12 Creative Coffee Table Ideas and DIY
The coffee table is the centerpiece of any living room.
It’s the furniture that could either make or break the interior design of the space.
That’s why choosing the right one to buy or build is crucial in any living room makeover.
The style and the way you decorate it are a window to your tastes
and the type of person you are.
To offer you more inspiration,
Simphome.com rounded up some decorating tips and truly creative coffee table designs.
Number 12. DIY Rustic Farmhouse Coffee Table
You can buy the DIY kit for this rustic looking rural farmhouse coffee table
that would go well in any home or apartment living room.
The top is butcher block thick and made of four 48”x20”x2” slabs.
You place them on top of a rectangular box frame made with 2”x2” wood about a foot high.
Another 2”x2” in the middle helps to reinforce the top even further.
Assembly is pretty straightforward, using 3” wood screws and an impact driver.
You can give the tabletop a rich natural hue
for a more rustic look while staining the frame darker.
11. How to Transform a Suitcase Into a Coffee Table
A vintage suitcase by itself can be an attention-grabbing conversation piece.
What more if you make it into a coffee table?
Better yet, it will provide additional storage space!
Dedicated artisans built these suitcases to last.
If you don’t have one, there are many still around but must look for them.
For this build, use four 3-rod hairpin legs you can get online.
Next, measure the inside bottom of the suitcase and cut 3/4” plywood in the same size.
Lay the board inside and remove any parts in the way.
Screw the four legs far enough inwards from the bottom corners,
so they’re not protruding beyond them.
10. DIY Wire Spool and Metal Tub Coffee Table Idea
For an outdoor coffee table, try building one with a wire spool top and metal tub base.
There should be a company selling wire or cable spool in your area if you don’t have one.
It’s made of thick slabs of wood and is very heavy.
Give the wood a thorough cleaning and good sanding.
Then stain it with a walnut color.
Sand it again after it dries to give it a distressed and rustic look.
The weight should be enough to keep it steady
without fastening it to a sizeable inverted tub.
If you’re having doubts, you can drive screws with washers
from inside the tub to secure the top.
9. How to Turn Old Chest to a Vintage Coffee Table
A great alternative to the vintage suitcase idea is an old chest.
This one should last even longer.
Find four short vintage wooden legs for your chest
and paint or stain them with a matching color.
Open the chest and drill four holes near the corners where the center of the legs should be.
Apply a strong adhesive like Gorilla Glue before screwing the legs into position.
Place it somewhere nobody will touch it.
Finally, allow for at least a day before moving it to its spot in the living room.
8. Build A Coffee Table From Crates
Using crates to build a coffee table is another cheap but stylish-looking idea you could try.
Look for four identical crates that are in excellent condition.
The idea is to set them on their sides on a 3/4” square plywood base.
On each edge of the plywood,
the opening of the one on the left should be facing outwards.
It’s more convenient to install four casters near
the plywood corners before you attach the crates.
Sand the table thoroughly and use a natural but rich-colored finish.
To cover the hole in the center, add a glass top.
7. A Hidden Tire Coffee Table Idea
If you want to go to town with a unique coffee table,
a trendy one made from a discarded car wheel will do the trick.
Cut two circles from 1/2” plywood that would fit snuggly on both sides of the wheel.
Next, design a pattern for 11” long table legs,
and use a jigsaw to cut four duplicates from 4”x2” pine scraps.
Space the legs equally apart near the edge of the bottom circle.
Use liquid nails and screw them in place.
Add two 1”x2” supports on either side of each.
You can screw two small L-brackets on each side for more support.
Attach both circles to the wheel with the glue. Now for the fun part.
Fill this tire top with rope using glue in a circular pattern.
Add an edge border by using a different color rope.
6. Upcycling a Pallet Into a Coffe Table
Here’s another whimsical coffee table idea, this time by upcycling euro pallets.
You’ll need three. One is for the base, and another is for the top.
Use the third pallet for scrap pieces and fill the missing slats on the base pallet’s bottom and top.
Next, remove any bottom slats on the top pallet but fill the gaps on top.
Join together the top and bottom,
making sure there are four shelve openings on two opposite sides.
Add a slat at the bottom flush to each shelf face.
Finally, install large casters at both ends of these two bottom slats.
5. DIY Rustic X Coffee Table Project
The joinery used for this table is pocket hole screws and glue.
You first build the two side frames with 2”x4” boards. Raise the bottom 2” from the floor.
Connect both sides with four 2”x2” boards.
Cut the X-bracing pieces from 2”x2”s and attach them to the sides flush to the frame.
Insert the base shelf made from joined 1’x1/2” wood.
Next, install the 6”x2” tabletop boards with a 2” overhang on all sides.
Finally, use gel stain with weathered gray color and apply fresh coats of varnish.
4. A Steampunk Coffee Table Project Idea
The predominantly metallic steampunk design of this build is as extreme as it gets.
The idea revolves around a Shelby engine block placed
in the center of a rectangular base made with three thick wooden slabs.
Various pipes, elbow, and T-joins connect the engine block to the wood.
Four pipe pillars held by flanges screwed to the base carry the clear glass top.
A couple of large pistons adorn the sides from horizontal pipes attached to the posts.
Not many DIY buffs may be up for this type of project.
Nevertheless, it won’t fail to get the attention of anyone who enters a living room.
3. DIY Outdoor Coffee Table Project
What sets this outdoor coffee table apart is four smaller side tables
you can pull out from under it whenever you need them.
The larger table has legs with frames running across from the middle.
It frees up the corners to insert the smaller tables.
The tabletop has a square frame made with wide slats.
Two slats that intersect in the middle divides the top into four sections.
Each section has three slats separated by a slim gap
and positioned in a way that makes it perpendicular to those beside it.
The smaller tables, too, have tops matching the sections.
2. A DIY Slim Sofa Table Idea
Use 2”x2” pine, 3” wood screws, and an impact driver to build this slim sofa table.
First, cut eight 10” pieces for the base and top frames.
Just screw them to the ends of another to form two squares.
Cut two pillars and attach them to adjacent corners of both squares.
Ensure that the top one will be 1” higher than your sofa’s armrest.
Add three 45-degree diagonal bracing between
the two posts one for the top, middle, and bottom.
Next, attach a 1” top board with 1” overhang around the top.
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Lastly, Number 1, How to Style Your Coffee Table for Better Interior Appeal
Your mission of improving your living room doesn’t end
with finding or building the perfect coffee table.
It needs styling before it can add character and enhance the room’s overall appeal.
These pointers will help you decorate your coffee table better and keep it tidy.
Add decorative elements that will bring more life to that space.
Plants, unique art, coffee books, and candles are a safe bet,
so always include them in your design.
You also want to reduce clutter on the tabletop,
and a pleasant-looking tray would help.
Vary the height of the décor to make the arrangement more interesting.
You can also give it a personal touch by featuring family-related items,
such as photos or travel souvenirs.
Conclusion:
Have you noticed that coffee tables tend
to have more radical designs among different furniture in a home?
The sheer variety can be baffling sometimes.
The ones presented here are just a sampling, but they’re all quite promising options.
It all comes down to personal tastes and styles,
and I hope we (I) helped you discover yours.
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and find more home-improvement ideas and pointers.
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