How to Make a Coffee Table on the Cheap

Getting furniture to outfit your first apartment can get expensive, whether it be a couch, a dining set or even a coffee table and a recliner. However, if you're handy with a screwdriver or wood glue, and willing to scout around some second-hand stores or local auctions, you could make a coffee table in the space of an afternoon. By doing this, you can give old items new life by simply adding a coat of paint or a crafty decorative element to them. Best of all, none of these projects will cost you a lot of money.

Instructions

The Piano Bench

1

Scout out second-hand stores or your attic for an old wooden piano bench. It's OK if the finish doesn't look so great; what's most important is that the bench itself is still sturdy. You want a bench that's approximately the same height as your chairs or couch.

2

Sand the rough spots off the bench. You may need to use an electric sander to cover large areas. However, for smaller areas, a hand sander will do.

3

Paint the bench to match your household decor. Several decorating styles including shabby chic and French country embrace painted furniture. If you've chosen to decorate your home in one of these styles, keep in mind that it's OK to have an imperfect paint job on the bench-turned-coffee table.

4

Allow the bench to dry.

5

Add decorative elements such as stenciling to the table once it's completed. Again, gravitate toward designs that complement the decorative style you've featured in that room.

Rescuing an Old Door

6

Rescue an old door from a fate involving the dumpster by using it as the top of a homemade coffee table.

7

Locate some sturdy wooden crates. The kind the milkman used to carry the daily milk deliveries in work very well for this. Get four of them.

8

Sand the door and the crates until they're smooth. You want to avoid the possibility of splinters as you decoupage these items.

9

Select the pictures and graphics you'll use for the decoupage portion of this project.

10

Cut out the graphics for the decoupage.

11

Mix the decoupage glue in a small bowl. Use a 2-to-1 ratio of decoupage glue to water.

12

Glue the images onto the door and the crates with the sponge brushes. Allow to dry according to the instructions on the bottle.

13

Paint on a layer of the decoupage over the pictures, which will function as a seal, and allow to dry.

14

Place the four crates in a square and set the door on top. Make sure the boxes sit far enough apart to provide solid support for the door. This coffee table project is quick and the raw materials can be taken apart quickly, and moved around easily, allowing for easy transport.