DIY coffee table making methods

Sometimes you want to diversify the design of a room, add a fresh and bright touch, without resorting to the help of designers or buying new furniture. In such a situation, you can update the interior on your own by making a coffee table with your own hands. In addition, DIY furniture saves money and gives old furniture a chance.

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Popular coffee table designs
What material can be made
What tools will be needed
Methods for making coffee tables
Interesting ways to make a coffee table from scrap materials
Creative ways to decorate coffee tables
Video: coffee table made of wood, metal and glass
50 coffee table designs

Popular coffee table designs

It gives the interior of the room completeness, and sometimes it can serve as an original design solution. There are many ideas on how to make a coffee table without much expense with your own hands from scrap materials.

coffee table photo — To add comfort, make a coffee table with your own hands, this will be the highlight that will make the living room cozy at home.

The most popular are:

Table in the style of "minimalism". All you need is boards and a couple of metal boxes;
Square. It is made of boards fastened together;
Rustic style. The peculiarity is in the elongated legs, somewhat reminiscent of a stool;
Carved;
With drawers;
With metal legs;
Table with shelves;
Large table for the living room;
Rectangular table. It can be made of any materials, including old items - a radiator, a suitcase;
Round coffee table;
Folding (folding);
With a lid;
Using pallets. Low-cost and fast manufacturing option;
From boxes;
From the bus. It can be simply covered with paint or upholstered with a cloth;
Glass table. Perfect for a high-tech room. Particular attention should be paid to the legs;
From logs, logs or large branches. They are fastened together, and a glass tabletop is attached on top;
From glass bottles that act as table legs.

coffee table ideas — There are a huge number of different models of coffee tables, and hundreds of sites are not enough to present at least some.

The choice of this or that style depends on personal preferences and the already formed interior of the room. It is also worth relying on your skills and resources that will be involved.

What material can be made

The first step in making a do-it-yourself coffee table is the choice of material. The most popular ones are:

Beam or wooden cut;
Panel wood;
Glass;
Metal;
Vine or polirotang.

Also, for the base of the table, you can use any materials at hand. For example, an old suitcase, barrels, pallets, logs and more.

a coffee table from a suitcase — Thanks to this option, you will not only save a decent amount, but also realize your creativity.

Particular attention should be paid to the legs of the table, as they are the support of the entire structure.Therefore, they must be strong and reliable so that they can withstand not only the weight of the countertop, but also the objects that will be located on it.

coffee table from the window — Such a pretty table will decorate any living room, stylishly and without pretensions.

What tools will be needed

The second stage of preparation is the choice of tools. Their set depends on the materials that will be used, but there is some standard set: jigsaw, drill, screwdriver, saw, hacksaw, clamp, several types of screwdrivers, hammer, level, ruler. In the process, you may need other devices, you need to be prepared for this. For example, when choosing a glass countertop, you will also need a glass cutter. You also need to prepare everything you need for finishing (fabric, paint, glue, or other).

tools for work — If you have problems with tools, there are many shops where you can buy everything you need.

Methods for making coffee tables

When making a table of the correct shape (rectangle, square, circle), the level of complexity is minimal, but if you plan to make a figured or typesetting table, then you need to take into account that this will require more time and effort. Consider in detail how to assemble various models.

coffee table ideas photo — An excellent option for a novice carpenter, no drawings or diagrams are needed and, most importantly, minimum costs.

Wooden coffee table

This material is versatile, it can be used to make almost any table. In addition, wood is an environmentally friendly product, which is an undoubted advantage.

To make a table you will need:

Boards 25x75 mm (3 pcs.);
Boards 25x50 mm (8 pcs.);
Board 20x100 mm (1 pc.);
Sandpaper: 120 and 220 (grit);
Mounts for legs (4 pcs.)
Special paint for wood;
Glue;
Primer;
Putty mixture;
4 tapered legs, 30-40 cm long (more or less, the height of the table will depend on them);
Finishing nails, length 37.5 mm (16 pcs.);
Screws 35 mm long (8 pcs.);
30mm flat head self-tapping screws (32 pcs).

Note! If the choice fell on soft wood, then you need to handle it as carefully as possible, since it can be dents from too much stress. If the choice is on such a material, then the following condition must be observed: put something under the tools so that there are no traces left on the board.

The number can be reduced or increased depending on the size and shape of the future table. You also need to prepare tools: a hacksaw, a grinder, an electric drill with drills, a hammer, a set for creating countersunk holes at a certain angle, several short and long clamps, a tape measure and a level. After that, you can start working.

materials — The table looks a little massive, but this is a matter of taste, in principle, and can be corrected.

First step. Cut the ends of the 25 * 75 planks so that an angle of 45 degrees is formed. And cut the boards 25 * 50 so that they are equal in length to the first boards. Cut fragments from 25 * 50 boards are laid out in the middle, and on the sides of the board 25 * 75, the ends of the inner slats must be aligned.
Second phase. Measure the distance between the outer boards and cut out two fragments of the same length from the 25 * 100 boards (this is how the lower supports are made). Screw the screws into them so that they are in all the longitudinal rails. Drill countersunk holes so that there are two holes in one support.
Basic rules: measure seven times, and then you know; make holes for the fasteners to prevent the wood from splitting.
Important! Before starting work, practice on unnecessary pieces of boards so as not to spoil the future table.
Stage three. Lay out on the sides fragments of boards 25 * 75, their ends should be at the same level and secured with clamps. They need to be attached to the base by inserting screws into the countersunk holes.Having determined the width of the base, find out the length of the fragments 25 * 75 for the ends that will be glued.
Stage four. Sand the surface using sandpaper, fill all holes and crevices with a putty mixture, and re-sand it. Paint the countertop and wait for it to dry. Attach the legs to the base in any way convenient for you (they can be attached at a right angle or at an angle).

wooden coffee table photo

How to make a table from chipboard

Making such a table is considered the easiest. A tabletop of the required size and shape is cut from a piece of chipboard using a jigsaw. Four legs of the required length with a special bevel at the end are cut out of the timber using a saw for wood. Cut out the side trims to make the table more secure. Connect all parts with screws. Ready.

chipboard coffee table — Even if you have never made furniture before, you will definitely cope with such a project.

Making a folding coffee table

It is best to choose chipboard as a material because of its lightness and ease of processing. You will need the following tools: jigsaw, level, brushes, tape measure, hammer, screwdriver and sandpaper.

Prepare a chipboard with a size of 20 * 45 mm (or larger) and cut as indicated on the drawing. Also cut out the bars.
Sand the resulting parts so that there are no roughness, and cover with a special protective paint for wood.
Using a screwdriver, attach the legs to the support at right angles. Bolt the parts together, tighten lightly.

folding coffee table — You will receive a table that can be folded up and removed as needed.

How to make a round small table

For manufacturing you will need: timber, glue, metal corners (3 pieces), screws, wood varnish, jigsaw, tape measure, drill, brushes, sandpaper, screwdriver.

First step. Cut a small circle out of plywood, sand it with sandpaper. The prepared circle must be coated with wood varnish. Mark the places where the table legs will be attached.
Second phase. Saw the timber into three or four parts and process it first with sandpaper, and then with varnish on wood.
Note! For greater structural strength, you can attach plywood strips with a cross between the legs and the base.
Stage three. Attach the legs to the tabletop using screws.

round coffee table — Done, you can start decorating.

With a glass top at home

Glass is a very popular material for coffee tables, but it is used in conjunction with other materials such as wood.

You can make a glass coffee table with your own hands like the one in the picture or any other shape and with the number of shelves you want.

To do this, you will need: hammer, screwdriver, level, tape measure, screws, glass cutter, chipboard, jigsaw, sandpaper.

First step. Using a jigsaw, cut out the boards and fasten them together so that you get a wooden box.
Second phase. Cut out the supports for the future table from thick plywood.
Stage three. Using a glass cutter, shape the glass to the desired shape (it should be the same shape as the wooden base). Assemble the parts.

Ready. Corners can be attached to the wooden box and glass so that the glass lid can be lifted.

glass and wood coffee table — Start by choosing glass, it's a table after all, so none will work. Better to take a triplex with a thickness of 10 - 12 mm.

Interesting ways to make a coffee table from scrap materials

If you want something new, extraordinary and fresh, then you should pay attention to unconventional ways of making a coffee table from improvised means. It can be anything: wooden pallets, crates, tires, glass bottles, and so on.

coffee table in the living room — If you can argue about functionality, then you definitely can't take away their originality.

From wooden pallets or boxes

This is a very simple and quick way to make a coffee table.To do this, you need a couple of pallets, a screwdriver, sandpaper and that's it.

Cut the pallets into pieces and sandpaper, fasten so that you get a table. Then cut the legs out of the bar or attach the wheels. Paint over with paint or other finishing material.

pallet coffee table — With the manufacture of such a coffee table, you will definitely not have any problems.

Out of the tire

For manufacturing you will need: a whole wheel without damage, chipboard, decorative thick yarn, glue, screws and a screwdriver.

First step. Prepare the tire. To do this, it must be washed and dried.
Second phase. Cut out two identical round fragments from the chipboard with a diameter slightly smaller than the tire itself.
Stage three. Using a screwdriver, attach one piece of chipboard to the bottom and top of the tire.
Stage four. Use glue to glue the yarn around the tire so that there are no gaps.

The coffee table is ready, if you wish, you can cut the legs from the timber for the structure.

tire coffee table — If we are talking about improvised materials, one cannot but recall the good old tires.

From glass bottles

The most incredible and amazing way is to use regular glass bottles to create a coffee table. To do this, you will need: plywood, jigsaw, level, sandpaper, drill.

Cut a free-form piece out of plywood (a circle, a shape with wavy edges, and so on). Drill holes in the fragment for the necks of the bottles (it is better to take them of the same size, for example, from under the wine). Sand the edges of the board, and then cover it with varnish or paint.

bottle coffee table — Slide the necks into the holes and secure with glue. Ready.

Creative ways to decorate coffee tables

The work does not end with the manufacture of the table, the last stage is the decoration. There are many different ways to give your coffee table an irresistible look. Let's consider the most popular ones.

coffee table decor — The decor of the coffee table can be done by yourself using scrap materials.

Decoupage

This term refers to the decoration of pieces of furniture using a cut-out pattern, which is covered with protective enamel. To decorate a coffee table in this way, you can use:

Newspapers, notebooks;
Wallpaper with an interesting pattern;
Napkin patterns;
Photo;
Magazine clippings;
Textile.

After choosing a pattern, you need to prepare the table surface by covering it with PVA glue. The selected elements of the pattern are laid out on the glue, and, using a roller with a rubber nozzle, the surface of the pattern is smoothed. You need to wait until the glue dries, and then varnish it. After the varnish has dried, the decoupage decoration is over.

decoupage coffee table — Such an element can be placed in a living room decorated in a light Provence or shabby chic style.

Craquelure

This term refers to the aging of a piece of furniture by creating small cracks. To do this, you will need: PVA glue, solvent, water emulsion, paint, acrylic varnish.

First of all, you need to clean and degrease the surface with a solvent. After drying, you need to paint the table with dark paint (in the process it will brighten). Using a sponge, apply PVA to a small area of the table, and apply a light paint on top with a sponge. Repeat for all areas of the countertop. When the paint is dry, you need to apply a layer of acrylic varnish.

craquelure — Craquelure technique is an artificial aging of the surface.

Mosaic

It is a little difficult to decorate the table with mosaics, since it is necessary to make the correct calculation of the number and area of the countertop. For decoration, you need a mosaic and glue. You can buy the first one in the store (pay attention to the compatibility of shades).

Mosaic decoration consists in gluing the pieces to the countertop with glue. It is recommended to purchase a soft mosaic, as it can be easily trimmed if necessary.

decor mosaic — The mosaic table will look great in the garden.It is often complemented by a set of chairs decorated in the same technique.

The question of how to make a neat coffee table with your own hands at home scares many. Do not be afraid to make pieces of furniture yourself, as there are fairly simple options that even a beginner can handle. When assembling with your own hands at home, special attention should be paid to the selected material, measurement accuracy and decoration.