Get the plan for this DIY birch log coffee table.
Nailhead Trim Coffee Table
It’s easy to upgrade a thrift store or flea market find. Paint a secondhand coffee table a fresh shade before lining the edges with nailhead trim. Rather than pounding in the individual nailheads, use nailhead trim purchased on a roll. Simply hold the trim along the edge of the table and tap finishing nails into the predrilled holes.
Two Are Better Than One
Matching side tables to spare? Give them a facelift with a matte black surface and sparkling gold legs. Gold works like a warm neutral color, enhancing nearly any decor or palette, while a gold leaf kit gives the high-end look of real metal for less. Use the shimmering application to emphasize the legs of your spare side tables, then pair them in front of your sofa for a party-ready coffee table that can be rearranged to fit the needs of guests.
On a Roll Coffee Table
A storage-savvy coffee table is born of inexpensive retail pieces. Cut the legs of a small side table to about six inches, then screw the bottoms of the legs into the top of a 3- or 4-inch-thick piece of hardwood. Paint the piece, then attach colorful casters for mobility.
New Meets Old Coffee Table
To fashion storage benches from salvaged wood crates, add padded lift-off lids and casters. These versatile benches can be grouped as a coffee table or rolled wherever they’re needed for extra seating.
Stacked Coffee Table
This storage-packed coffee table is fashioned from four drawer units (two on each side) and three wood tops. Stack the pieces, subtly offsetting the tops, and secure them together. Heavy-duty casters allow the table to be moved easily.
Outdoor Coffee Table
A piece of maple plywood makes the perfect tabletop for a thrifted metal base. Cut, stain, and stencil the plywood with three large flowers. Several coats of spar varnish protect the outdoor table from the elements.
Personalized Coffee Table
Enlist kitchen cabinets to help hide family room clutter. To craft this coffee table, place two cast-off kitchen cabinets (the size that fits above a fridge) side by side, screw them together, then paint them white. Cut a top from MDF, paint, and apply several coats of polyurethane. To bring the table to the correct height, construct a 4-inch-high base from MDF. Give the base a warm, rich look by facing it with cherry veneer. Finish by adding charming new knobs to each door.
Round Coffee Table
Two circular pieces of MDF sandwich rectangular boards to create this coffee table with cubbies at every turn. Casters mean you can roll it out of the way or into another room. It can also serve as an ottoman—pad the top and cover it with fabric before securing the top to the base.
