Because I definitely need one. My swears fall all over the place--especially in my kids' rooms.
{darlene}
Amazing project!
stopping by from Nester. I love your writing style... and your taste! great post.
-{darlene}
fieldstonehilldesign.com
Karen
Darlene! Thanks so much for stopping by and letting me know where you came from! I'm always curious about how people found their way here. Hope to see you again in these parts. :) ~ karen
colleen
OH!..I have two stumps and just need this push to getter' done!
Your blog is great (love your ring & bracelet!)
Thanks for the inspiration!
p
i like your hand veins. I'm a phlebotomist.
Cherished Hearts Vintage
The next stump I see sitting along the road from the guys cutting trees who are always parked in the middle of the gravel road, I'm snagging it. Can't wait to try this one out!
My brother and I spent hours as children rubbing the barks off sticks to make swords. Thanks!
Karen
Well then you're well prepared for what lies ahead! ~ karen
Bromeliad
Excellent tutorial. And the commentary is priceless.
Jessi
Love this!! Definitely going to try it!!
Lori
I love this! we're finishing up the last coat of poly on ours tonight. Also, where did you get that shaggy chair? I am in LOVE.
Karen
Lori! Send me a picture when you're done! I'll post it on Facebook! I'm sooo glad you're tackling the table! Honestly. Here's the post on my furry chair! https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/before-after-how-to-recover-a-chair-in-5-minutes ~ karen!
Lori
Fantastic and I will thanks!
Sabrina in Australia
Thanks for taking the time, effort and good humour to write such an entertaining DIY blog- certainly has inspired me to use a piece of birch that the previous owners left under our deck- except I shall leave the bark on- it's beautiful.
anna see
What a great tutorial! I LOVE this idea.
Karen
Thanks Anna! ~ karen
Katie@boukates
I love your stump. My husband and I made a birch stump a while back, but it's not level :-\ and we left the bark on. I love your kitty and your abominable snow chair too!
elizabeth / sophisticated pie
come over today from d*s. This is an amazing tutorial. Thanks so much!! Love the table
mariah
Beautiful work! I was wondering what you think about doing this with a birch stump. I want to keep the beautiful bark in tact, do you think it would work? Thank you for the inspiration.
Karen
Hi Mariah! Thanks. I have no idea if this would work with birch! The one problem I see immediately is that birch trees don't get large enough to make into side tables. They tend to die before they get to this size. Also, when the birch tree *does* get quite large, the bark tends to be icky. You *could* peel away the outer bark and hope for nice bark underneath. I'm also not sure how the birch bark would react to the clear coat. (it may darken/change the colour of the birch) If I were you, I'd try the poly. on a small, dry, birch branch. If that goes well ... then give the birch stump a shot! If you're successful send me a pic. I'd love to see it! Good luck. ~ karen
ashley suzanne
What a great step-by-step guide, thanks! Looking forward to starting the project soon!
Karen
Thanks Ashley! Have fun with it. ~ karen
Katie
This is unbelievable good timing. Some neighbors just cut down a tree and I think I can steal a stump on my way home from work. I know you said it should dry out for months but I'm wondering how many months - two, three?
Thanks for the great tutorial!
Katie
Karen
Hi Katie! If it's a brand new tree that's *just* been chopped down, it'll take at least 2 months to dry out. If you bring the stump inside it'll dry faster, but the fast it dries the more likely it is to get cracks. I happen to like the cracks, so no problem for me! Just stick it somewhere and then forget about it. And just for fun ... weigh the stump before you start drying it and then after. Oh! And finally, make sure the stump is cut very straight. Otherwise you'll have a table with a sloped top! Good luck. ~ karen
Jodi
I have always wanted to know how you made your own log table. They are so organic and fabulous - but so expensive!
I cannot wait to do this. I am going to get a log this weekend!
Karen
Jodi - Yay! Lemme know how it goes. If I were to do one today, I'd do it with a greyish blue whitewash. Something to think about ... not to confuse you, LOL. ~ karen
Beverly
For anyone who hasn't used poly, the oil based is more durable - but stinks like crazy while being applied! So do it outside! I mostly use water based - hardly any odor, and does a wonderful job.
And thanks for the tutorial, I am absolutely going to do this...
Karen
Beverly - You bring up an excellent point! It does stink, but not as bad as I remember for some reason. Maybe they've changed the formulation a bit. However .... having said that, I did do my stump inside because it's the middle of winter here in Southern Ontario. The smell was totally bearable. Until I hid the stump in our bedroom so my visiting niece wouldn't see it before Christmas. WOW. Definitely stink. Had to move it out into the hallway. Blech. ~ karen!
Jen
This kills me. We just a perfectly great stump pulled from our yard as it was a serious eyesore. Now I see this fantastic gem. Balls!!!
Madame Meg
Oh yay! I'm so glad you finally posted about this- I've been waiting... let's go with patiently... since you mentioned you were going to tell us all about it way back when you first shared your house! I've actually been looking for an appropriate stump for about a year now, but it never even occurred to me to ask at a firewood place, I believe there's even one of those right around the corner from my house! (I've been trawling the woods where I walk the dog, hoping there'd be a perfectly cut stump there!) Guess I'll be heading around the corner soon! Thanks!
: ) Meg
From Me To You
Well that's just about the neatest thing.
Karen
Thanks Jamie! I'm mortified you're seeing my awful photos by the way. The good news is I start a photography course tonight. Ya know, so it doesn't take me 172 clicks to get one barely useable picture. :) ~ karen