Dreamy coffee table from leftover materials
When we threw out the old coffee table before the new one had arrived, we had to get creative. The result turned out better than planned — and you can build it yourself in about 7 hours.
We acted a little too quickly and threw out the old coffee table before the new one had arrived — and when the new one didn't live up to expectations, we had to get creative 🪚
And lucky for that. Our new coffee table is far better than what we'd originally planned, because it's built exactly to our measurements and our needs. And you can do the same with very little! We spent about 7 hours on the table. Totally manageable.
You'll need MDF in a size that fits the table you want to build, plus a smaller piece if you want a shelf like ours. You'll also need poster tubes. The thicker, the better — they're more stable. You'll need a hand saw (a good old-fashioned one), a jigsaw, an orbital sander, or sandpaper if you don't mind some elbow grease. A planer helps with the round edges, but isn't necessary. You'll also need a tape measure and something to draw with. And wood glue and paint! We forgot those in the photo.
First, draw out your top plate and your shelf. Cut both pieces with the jigsaw. Then cut the poster tubes to the lengths you want. Our legs are 45 cm. Note that the two legs at the shelf are 1.5 cm shorter — which is the thickness of the MDF.
After that it's just about sanding the edges as soft and round as possible. I switched between the orbital sander and taking a little extra off with the planer. Sandpaper works fine too.
Before moving on, I tested how the pieces fit best — whether the legs were even, and whether the shelf should sit under the table or stick out. You can flip both plates lengthwise, crosswise and upside down, so there are endless combinations.
I chose to prime and paint the table before assembling it. Less brushwork that way. The paint was leftover too, so I managed to paint the table green before deciding it had to be purple. I also changed my mind about the look and flipped one of the plates. Then I glued legs and plates together with wood glue. Wood glue should set under pressure, so put something heavy on top. Make sure the paint is properly dry, so you don't have to repaint.
And voilà — a homemade coffee table with room for trinkets, that fits over our other coffee table and doesn't feel too heavy.
Got questions about the project, or thinking about trying it yourself? Don't hesitate to write. We're happy to share tips and tricks.
