How and from what to make a cool table with your own hands
Many people dream of decorating the interior of their apartment with exclusive, interesting designer pieces of furniture. The stores offer a huge number of similar interior items, but the prices for them are often simply fabulous. With a little effort, you can do some things yourself. For example, various scrap materials make excellent coffee tables, which will become a real decoration of any interior and a source of pride for home owners.
Marine style table
In order to make your own coffee table in a marine style, you will need an old window frame, which must first be cleaned of dust and dirt. Then, if necessary, insert new glass into the frame, clean the surface of the structure from paint and sand it with sandpaper. The surface of the frame should be coated with acrylic paint or white enamel.
To make the legs you will need a cutting, which must be cut into 4 equal parts. To remove all roughness and unevenness, the surfaces of the legs should be treated with sandpaper. As a base, you can use a furniture board or board, the width of which does not exceed the width of the window frame. The legs are attached to the base using long self-tapping screws. Also, the base with legs are attached to the frame with self-tapping screws.
Since the frame is an empty transparent box that can be filled with marine-themed attributes: pebbles, shells and souvenirs brought from vacation. To give the table a complete look, its legs can be braided with a thin rope.
Table from a suitcase
An original table can also be made from an old suitcase. For such a piece of furniture, you will need to purchase furniture legs. They can be either metal or wood. If you use special wheels, you can get an original model of a mobile coffee table. You will also need a screwdriver, screws and a piece of plywood for the job.
First of all, you need to cut a rectangle out of plywood, the dimensions of which must correspond to the width and length of the bottom of the suitcase. Plywood is placed on the bottom of the suitcase and markings are made for the legs. Using a screwdriver and screws, the legs are attached to the base of the suitcase. Then felt is glued to the base, inside the suitcase. The table is ready.
There are many different options for turning an old suitcase into a coffee table. By choosing the right legs, the table can be made in a classic or retro style.
Table made of logs
Making a table from logs is also not difficult at all. To do this, you will need small logs of approximately the same thickness and height (32 pieces). You should also prepare a base for the table, 4 wheels for furniture or legs, putty, glue suitable for wood, and a screwdriver.
First you need to make a base for the table, along the perimeter of which there will be logs. The middle of the warp is sewn up with cardboard. Legs or wheels are attached to the underside of the base. In order for the table to appear to be made entirely of logs, small round dies must be glued to the surface of the cardboard. All voids formed between the dies are covered and thoroughly rubbed to create a smooth surface of the table. You can decorate such a table with branches.
Instead of a large number of small logs, to make a coffee table in a similar way, you can use one thick cut of a log.
Pallet table
Even the most ordinary pallets that can be found on each one will make an excellent coffee table. To work you need to prepare:
Wooden pallets;
Hammer;
Drill;
Nail puller;
Clamps;
Glue;
Screws;
Screwdriver;
Legs or wheels;
Primer;
Soap.
First of all, the surface of the pallets must be cleaned of dirt. To do this, you can use a drill with a wood cutting attachment. You should also use a nail puller to get rid of old nails and disassemble the pallets into pieces. All damaged and broken pieces of boards must be glued together. Gently clamp the boards with clamps and let them dry thoroughly. Then glue the prepared parts of the tabletop on the back side and again with clamps. After complete drying, the surface of the table must be coated with a layer of primer and then varnish. Wheels or legs must be attached to the back of the resulting table. To make it easier to attach the screws to the table, their surfaces can be rubbed with regular soap.
After all the work done, you will get a functional, stylish and compact table.
DIY cool table ideas photo
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It seems like people lived without coffee tables and can continue to live. But if you look at the thing from a different angle, it turns out that the interior becomes more perfect and complete, and the thing turns out to be very comfortable. I talked on the phone and put my mobile phone on the table. I read a book - it’s convenient to leave it on the table so that I can return to reading soon. Do I need to go and buy the product?
The more complex the design, the more difficulties await in the work
To create a table, they take into account their physical and financial capabilities, the availability of the necessary materials and tools, skills in handling them and free time.
How to prepare your own drawings with dimensions for a coffee table
Even those people who did not study drawing at school are faced with the need to work from drawings. To make some models, a drawing may not be required, but for a do-it-yourself wooden coffee table you cannot do without it.
Related article:
: photos of the best ideas. What can be made from pallets for an apartment, office and cottage; rules for selecting and processing pallets; Master classes on making a table, sofa, bench, armchair and shelving - read our publication.
Making your own wooden coffee table
I really want a wooden coffee table like the one in the photo! If the desire to have a thing made of wood is strong, then there is no point in stopping yourself: arm yourself with tools, study articles on wood processing and teak, and “full speed ahead”!
Country style table made from a wooden barrel
The DIY coffee table made of wood and barrels looks amazing in the photo. Country style is not as simple as it seems, with such a table it is something sophisticated.
Making your own coffee table from chipboard
The material is relatively inexpensive, and the finished product looks modern and stylish.
Let's try to make a table step by step:
- Creating a drawing.
- Preparation of material and tools.
- Working with a jigsaw - all the parts are transferred to a sheet of chipboard and cut out.
- The legs are attached to the back of the tabletop lying on the floor using furniture corners.
- All edges of the chipboard are glued with a matching furniture edge.
The more complex the drawing, the more attention is needed in the work.
How to make a coffee table from laminated chipboard
A plywood coffee table can be made in a short time. Advice for inexperienced craftsmen: cutting of all parts can be ordered at a building materials store. Based on the sheet thickness of 18 mm, we order 800×800 mm - tabletop, 460×100 mm - four slats, 700×500 mm - shelf, 700×500 mm - two bottoms, four plastic corners, eight confirmations and 3.5× self-tapping screws 16 mm (16 pieces should be enough). All elements must be covered with melamine edge.
Let's move on to the assembly:
- According to the drawing, we cut out the required shape of the shelf with a jigsaw. Be sure to use a wood carving saw with fine pitches.
- We screw the vertical strips to the tabletop using corners and self-tapping screws.
- In the middle of the slats you need to install a shelf on the confirmations. To screw them in, we pre-drill the holes with a 4.5 mm drill. The confirmations also need to be screwed to the bottom.
- All conspicuous confirmations are covered with stubs.
Advice! If desired, such a table can be mounted on wheeled supports.
Making a glass table with your own hands
For lovers of everything airy and spacious, a glass model is suitable. If you don’t have the skills to handle glass, it’s better to choose a table without unnecessary details.
Assembly:
- Drawing a drawing and making a cardboard pattern based on it.
- Cutting glass according to pattern.
- Sanding the edge with sandpaper or a drill at low speed.
The tabletop assembly diagram is shown in the photo below.
You can add a glass tabletop to a table made from car disks, barrels, wood, saw cuts, and pallets.
Making your own coffee table from scrap materials
A favorite topic for many creative people is how to use available materials for practical use. Products made from tires are especially popular - they are convenient to install in dachas and verandas, and from suitcases that have served their time as travelers.
Tire table
There are different ideas on how to use tires as a table. The good news is that such products are durable, original and take minimal time to manufacture.
Here are a few instructions for creating a garden furniture set with a small table at the head.
| Illustration | Description of action |
|---|---|
 | Prepare 11 tires of the same diameter. We take two tires on the chair and connect them using a screwdriver and self-tapping screws. For the table we take three tires. |
 | We cut out 4 circles from plywood (pressed shavings) slightly larger than the inner diameter of the tire, and one large circle for the table top. |
 | The result is a cute garden set. |
Suitcase table
Do you happen to have an old suitcase? How wonderful!
So, what is needed for such a rapid transformation? Four stable legs of any type - the main thing is that they are combined with the final decor option and easily support the product. Legs can be bought on Avito or torn off from old unnecessary furniture and made on a lathe. You can use white enamel for painting, as it is easy to decorate. But, in general, the color can be any, even gilding. If the exterior of the suitcase is perfectly preserved, then you don’t have to paint it. If desired, you also need PVA glue, decoupage napkins, brushes, sandpaper, gold or silver acrylic.
First, paint the base and let it dry. All irregularities are sanded and a second layer of enamel is applied. Now we paint the legs and, as soon as they are dry, glue them to the base with furniture glue. That's all the work! We turn the table over and admire the result of our labor.
How to make your own coffee table with additional elements
If the housewife loves rearranging, or the table needs to be moved, wheel supports are attached to the legs as an additional element. It's very convenient. If the table is small, then it can be served for tea in the kitchen and rolled into the living room. Another additional and functional element is the drawers. It turns out that the table becomes doubly more comfortable.
Table on wheels
To create a coffee table on wheels with your own hands, you need ready-made wheel supports. A small photo gallery of tables on wheels: they don’t have to be small, large metal or plastic wheels look even more interesting!
The wheels are attached to the legs when the supports themselves are already attached to the tabletop.
Table with drawers
There can be from one to three or four drawers, it depends on the table model.
To assemble a simple box, you need 4 small chipboard panels, wood glue, guides, and self-tapping screws.
After securing all the guides, check the smoothness and accuracy of movement. Then we assemble the box and simply insert it into the guides.
Do-it-yourself restoration of a coffee table: photos of interesting ideas
DIY coffee table decor is limited by the imagination of the creator. Any fantasy can be realized with effort. The decor must be selected to match the style of the room, otherwise dissonance will make the item superfluous. But if you don’t want to make a new coffee table with your own hands? Then you need to find out how to restore the old one.
Decoupage is an interesting technique using PVA glue and beautiful napkins. If you want to make decoupage look antique, then use crackle varnish.
The photo below is the answer to the question of how to update a coffee table with your own hands.
If the furniture needs updating due to its condition, then the first step is to turn the table over onto the tabletop and check the fastening of the support legs. If something needs to be corrected, there is no point in delaying it - the furniture will continue to deteriorate faster. You can simply repaint the table, sand it and try painting it.
PVA is applied to the tabletop and scraps are laid. At first the leaves may lie unevenly, but as they dry they will level out. Finally, the product is varnished.
Article
A coffee table is, at first glance, not the most necessary furniture. Therefore, its acquisition is endlessly postponed.
But it is precisely such items that make the interior truly cozy and comfortable. Therefore, we are sharing ideas that will tell you how to make a stylish coffee table with your own hands and not go broke.
1. Democratic and accessible
Table made of boards and boxes.
To make such a table you will need a couple of metal or plastic boxes and two large boards. Don't forget to fasten the structure securely.
2. For the smartest
Elegant mini table.
Books with beautiful covers and small glass for the table top are all the materials for such a coffee table. The books must be glued together, and the glass can be fixed to them using silicone glue, which becomes transparent after drying.
3. Ordered chaos
Original do-it-yourself coffee table.
A coffee table made of flat elements fastened together in a chaotic manner is an idea that is easy to implement. Wooden cuts, parts of boards, and large books are suitable. 
Table made of wooden cuts.
4. Industrial style
An industrial cable reel can become a table.
A reel for industrial cables is a thing that cannot be found on every corner. But if you are lucky enough to become the owner of this item, it can be used to make an excellent coffee table. 
Functional coffee table.
5. Table for car enthusiasts
Reliable tire table.
A coffee table made from a car tire will last for many years. But it is advisable to use the tire without damage. All that remains is to paint it, secure the tabletop and legs.
6. Wooden table is almost free
You can make a coffee table with your own hands from pallets.
Ordinary pallets, which can be purchased for pennies, are an excellent material for making furniture. A little imagination, and the wooden coffee table is ready.
7. Second life for old boxes
Large drawers are the basis for a coffee table.
Another way to become the owner of a coffee table made of natural wood is to use old boxes as material for its manufacture. Four large drawers fastened together form a stylish desk.
8. Extravagant chic
Asymmetrical coffee table.
A coffee table with asymmetrical legs looks especially original, but at the same time luxurious. The tabletop is made of a thick board or a wooden cut.
9. From the dacha to the living room
Barrel table.
A large wooden barrel easily turns into a coffee table. It must be cut into two parts, and then the table top and legs must be attached to one of them.
10. Spacious and functional table out of the box
Functional table out of the box.
A utility box made of plastic or wood can also be used as a coffee table. To make the table mobile, you can attach small wheels to its bottom.
11. Warm table
Furniture made of metal radiator.
An old heating radiator is a reliable basis that will help you make a coffee table with your own hands. You just need to paint it the desired color, attach the wheels and put thick glass on top.
12. From the interior door
An old door can also come in handy.
An interior door that has served its purpose becomes a material for making a coffee table with your own hands. It must be cut into several parts and fastened together.
13. If it’s a pity to quit and it’s hard to carry
Coffee table from a suitcase.
An old suitcase can become an original tabletop for a coffee table. You just need to attach the legs to it.
14. Brutal elegance
Original legs made of pipes.
An affordable option for making legs for a coffee table is ordinary plastic or metal pipes connected to each other with fittings. This furniture will fit perfectly into a loft-style interior.
15. From ordinary wooden beams
Wooden table made of timber.
A wooden beam, folded in a checkerboard pattern, will become a tabletop for a homemade coffee table. The legs can be made from thick metal wire.
Even a novice craftsman can make a table from scrap materials. But before assembling a coffee table with your own hands, it is better to review the drawings and diagrams in advance. This will allow you to decide on the shape of future furniture and cut off too complex options.
DIY drawings and diagrams of coffee tables
It is comfortable, lightweight and versatile. To make the frame rigid, the underframe is assembled from legs and a drawer - a rectangle that connects the legs and supports the tabletop. Otherwise, the legs will move apart and the table will lose its stability.
At the same time, the complexity of assembly does not increase much, but now you can store books, notebooks or other trinkets in the coffee table.
A special feature of this design is the absence of legs - they are replaced by four sidewalls, to which a ready-made folding mechanism is attached from the inside. A wide board, the underframe, is fixed to it on a short pair of supports, and a double tabletop is attached to the high supports, which, when unfolded, rests on the underframe.
Magazine table made of PVC pipes
The simplest and most economical, but very original version of a coffee table is to make it from plastic pipes. The shape and height depend only on your wild imagination. It can be a small round table that serves as a bedside table or a full-fledged coffee table with a glass top.
To create it you will need:
- pipes of two diameters - thicker for the legs and narrower for the base, for example, 16 and 9 mm;
- glue gun or tube of transparent superglue;
- medium grit sandpaper;
- a hacksaw for cutting plastic pipes (can be replaced with a wood saw);
- acrylic paint to hide the printed markings on the pipes.
The process itself is incredibly simple:
- Cylinders are cut to the selected length. 4 legs are made from a thick pipe - their length will be equal to the height of the future table (40-50 cm). 30 short cylinders are cut from a narrow pipe, on average 10-15 cm (depending on the shape of the table, the number can be changed).
- You need to start assembling the base from the center - this way there will definitely not be large gaps between the cylinders. Glue is applied to the entire surface of the contacting pipes. A little trick - to accurately glue the cylinders, liquid superglue is poured from the end of the pipes so that it flows down along the entire length of the joint. With a glue gun, the joints are simply processed from the outside - after painting they will become invisible.
- When the desired shape is achieved, the legs are glued - you need to make sure that the diagonal distance between them is equal. Otherwise, the table will fall over on one side.
- The final stage is painting. The easiest way to do this is with an aerosol method, although you can also use a simple paint brush.
When placing a glass tabletop on your table, you should choose tempered glass with a thickness of 10 mm. To prevent the removable tabletop from sliding on the base, use silicone shock absorbers for furniture.
If a permanent tabletop is planned, it is fixed with transparent silicone glue.
DIY wooden coffee table assembly
For admirers of classic style, there is nothing better than a wooden table. For this you will need to stock up:
- planed timber 40x40 mm - for legs;
- planed board 50x20 mm - for the drawer;
- a finished tabletop made of furniture board 800x400 mm (but MDF or plywood is also suitable);
- use wood putty to fill the holes from the screws;
- use sandpaper or a sanding attachment on a drill to process the wood;
- varnish or paint - for finishing the table.
The tools you will need are a screwdriver (or screwdriver), a wood saw and a drill. After cutting the block into legs, and the boards into the frame, the assembly of the table itself begins:
- The underframe is assembled first. For convenience and ease of assembly, everything is done upside down. The sides are attached to the legs obliquely with self-tapping screws through pre-drilled holes. But you can also use metal corners if aesthetics are not so important.
Wooden tables are made not only from planed wood. If you have minimal skills in working with wood, you can create original furniture even from firewood. For example, by selecting a wooden block of suitable height and a couple of Y-shaped thick branches, working a little with a sanding attachment and covering everything with varnish, you will get an excellent massive coffee table for the garden.
And if after building a house there are several euro pallets left, there is no need to rush to dispose of them. This is an almost finished table!
It is enough to sand and stain the surface, place them one on top of the other and securely connect them together. And to make the table mobile, 4 wheels are screwed onto the bottom, 2 of which have brakes.
Decorating a coffee table with epoxy resin
If there is a sawmill nearby and you can get a sawn board with a lot of defects for next to nothing, that’s just great! It is from these materials that the most beautiful tables decorated with epoxy resin are made.
The process is labor-intensive, but not too complicated:
- The cut board is glued with wood glue into the tabletop. Smooth boards must be placed under the clamps for uniform fixation.
- After the glue has completely dried, the tabletop is sanded, all cracks and holes from knots are cleaned. Before applying epoxy resin, the surface must be cleaned of dust and small chips.
- To make the table glow effectively, use luminescent paint in powder. For 2 liters of ready-made resin solution you need about 100 g of paint. The resin and hardener are mixed 1:1, the dose should be measured accurately and so that the hand does not tremble. If you overdo it with the hardener, the resin will crack, while too little hardener will prolong the hardening period.
This tabletop is suitable for both a coffee table in the living room of a cottage and in the bedroom of a city apartment.
If you have a few meters of wooden blocks left at home, you can even make a table out of them! The video shows in detail and clearly how to make unusual designer furniture from construction remains:
The living room will look empty if it does not have a coffee table made of chipboard or other suitable material. If you wish and have free time, you can make a coffee table with your own hands. The recommendations offered below, as well as drawings of coffee tables, will help with this. If you are planning to make a coffee table with your own hands, then you can easily find suitable drawings here.
Table made of drawers Metal table Transformable table
To make a coffee table with your own hands, you will need:
- hardboard or plywood, if you are going to create a coffee table from plywood with your own hands or a transformable coffee table;
- boards;
- tape measure to help you determine the size;
- hammer;
- grinding machine;
- 3-4 legs. If your plans include a round coffee table with your own hands, then you should take 3 legs;
- hacksaw for woodworking;
- drill and set of drills;
- screws, self-tapping screws, finishing nails;
- putty and high-quality glue;
- paint and primer;
- sandpaper.
You may need additional tools, it all depends on what kind of coffee table you plan to make.
How to make a coffee table?
You can create a tea table with your own hands, following the diagram:
- Cut the ends of the boards at an angle of 45º, cut out elements from wood material or chipboard, the length of which will be equal to the length of the blanks made.
- Place the pieces in the center, carefully aligning the ends.
- Take measurements to determine the distance separating the end bars. Using the obtained parameters, cut out a couple of blanks that will be used as lower supports. Fasten them with self-tapping screws. Screw fasteners into each longitudinal rail to give the table strength and stability.
- Drill a couple of holes at the ends of the support crossbars, which will be useful for combining the structure with other elements. If you don't have enough experience with the tool, practice using scrap wood scraps.
- Place the workpieces on the sides, secure with a quick-release device called a clamp. Craftsmen who create a coffee table from chipboard or from soft wood (solid pine) do this: they place board scraps under the supports of the fasteners. Due to this, they avoid traces remaining on the surface.
- Firmly fix the outer beams to the base, screw the screws into the pre-made holes.
- Take measurements to find out the width of the base made (this is necessary in order to understand how long the workpiece for the end part should be). Experts say: “I assemble the item with millimeter precision, because I cut with a small margin in length, and carefully grind off the extra centimeters.” When making a wooden coffee table, take this advice.
- Wet the end parts with water, apply adhesive, and assemble the individual parts. Tighten it with a belt. This will allow you to fasten the structure together and fix it in a certain position. For a stronger bond, use finishing nails.
- Sand the assembled coffee table with your own hands, removing any rough edges. The gaps formed at the seams must be filled with putty.
- Color the assembled, DIY coffee table using a ready-made project.
- Place mounting plates on the lower crossbars of future coffee tables, which will later be useful for making the lower part. Make holes and screw the legs into them.
Making a transformable coffee table with your own hands is a little more difficult, however, the assembly diagram for the coffee table is approximately identical.
A transforming table, made with your own hands from scrap materials, will complement the room and make it more functional. A transformer for the living room is optimal for the room.
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As you can see, making a wooden coffee table with your own hands is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance.
DIY coffee table on wheels
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If you wish, you can assemble a table from chipboard with your own hands on wheels. A folding coffee table is very convenient to use, as it allows you to move furniture from place to place without any extra effort. Making an original coffee table with your own hands is quite a feasible task. Make a dining option according to the algorithm presented above, and then attach wheels to the legs. You can remove this part from an old cart and equip a dining table or a stylish folding table using boards for magazines or other accessories.
To secure devices at home, use high-quality screws. Attach the wheels to the base of the structure, making sure that they do not peek out from underneath. It is unacceptable that the base makes it difficult to move the homemade table. Adjust the location that the coffee table will occupy: low or high level of supports. It is important that the wheels rotate without difficulty, allowing you to move the table.
DIY glass coffee table
Tables with glass are very presentable and practical. The transparent tabletop goes well with a variety of materials. To make a wood coffee table with a glass top, decide how thick the glass should be and choose the appropriate cutting method.
To make a glass coffee table with your own hands, you will need a furniture panel in which a hole of the desired shape is cut. Next, you need to fix the pre-cut glass in it (for this purpose it is most convenient to use a glazing bead). If you have a glass cutter, it is better to use this particular device, which ensures high-quality work.
There are two main types of glass cutters: roller and diamond types. Devices of the first type are suitable for working on a thinner glass plate, whose thickness is no more than 4 cm. The tool includes from 1 to 6 rollers. There must be a cutting line. Experts say that models with an oil reservoir have the best properties. They are great for both professionals and beginners.
Prepare the glass thoroughly before cutting, that is, wash it and degrease it. If you are dealing with a relief surface, then a diamond glass cutter will not be suitable for working on it. Cut such a plate, turning it over with the smooth side facing you. When cutting with a roller glass cutter, make sure that the line is completely covered with turpentine liquid.
After the glass has been cut, fix it using special glue. If there is no adhesive available, you can use suction cups to make furniture in the Provence style with your own hands, which are attached first to the leg and then to the glass.
If desired, you can decorate the table with your own hands with a variety of decorative elements, which will make it even more presentable and modern. View photos or videos on our website to understand how best to decorate a table on wheels. If you don’t understand any details, ask experts how to make a coffee table with your own hands.
