Try These Rustic Coffee Table DIY Ideas

by Carolyn Kay 10/17/2021

The humble coffee table is the perfect furniture piece to bring some rustic charm to your living room or porch. If you’re looking to enhance your rustic design style while also stretching your DIY skills, there are many coffee table plans that can help you. Here we’ve put together some ideas for making your own rustic coffee tables, DIY-style.

Pallet Coffee Table

Wooden pallets are a goldmine for rustic DIY projects of all kinds. They’re also perfect for making your own reclaimed wood coffee table. There are several different designs you can choose, including stacking multiple pallets, adding a piece of glass on top of the pallets to prevent items from falling through the open slats. Another idea is to take the pallet apart completely and rebuild a new surface with the planks. This will create an even surface that’s completely customizable as long as you have the right power tools. You can paint the wood planks in a white or pale gray for a softer rustic look, or keep the wood bare. Don’t forget to sand carefully to avoid splinters.

Reclaimed Window Coffee Table

Clear-topped coffee tables are great for storage and for creating visual interest with a utilitarian piece of furniture. While you could build your own coffee table with a simple pane of glass on the top, another idea is to use an old window. If you’re lucky enough to have the right size wooden window frame with sturdy glass, you can create a table with it by placing it on top of a shallow wooden box. Keep the box open at the top so you can store or display items under the window. For ease of access, you can attach the window to the box with hinges. This will let you open and close it easily to get to the items within. With this project, you’ll have a unique rustic style coffee table that’s as functional as it is versatile.

Wire Spool Coffee Table

If you prefer round rather than rectangular tables, opt for a wooden table made from an old wire spool. Wooden spools are easy to find in salvage, recycling centers or even second-hand stores. While simply turned on its side a spool might seem to work as a perfectly fine table already, there are some upgrades you’ll want to consider. One would be a careful sanding of every surface and edges to prevent splinters. There may also be stains, writing or other markings on the spool that you can remove with a sander. If you’re concerned about water stains from cups or glasses, give the surface a coat of protective wood stain or paint. Once you have your spool cleaned up and ready, you’ll have an excellent rustic table made almost entirely of recycled materials.

These are just a few ideas for making your own coffee tables to add and enhance rustic style. The versatility of these table plans make them great for beginners and DIY experts alike and will give you the satisfaction of using reclaimed materials and your own hard work and effort.

About the Author
Author

Carolyn Kay

As a Real Estate professional, I specialize in helping my clients buy, rent or sell properties in Westchester County. I am passionate, dedicated and committed to my clients and my first priority is to provide them with first class service and guidance throughout the entire process. It has been said that I go above and beyond for my clients to get the deal closed! I have experience working with clients who have financed their purchases with either a conventional, VA or FHA loan and have a good understanding of how they work; no sale is too big or too small for me to take on. My family and I relocated to England for 2 ½ years, this was a wonderful experience but at the same time, it was overwhelming. I have first hand knowledge of the challenges as well as the positives in discovering a new community. I was born and raised in Scarsdale and once married, my husband and I decided to raise our two daughters here. Both of our daughters successfully graduated from the Scarsdale schools and are both married, living and working in Manhattan. After living in the same house for 30 years my husband and I took the leap, sold our home and bought and renovated a condo townhouse in another town. Once again we are discovering a new community and fully understand the highs and lows of selling a home we loved and buying and making a new home. I feel that my personal real estate experiences have made me more in tune with my client’s needs and therefore better able to help them navigate through the complex process. Please call me so that I can put my knowledge and experience to work for you.