DIY: SOFA TABLE · HARPER DESIGNS

So I’ve started a new segment for CHCH TV called ‘In Your Space’. It’s a bi-weekly segment on Morning Live and guess what?…. It’s a DIY Segment!!! So this week I decided to build something I’ve never built before: a table. I can’t believe how well this turned out. It was pretty easy to make you just need some patience, time and elbow grease.

MATERIALS:

Lumber

1 – 1 x 16 x 96 (Top and Bottom Shelves)
2 – 2 x 3 x 8 (Cut to 3ft for legs/ Extra used for bottom shelf base)
1 – 1 x 6 x 96 (Cut for the front panels)
1 – 1 x 6 x 72 (Used for side panels)

Extras

1 box of 1- 1/4 inch wood screws
90 Degree Brackets
Stain
Paint
Gloves
Wood Glue
Cloth
Small Paint Roller and Tray
Screw Driver
Table Saw
Chop Saw
Electric Sander
Drill
Door Kobs

I purchased all of my lumber at Home Depot for about $60.00.

This is what your wood should look like when it’s cut. I just needed to finish cutting the top piece.

If you’re not comfortable using a drill then this is the perfect table for you. I’ve never seen anyone do this before but hey… worked for me. I used 90 degree brackets with wood screws to keep everything in place.

Don’t mind the blurry photo. I measured in from the edge of the wood about a 1/2 an inch (so that I would have an edge that would could out over the top) and then I screwed in the front and back of my table. It looked like this.

Similar for the sides: I measured in about 1 inch so that I could have some of the top hang over. This is how they looked before I added my brackets.

And now for the legs. I cut the legs so that they were 3ft (or 36inches) tall. I used 2 brackets at the base of the legs and 2 brackets to attach them to the sides of the table.

It will start to look like this:

Now it’s time for my FAVOURITE part… the electric sander. This is really fun and makes your wood feel super smooth. I used Pine and I loved the finish.

After you’ve sanded the table make sure you wipe off the sawdust. Now time for some stain. I used a gel stain… it’s amazing! Not very messy and it spreads on very nicely.

One thing I wouldn’t do again: I was planning on antiquing the wood by covering all the corners in stain. After 2 coats of paint I tried sanding off the paint to reveal the stain… didn’t work. I tried chiseling off the paint to see the stain… didn’t work. SO, I ended up just adding the stain on top of the paint (what a waste of time). In order to hide the original stain I had to use 4 coats of paint. Avoid this step and you’ll avoid all that extra work.

Paint- coat one. I bought a small roller from the dollar store so that I wouldn’t get brush strokes. However, that might be the look you’re going for.

When you’re finished painting you can cut pieces for your fake drawers (only if you want them). Mine are a bit smaller because I wanted to cut the pieces with a top saw. Once you’ve cut your fake drawers, sanded and painted them… it’s time to glue them on.

I used Gorilla Glue (wood glue) and clamps to keep them in place.

Next up? Time to cut and stain the bottom shelf. Measure between your table legs on BOTH SIDES of the table (my measurements were not the same on each end) and cut your piece accordingly. Again, sand, stain and let dry.

Once they’re dry you can drill in or glue on your drawer handles. I bought mine from Canadian Tire for 5 bucks but you can even find them at the Dollar Store these days.

Decorate your table and decide where you’d like to put it. I can see this in a front hall, a bedroom, behind a couch or even in a kitchen! Imagine adding hooks underneath to hang pots and pans? I really hope you get a chance to try this project out.