DIY coffee tables are incredibly simple to create, cost-effective, and practical. Following these methods, who would foolishly buy a coffee table? Traditional coffee tables were once purchased as large furniture pieces, but with the rise of the living room-less concept, fewer people opt for large coffee tables, replacing them with smaller side tables. However, despite their smaller size, side tables aren’t much cheaper, with even slightly attractive ones starting at hundreds of dollars. Many are unaware that they can easily DIY various side tables at home, which not only have unique and innovative designs but also cater to their aesthetic preferences. This article shares 10 simple tutorials that cost little yet yield results as good as, if not better than, store-bought options!
1. Checkers Side Table: Who doesn’t have childhood memories of checkers? One day, I discovered that checkers can also be DIYed into a small side table. Combining wooden checkers with a wooden plant stand creates a side table full of childlike charm, and its practicality is not to be underestimated. The check holes look like a specially designed openwork pattern; the protruding edges can prevent small items from falling off, so placing cups, glasses, and other items is no longer a worry about accidental knocks.
3. Stool Side Table – This isn’t a DIY project but a purchased piece. However, due to its excellent design concept, it’s highly recommended for those in need of a side table. At first glance, it appears to be a lattice coffee table made of wood with a great texture; upon disassembly, it’s revealed to be composed of stacked stools, cleverly designed to evenly arrange the stool legs, creating a lattice visual effect. It solves the storage problem for extra dining stools and serves as a decent small side table, achieving two goals at once. The only downside is the slightly higher price, but solid wood is never cheap, and with such a practical design, it’s worth the cost!
4. Mechanical Arm Folding Coffee Table – I never thought a side table could be a retractable and foldable one next to the sofa. Honestly, at first sight of this mechanical arm folding coffee table, I knew it would become a new mainstream idea for side tables, so I’m eager to share it. It consists of a mechanical arm computer stand and a tray. Once mounted on the wall, it transforms into a retractable and foldable side table.
The tray’s size is just right for a small side table, holding a water glass, snacks, books, tissues, etc., more than enough. The key feature is the 720-degree rotatable computer stand mechanical arm, which allows the tray to be drawn out and retracted. When pulled out, it’s a practical side table; when not in use, it pushes back, resembling a circular wall decoration, looking unique and attractive. The suspended mechanical arm eliminates the cleaning dead spots under the stool legs and saves space, even fitting in a tiny space next to the sofa or where there’s no space at all – it’s incredibly perfect. Besides being a coffee table, it can also serve as a suspended flower rack, full of atmosphere. The total cost is just the price of the stand, which is less than a few tens of dollars, making it an amazing deal.5. Folding Steamer Rack Side Table – Calling it a steamer rack side table is a joke; more accurately, it’s a drum kit mute cymbal. Thanks to its naturally small holes, there’s no need to drill holes for DIY; just screw the screws directly into the legs through the holes. As for the choice of legs, there are many options online, and various table legs can be used, but I recommend choosing foldable ones. This makes it convenient to carry when going camping. Moreover, the metal tabletop is perfect for camping cookware, as it’s heat-resistant and easy to clean – it’s incredibly great!
6. Sofa Armrest Side Table – Some people are really smart. Due to limited living room space, they came up with the idea of using the sofa armrest as a side table support bracket.
Functionally, it serves the same purpose as a side table placed directly on the floor, but it saves space and is easy to make. Items needed: a tray, bookends, and glue. Measure the width of the sofa armrest to determine the spacing between the two bookends, then adhere them to the tray according to the spacing.
The wastebasket side table idea truly amazed me! Looking back at the similar tea table I bought for five to six hundred, I wish I could slap myself twice. Such vertical-styled wastebaskets can be easily purchased online for just a few tens to twenties; then, buy a tray of the same color for another few tens to twenties. Use nano glue to fold and adhere as shown in the picture below; finally, place the tray on top, and you will have a modern minimalist-style small coffee table that was once a hit, just like the one in my home.
Well, I’ve paid my ‘intelligence tax,’ and I hope you won’t follow the same path I did. Just DIY it yourself! However, a note of caution: using nano glue for the connection is not very sturdy, especially over time when moving, it may peel off. It’s better to use structural glue for a more secure bond.I had an old skateboard that my child no longer played with, which had been for a long time without any use. When I came across the skateboard side table idea, I immediately had a plan. Remove the wheels from the abandoned skateboard and replace them with folding table legs to transform it into a small side table. The skateboard-made side table is even more practical because the skateboard panel is long, allowing for more items to be placed on it, but it’s narrow, occupying less space.
Plus, the folding legs underneath increase its portability. When in use, it’s a small side table; when not in use, the legs can be folded up, and it becomes flat and easy to store anywhere without any storage burden. Of course, if you don’t have a spare skateboard, you can easily buy a skateboard panel online, which is quite affordable.I’ve seen many ordinary wooden side tables, but when I saw this one with a Monstera deliciosa tabletop, I couldn’t help but fall in love with it. Compared to flat tabletops or trays, it is indeed more expensive, but its beauty justifies the slightly higher cost. Moreover, making it yourself keeps the overall cost under a hundred.
The manufacturing method of this one is quite similar to that of the previous skateboard side table. All you need to do is to install the folding stool legs on the panel with screws. After replacing the tabletop with a monstera leaf-shaped one, not only does it add a sense of design and look more beautiful, but also the tabletop is relatively larger. Usually, it can not only be used as a small side table, but also fully undertake the tasks of a daily tea table at home, such as placing tea sets and other items.
10. Wooden Frame Side Table The wooden frame side table is suitable for those with strong hands-on ability or those who happen to have some waste wooden boards at home. It can be made in minutes by splicing three boards. If you are too lazy to do it yourself, there are also finished products available for purchase. Compared with the other side tables, its ingenuity lies in its deformability. Standing upright next to the sofa, it is a small side table with a relatively small floor area; lying down in front of the sofa, it becomes a formal-looking tea table. In addition, it can also be used as a desk. Its relatively high height and thick wooden material can bear the weight when used as a temporary desk, and you don’t need to bend over. Moreover, with the extended tabletop, there is enough space for your legs when working, and the comfort level is also acceptable. Seeing this, I feel that I, who often have to work overtime, seem to have more motivation to work in the living room. Well, that’s all for this issue. Which one do you like best? —Newly Popular Content from Xinzhu— There is an embarrassment called buying a horizontal living room: it’s really beautiful, but living in it is a different story. Good things bought with consumption downgrading | 10 money-saving but happiness-undisturbed treasures. The most embarrassing existence in the second-hand housing market: one elevator for two households, too expensive for the poor and not attractive to the rich! Click the card and follow Xinzhu for daily updated “living” guides.
