Building your own table can be a fun and cost-effective way to add unique furniture to your home. Whether you’re looking for a simple side table or an elaborate outdoor dining set, DIY table projects offer endless possibilities for customization and creativity. This guide will walk you through 16 table ideas, from basic designs for beginners to more complex projects for experienced woodworkers.
Essential Tools and Materials for Table Construction
The specific tools and materials needed will depend on your project’s complexity, but most DIY table projects require the following:
Hand Tools
Every DIYer should have a set of basic hand tools. These include the following:
- Carpenter’s square
- Chisels
- Hammer
- Level
- Measuring tape
- Sandpaper (various grits)
- Screwdrivers (flathead and Phillips)
- Wood glue
Power Tools
While not always necessary for simple projects, power tools can greatly speed up construction. Useful power tools include the following:
- Circular saw or table saw
- Drill and drill bits
- Jigsaw
- Random orbital sander
- Router (for more advanced projects)
Common Building Materials
The materials you choose will depend on your table design and intended use. Common materials include the following:
- Finishing materials (stain, paint, varnish)
- Lumber (pine, oak, cedar, etc.)
- Plywood
- Screws and nails
- Wood filler
Choosing the Right Wood for Your Table Project
Consider factors like durability, appearance, and cost when choosing your materials. You should also think about whether you plan to use your table inside or outside when selecting a wood type.
- For indoor tables: Hardwoods like oak, maple, or walnut offer strength and a beautiful grain. Softwoods like pine are more budget-friendly but may dent more easily.
- For outdoor tables: Opt for weather-resistant woods such as cedar, redwood, or treated lumber.
Maintaining Your DIY Table
Once you’ve built your table, there are some regular maintenance tasks you can perform so it stays beautiful and functional for years to come.
Indoor Table Maintenance
For indoor tables, follow these tips:
- Clean spills immediately to prevent staining.
- Dust regularly with a soft, dry cloth.
- Reapply finish or wax periodically to maintain protection.
- Use coasters and place mats to protect the surface.
Outdoor Table Care
Outdoor tables require extra care due to their exposure to the elements. Consider the following tips:
- Clean regularly with mild soap and water to remove dirt and debris.
- Cover or store indoors during harsh weather to prevent damage.
- Reapply weather-resistant finishes annually to maintain protection.
- Tighten hardware periodically as temperature changes can cause loosening over time.
Our 16 Best Table Ideas
We’ve selected some great classic options such as picnic, coffee, and dining tables as well as more unique options like a rolling grill table or a poker table for you to choose from.
1. Picnic Table With Benches
Rather than tangling chairs around teetering folding tables in your backyard, devote an afternoon to building this beauty. Follow the step-by-step instructions in our How To Build a Picnic Table and Benches tutorial.
2. Build a Live Edge Table
Rustic wood meets modern metal to create this striking and timeless piece of furniture. Watch as This Old House general contractor Tom Silva and host Kevin O’Connor demonstrate how to make a live edge console table of your own.
3. Rolling Grill Table
Build a rolling cart from naturally rot-resistant cedar. This design includes two shelves so you can easily transport barbecue ingredients to your patio. The cart also has a metal rod for hanging utensils.
Get all the information you need in our How To Build a Rolling Grill Table tutorial, where you’ll also find complete lists of materials.
4. Tiled Tabletop
This tiled tabletop provides the perfect color splash to decorate any patio and liven up any table.
5. Create a Hypertufa Table
For an outdoor table that can withstand the harshest of winters, opt for hypertufa. Hypertufa is a mixture that combines cement with peat moss and perlite for a final product that weighs less than concrete and won’t require sealing.
To learn more about hypertufa, see How To Make a Hypertufa Garden Trough.
6. Upcycle a Cabinet Door Into a Table
Create this one-of-a-kind table for the cost of, well, just legs. Visit How To Build a Coffee Table From a Salvaged Cabinet Door to access our full step-by-step guide. You can do this job in about an hour.
7. Trestle Table
This solid wood table is made from corbels and staircase parts. It may look like an intimidating job, but all you really need is a helper to assist in maneuvering heavy materials.
After building your trestle table, you can personalize it with satin latex paint and a coat of waterborne polyurethane. See How To Make a Trestle Table for Silva’s tutorial.
8. X-Style Picnic Table
This rough-sawn cedar table’s rustic charm and durability only improve with age and wear. You can build the X-shaped table and bench legs in just one weekend. Find the cut list, tools, and materials in our How To Build a Classic Picnic Table step-by-step guide.
9. Salvaged Beams and Pipe
Attach three beams to gas pipe legs for a communal dining table that’s full of industrial style. You can get the beams from a reuse center or vintage lumber dealer.
Find the full step-by-step guide and a list of necessary tools at How To Build a Table From Salvaged Beams.
10. Display Coffee Table
This custom tabletop doubles as a shadowbox. Check out How To Build a Display Coffee Table for a video and a step-by-step guide to creating this unique storage feature.
11. Blend Metal and Wood
Hairpin metal legs give this table a modern look. You can complete this project in a single afternoon.
Visit How To Build a Hairpin-Leg Coffee Table for a step-by-step guide and complete lists of tools and materials.
12. Tiered Side Table
A multilevel side table has enough space to help you declutter your living area. Spend just a couple of hours building and spend the rest of your weekend admiring your handiwork.
Silva takes you through the process in How To Build a Three-Tiered Side Table, where you’ll also find tool and material lists.
13. Use Stair Parts To Build a Table
Spice up (and organize) your front entryway with a small table that anchors to the wall, taking up just enough space to give your wallet and keys a permanent home. Visit How To Build a Table From Stair Parts for the full tutorial.
14. Dress a Simple Table With Trim
Arrange stock molding into a pattern, then cut it and attach it to a table to amp up the table’s style. You can stain or paint the enhanced piece for a finished look. Visit How To Trim Out a Plain Table for the full step-by-step guide.
15. Build a Shaker Table
Watch as Silva takes O’Connor through the process of making this historic-looking piece. You can find the full Build It! segment here.
16. Simple Side Table
This design is so simple that you can build two of these tables in a single weekend. See the step-by-step guide and how-to video at Build It | Simple Side Table.
DIY Table: Our Conclusion
Remember that woodworking skills improve with practice, so don’t be discouraged if your first project isn’t perfect. Each table you build will teach you new techniques and help you refine your craftsmanship. For those interested in expanding their outdoor furniture collection, consider learning how to build an Adirondack chair as your next project.
