DIY Farmhouse Coffee Table
Deciding on a coffee table style is hard, y’all. Like, I have seriously been back-and-forth about what type of coffee table I want in this space since we moved in three years ago. Initially I wanted a tufted ottoman but ultimately decided that wasn’t super practical with two kids who like to rub food and crayons on everything. Then I wanted something more modular that could double as seating when people came over but again changed my mind. In the end, I opted for a DIY farmhouse coffee table which is a great fit for my space. This coffee table is both beautiful and functional and I will walk you through how to make your own!
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Getting Started
Length of time for project: One weekend
Cost: $45
What you’ll need: 2×2 boards (5 @ 8′ length)
1/2″ MDF Project panel
1 x 8 boards (2 @ 8′)
1×6 board (2 @ 8′)
What I learned: Add pocket holes to your mitered joints on the table top as well, and not just glue like I did. I ended up adding flat corner braces for extra support but if I had added pocket holes, I could’ve avoided the corner braces.
Farmhouse Coffee Table Inspiration
Pinterest is an amazing asset when deciding on style of coffee table. Initially I found a couple of options I liked, but the plans weren’t quite right for my space (like I fell in love with the square table below but needed rectangular for my space). There is some great inspiration out there that you can modify and customize to make it work for your own space. You don’t have to recreate the wheel with every project you make! I’m including the link below from the table where I took my inspiration. Give credit where credit is due, my friends. And Sincerely, Marie Designs did great work here!
Building Process
The first step is determining your dimensions. A rectangle is the best fit in my space as I have two identical sofas facing each other (IKEA with washable slipcovers, by the way. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!) My space needs something relatively substantial and large so I went for a 36″ wide x 48″ length.
Coffee Table Base
The base is created using 2×2 boards. The shelf is a 1/2″ thick MDF project panel that I attached with pocket holes. If you read the tutorial I linked, you’ll see she used plywood. I opted for MDF because it is inexpensive, sturdy, and smooth for easy painting.
Create the two long sides first, then adding the shorter cross bars. The MDF project panel is a pre-cut piece so you are building around that. It’s a super tight fit for the shelf but perfect in the end! If you need your panel to be smaller, Home Depot can cut it down for you. Use pocket hole joinery and wood glue for all the connections.
One additional middle brace is added to give the table top extra support. Then paint with white satin finish spray paint to get a nice smooth finish more quickly than using a brush and a quart of paint.
Coffee Table Top
The coffee table top has a one inch overhang all the way around, so the base is 2 inches narrower than the top dimensions. 1x8s and 1×6 boards horizontal boards are used for the outside framing. You can miter the corners of the framing to get a more high end look and adds some visual interest. If you don’t want to do this step, you could always have the ends square like a breadboard on a dining table.
The coffee table top boards are all attached using wood glue and pocket holes. One mistake I made here was not using pocket holes at the mitered joints and only using glue. Once the piece was set I worried those mitered corners wouldn’t be strong enough. A metal corner brace is added to each corner on the underside of the table top. You can’t see the brace and it adds some extra strength.
Then sand the top before staining. Here I used general finishes Java gel stain (the best!). Then seal it with a water based polyurethane.
End Result- DIY Farmhouse Coffee Table!
This DIY Farmhouse Coffee Table with shelf adds a ton of farmhouse style to the room with a clean and modern feel. It is sturdy, substantial, beautiful, and functional. Make your own modifications to make it perfect for your own space! And please share your versions, I would love to see! Also, if you love the fireplace shown with this farmhouse coffee table like I do, check out my other tutorials for whitewashed brick, a faux beam fireplace mantle, and shiplap fireplace surround!
