Decorating DIY Decor DIY Furniture 15 DIY Coffee Tables Perfect for a Weekend Project Craft a coffee table that reflects both your style and your do-it-yourself ingenuity with these inspiring ideas. By Halee Miller Halee Miller Halee Miller is the editorial assistant for BHG.com. She is a recent graduate from Iowa State University where she majored in journalism and mass communications and earned a minor in design studies. Prior to her current role, she was the Better Homes & Gardens magazine home editorial apprentice. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on July 10, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: LAUREY GLENN While design trends are ever-evolving, the need for a coffee table is not. A coffee table is an integral piece of furniture in a living room—it's often at the center of the space. So when you're ready to switch up your living room style, look to these DIY coffee tables before heading to the furniture store. Budget-friendly and not too complex, these DIY coffee table ideas require just a weekend and a little bit of work—we promise it's worth it. 01 of 15 Repurposed Crate Coffee Table Cameron Sadeghpour For a DIY coffee table idea that's easy on the pocketbook, utilize crates once used for shipping. The budget-friendly material can be glued or nailed in a row to a wood panel. When placed on their side, the crates serve as supplemental storage or a platform to display decor. Attach casters to the bottom to easily move the coffee table when more space is needed. Finish the look with a paint color that best complements your room. 02 of 15 Natural Bench Coffee Table EDMUND BARR Once used outdoors, this wooden bench makes an ideal coffee table that adds natural warmth to any living room. To replicate the look, simply clean up a vintage bench and stain it in the shade of your choice. If starting from scratch, repurpose old barn wood to build a rustic DIY coffee table. 03 of 15 Midcentury Modern Slatted Coffee Table LAUREY GLENN Use a table saw to cut wooden trim pieces. Space them evenly across a larger board and attach with wood glue for an easy midcentury look. Finish the edges with wood trim, then stain your DIY coffee table with your favorite hue and fashion with legs of your choosing. 04 of 15 Pallet Coffee Table Adam Albright A low-profile pallet coffee table is perfect for a patio, porch, or living room. All you need is two wood pallets, wood glue, caster wheels, and a few coats of paint. If you want your table to be taller, simply stack another pallet or two. How to Make a Pallet Potting Bench for Your Gardening Projects 05 of 15 Vintage Chest Coffee Table Hector Manuel Sanchez Save time and elbow grease with a ready-to-use antique furniture piece like this vintage chest. Shine up the wood and hardware to make it as good as new. Store extra blankets, pillows, or board games inside the chest for added storage in your living room. 06 of 15 Tire Coffee Table Adam Albright While a tire might be an unlikely base for a coffee table, it serves the same purpose thanks to a functional wooden surface. Simply spray paint a spare tire and top it with a round surface. Add casters to complete the DIY coffee table. Use one or multiple in a space to suit your needs. 07 of 15 Rustic Wood Coffee Table Adam Albright If you love a natural look, this rustic DIY coffee table requires just a few basic tools and materials, including birch wood, casters, and plywood. Assembly requires just a weekend, and the stylish finish suits nearly any decorating style. Get the plan for this DIY birch log coffee table 08 of 15 Nailhead Trim Coffee Table Steven McDonald 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. 09 of 15 Two Are Better Than One Adam Albright 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. 10 of 15 On a Roll Coffee Table Adam Albright 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. 11 of 15 New Meets Old Coffee Table Kritsada 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. 12 of 15 Stacked Coffee Table Adam Albright 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. 13 of 15 Outdoor Coffee Table Cameron Sadeghpour 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. 14 of 15 Personalized Coffee Table Cameron Sadeghpour 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. 15 of 15 Round Coffee Table Adam Albright 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. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit