How to make a bedside table with your own hands

The bedside table gives a finished look to the bedroom interior. This piece of furniture performs many functions: from the ability to put the necessary items on it (clock, lamp, book, telephone) for convenience, to decorating the overall style of the room.

Furniture stores offer options for tables in different styles, materials and costs, but there are many ways to make a bedside table with your own hands.

The history of the bedside table

The bedside table came into the everyday life of a person from France. The mentality of the French has a measured rhythm of life and a love of information. The first tables appeared near the beds of French gentlemen, whose important ritual was considered to be the morning reading of the fresh press. The servants brought newspapers and a cup of coffee even before the master woke up. For this, the bedside table received its second name - a coffee table.

The tables have retained their main function since those times, but their appearance has changed and diversified. The common features of the first and modern tables have been preserved: the presence of a table top (the main flat surface of the table), a smaller size in comparison with the dining or work table.

Types of tables and their features

The variety of this piece of furniture lies in a large number of modern materials and fasteners with which you can assemble a table.

The main types are divided into categories:

• By the shape of the countertops (round, square, oval, rectangular);
• By the type of stability (one or more legs, a cast frame base, vertical walls, a single cylindrical or cubic structure from the table top to the base);
• By materials (wood, glass, forged, plastic, fabric);
• By features (installation of castors, mounting to the wall, the presence of shelves and drawers built into the head of the bed)

Each species has operational differences. When choosing the type of table, you need to be guided not only by the aesthetic component, but also by its functional features.

Note! The material of some worktops has temperature characteristics and may not be suitable for the client's request. Before purchasing materials for manufacturing or a finished table, you must familiarize yourself with the technical characteristics of the surface.

How to make a bedside table with your own hands

Decorating the interior of your home with a homemade coffee table is easy, you don't need complicated expensive materials and tools. Some ideas are easy to implement and available to everyone. The stage-by-stage manufacturing of the table will allow you to calculate in advance the amount of material, the necessary tools and fasteners.

Before starting work, you need to choose the table that will complement your interior and solve the necessary tasks. For a coffee table to become an accent in the bedroom, you need to choose unusual contrasting materials that will emphasize its feature.

Stages of creating a table:

• Development of a sketch, drawing of all structural details with dimensional application;
• Selection of material for the table, purchase, preparation of materials;
• Assessment of the work process, preparation of tools;
• Bedside table making process
• Decorating and painting an item.

Creating a sketch of the future table

At the first stage, you need to draw a sketch of the future table. It needs to be worked out, adhering to the dimensions and accurate measurements of the space where the piece of furniture will be located. Also, the drawing must be done in color in order to appreciate the complete visual picture.

Then you need to make a drawing of the table, which will contain information about the size of each individual structural part.

Note! Sketch and drawing can be performed in special computer programs that will achieve accuracy, taking into account the thickness of the material.

What material is suitable for the table

The material for the bedside table must be reliable and durable. When designing a structure, the floor covering and its features are taken into account. If the table is planned on casters, then you need to think over the weight and shock absorption when rolling on the floor.

Wood is considered a good material for a coffee table. Natural breed can decorate any interior, besides, wood is a convenient plastic material, when working with which special tools and skills are not required. The most common types of breeds for assembling a table with your own hands are: pine, fir, spruce, oak.

You can also get creative and use unusual items to create a table, such as a suitcase or a stack of books. When choosing a material, pay attention to the technical properties, service life and maintenance features.

Instrument preparation

Different tools may be needed depending on the material chosen. If we talk about wooden tables, then to create you need:

• Saw, hacksaw or jigsaw;
• Screwdriver;
• Miter box;
• Sander or sanding paper;
• Roulette;
• Drill for wood;
• Self-tapping screws or screws;
• Nails;
• Hammer;
• Corners
• Wood glue.

Before work, all tools must be in good condition and close at hand.

Manufacturing and assembly process

The entire manufacturing process can be presented in 3 stages:

• Cutting out parts on sheet or other material. When working with a power tool, parts can be positioned end-to-end without stock. Each detail is marked with a tape measure, ruler and pencil.
• Gradual assembly of parts into a single structure, taking into account the peculiarities of the sketch and drawing;
• Fastening of additional parts, such as wheels, boxes, doors.

The manufacturing process depends on the sketch of a particular table. In some wooden structures, the technique of gluing parts of the product is used, so construction can begin after all the blanks have dried.

Wooden box table

A simple and cheap table can be assembled from a wooden box for vegetables and fruits. The boxes can be taken both ready-made and previously knocked down from the rails. This table is large because it consists of 4 drawers.

In this design, crates must be sanded or hand sanded and varnished or painted before assembly. The assembly in this structure will begin only after the coating has dried.

For the base, you can use sheet plywood or a sheet of chipboard or MDF. You can use any durable wooden sheet material, at least 0.8 cm thick. Such a bedside table will be more functional and mobile if it is made mobile. On the back of the base, the wheels are screwed onto the self-tapping screws.

After preparing the base and boxes, you can start assembling. The boxes are installed on the base in such a way that the side wall of one box should rest against the bottom of the other box. Each is fixed to the base with self-tapping screws. As a result, a small hole is formed inside the structure up to the base of the table. With the help of a tall flowerpot with a live flower, you can make a coffee table decor.

Multifunctional pallet table

Pallets are used for interior decoration as a versatile material. With the help of them, you can assemble not only tables, but also any other furniture. The bedside table from the pallet can have several types depending on the dimensions of the sketch.

The simplest option is a two-pallet high roller table. An extra section is cut off from the pallet (in front of the cubic legs in the middle of the pallet) if the size of the whole pallet (120 * 80 cm) is too large. The workpieces are sanded, then twisted together with self-tapping screws. Wheels are screwed to the bottom of the table. The table is covered with varnish or paint of the desired color.

You can put thick tempered glass of the exact size on the tabletop or cut out blanks from the boards. They are attached to the table with self-tapping screws.

Note! When assembling wooden products with self-tapping screws, it is necessary to drill a hole to prevent cracking of the rock.

Rustic style: logs and logs table

Logs and logs are used to create a rustic style in the bedroom. With the help of a ready-made log, you can make a base for a bedside table, and choose a tabletop from plywood or glass. An interesting option for decorating a bedroom would be a table made of logs of different or the same diameter.

The logs are glued to each other, starting from the center in a circle with a strong glue. The central log is surrounded by rings from other blanks. After gluing all the parts, the table is fixed in a circle with a thick rope and left to dry.

To achieve a flat surface of the tabletop, you can use a plane or sander.

Retro style for travelers: a table from a suitcase

This type of coffee table will appeal to lovers of retro style and travel. To create a table, you need a sturdy frame suitcase. Strength is an important aspect, so it must hold its shape well. The legs can be made independently from solid wood (bar, log) or you can buy ready-made fittings in a furniture store.

Another option for this design could be fixing the suitcase to a wooden base and installing wheels. The top of the table can be covered with a glass top or left intact. The state of the suitcase and the general appearance of the final product will help to decide what to put on the coffee table for decoration.

Painting and decor of the table

To make the table look complete, you need to paint, varnish or decorate it.There are some features in the decor of a coffee table with your own hands, it should:

• do not contradict the functionality of the table;
• not be toxic;
• improve and protect breed and material.

The classic decor is varnishing or painting the surface, especially when it comes to wooden tables, but there are also alternative ways to decorate a piece of furniture.

Note! As an alternative coating to paint on wood, you can use a varnish-based stain, which will give the breed the desired shade, preserve the wood structure and protect the surface.

There are many ways to decorate a coffee table. The following types of decor will additionally protect the table, create an unusual surface and give it a special look.

• Stencils for painting;
• Decorated with stones, beads, buttons;
• Cloth cover;
• Decoupage;
• Glass mosaic;
• Insert LED strip to create a 3D effect;
• Shells and colored sand;
• Epoxy resin

Alternative to the table - bedside table

As an alternative to the bedside table, there is a bedside table, which can also be done by hand. Methods for its manufacture and design can be taken from ideas for making a bedside table, or you can come up with new ones.

A distinctive feature of the curbstone from the table is the presence of shelves and drawers, which can be designed from ready-made drawers or assembled by hand.

Any ideas for creating furniture that are brought to life with your own hands have a right to exist and deserve pride. Individual design and creative approach create coziness in the house. And using the simplest materials with intelligence and imagination can make them open up in a new light.

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