A stand up project: DIY umbrella stand for summer

22 Jan 2026

Make the base of your umbrella stand unique, while also doubling as a table for snacks and drinks. Most umbrella stands are just a boring concrete base, but this one is both stylish and practical. We painted ours in the serene green of Resene Bitter.

You will need:

•                              6x treated pine fence paling, 140mm wide x 25mm thick x 1.8m long

•                              Mitre saw

•                              Table saw

•                              Electric drill and galvanised screws

•                              H3.2 treated pine timber, 70mm wide x 45mm thick x 6.5m long

•                              Resene Quick Dry

•                              Paintbrush

•                              Hole filler

•                              Sand paper

•                              4 castor wheels – 2 with breaks and 2 without breaks

•                              2x concrete pavers, 495mm x 495mm

•                              Jig saw

•                              Resene Woodsman Penetrating Oil Stain in the colour Bark

•                              4x chest handles

•                              Resene Lumbersider paint in colour of your choice. Fleur used Resene Bitter

Note: This is designed to fit around a concrete paver that measures 495mm x 495mm. Be sure to measure before getting started on your own!

Step 1: Start by making the three boxes. Cut the fence palings to length – the short sides of my boxes are 510mm long and the long sides are 580mm long. You will need 6 of each size to make three boxes. Take one of the short sides and rip it down with a table saw length ways so that it is 70mm wide. Prime all the boards with one coat of Resene Quick Dry and then screw the long sides into the ends of the short sides to create three four-sided boxes. Countersink the screw holes and use galvanised screws. 

Step 2: Cut two lengths of fence paling to be 450mm long, and then on a table saw rip them down to be 35mm wide, to create six vertical supports. Prime these and screw these into each corner of the box with the one narrower side.

Cut the 70mm x 45mm timber into six lengths at 510mm long. Prime these and use long screws to attach them to the same box as above. Screw them in so that they are flush with the top of the box. The wheels will be screwed to the underside of this timber and will be hidden from view by the sides of the box. The narrower side is so that the wheels with the breaks can be accessed. 

Step 3: Slide the remaining two boxes on top and screw them to the vertical supports, leaving a gap between for rain and air to move in and out. Fill the holes with hole filler, and once dry, sand these smooth and wipe away any dust. Prime with more Resene Quick Dry and then apply two coats of Resene Bitter.  

Step 4: Flip the box over and attach the four wheels. Make sure the wheels with breaks are at the narrow board end.   

Step 5: Flip the box back over and put in the two large concrete pavers and then the umbrella stand.

Step 6: With the left over fence palings make the table slats – cut eight lengths at 550mm long and 70mm wide. Use a jig saw so cut a semi-circle out of two of the table slats for the umbrella stand pole. Sand the edges of the slats, wipe away any dust and then stain with two coats of Resene Woodsman Penetrating Oil Stain in the colour Bark.

Countersink the screw holes and attach the slats to the top of the box. Finish by attaching two chest handles to each side of the box (in case you want to lift it off the deck / move it to somewhere where you can’t roll it).   

project and images Fleur Thorpe

Published: 22 Jan 2026