A coffee table made of wooden boxes with your own hands. How to make a country table

A coffee table cannot be called essential furniture, but it is not the last place in the arrangement of a living room or bedroom. Modern tables are endowed with a lot of functions, representing a storage system not only for the press, but also for other useful gizmos. Many models are equipped with spacious drawers and compartments, a transforming system, turning into a large dining table. Among other things, the coffee table is a significant element of decor, which successfully complements the stylish design. It is quite possible to make such a little thing with your own hands, if you put some imagination and patience, and our article will provide interesting ideas for home coffee table design.

Materials for manufacturing

In the manufacture of modern coffee tables, many different materials are used. Unlike in the past, when standard rectangular MDF structures were stamped, today's models surprise with their diversity. One of the expensive options are wooden tables made from natural solid wood. Such a little thing will decorate any interior, it will always look chic and respectable. The designs are very diverse - from strict rough tables in the Scandinavian style to classic ones, decorated with forging or carved ornaments.

Since wood is quite expensive, chipboard and MDF boards help to replace it. If we talk about durability, they, of course, are inferior to wooden ones, but they look just as good. To compensate for the simplicity of the material, design tricks, for example, transforming countertops, built-in sockets, etc., allow.

Metal also takes part in the design of coffee tables. Frames are formed from metal pipes, then supplementing them with countertops made of other materials. Graceful curls of forged elements with glass tops look very nice. Sometimes you can find design developments in which the table consists entirely of metal.

In modern furniture production, you can increasingly find glass interior items that bring some lightness and airiness to the atmosphere. Products are made of heavy-duty tempered glass, resistant to various kinds of influences, so you can not be afraid that such an interior item will break or deform under the influence of high temperatures. In some models, only the surface of the countertop is made out of glass.

Plastic is used much less often, as it does not differ in high strength, but it has a large color palette and low cost. Most often it is found as components of a wooden or metal structure.

In the home manufacture of original coffee tables, the choice of material increases significantly, since, in addition to traditional materials, various improvised means are used.

How to make a coffee table: beautiful ideas

For the manufacture of coffee tables with their own hands, plywood is most often used, which is relatively inexpensive and easy to process. You can also use various improvised materials and build the most bizarre designs. More complex details, such as curly handles, legs, wheels, fittings and other decorative elements, can be purchased at a furniture store.

Contemporary style plywood coffee table

Making such an original coffee table will not take much time, but the product will take its rightful place in any interior with a hint of minimalism. To work, you need to purchase a sheet of plywood, three legs with fasteners, a thick thread, a pencil, a centimeter, a jigsaw and paint (preferably white or black).

So, the first step is to cut the countertop. On the reverse side of the sheet, select a point that will be the center, drive in a small carnation. Cut off a piece of thread with a length of the radius of the future table. We attach one end of it to a clogged carnation, and tie a pencil to the other and, pulling the structure, draw a round shape of the table top. Then you can dream up and give the canvas a more original shape. It is noteworthy that for the manufacture of such a table, drawings and measurements will not be needed at all. We cut out the drawn figure of the countertop with a jigsaw, grind and paint. When the structure is completely dry - we fix the legs. The table is ready.

Coffee table from pallets (pallets)

This original design perfectly "fits" into many styles. Most successfully, it will complement a daring loft or natural eco-style. It is not difficult to design such an exclusive table: for work, you need to get a pallet, metal legs or wheels (at your discretion). Also, you can not do without self-tapping screws and a screwdriver, saws, paint or varnish with a brush.

Step by step, all work on the design of the table will take place in the following order:

1. We mark the dimensions of the table on the pallet and saw off the excess part.
2. We take the boards from the remnants and cover the gaps in the main structure with them to get a solid surface, fix it with self-tapping screws.
3. We turn over and arrange five transverse slats: two from the sides (legs will be attached to them) and one in the center for stability.
4. We mount the supports and open the structure with varnish or paint.

Tire coffee table

An old worn tire can be a great base for creating a beautiful home coffee table. Additionally, you need to prepare plywood. Before proceeding with the construction, it is necessary to thoroughly wash and dry the tire. Next, you need to measure the diameter of the tire and cut out two circles from plywood: one - the table top - should match the diameter of the tire, and the other - the base - should be a few centimeters smaller. You can immediately attach legs, wheels to the base, or leave it without supports at your discretion. We fasten round sheets of plywood to the tire using self-tapping screws or sit on construction glue - the base is ready.

Next, we choose one of two methods: we wrap the rope around either the entire structure completely, or only the sides. In the first option, you need to think about how to process the countertop - perhaps paint it or cover it with a shiny varnish.

Wrapping should start from the center: we fix the end of the rope with a self-tapping screw or a glue gun and start moving with winding circles, gradually moving to the sides. There is no point in wrapping the base, unless you decide to make the table half two-tone. At the end of the winding, the entire structure should be coated with a transparent varnish to extend the service life.

Coffee table from drawers

If your household has wooden boxes of vegetables lying around - do not rush to throw them away. Only four such containers can turn into a beautiful and useful detail of the living room interior. If you do not have boxes, the most difficult thing in making a table will be to get them. Then everything is simple: the boxes need to be sanded, painted and folded, as shown in the photo. We use a sheet of plywood, which must be screwed to the underside of the structure so that it does not fall apart. Here is our coffee table. The advantage of this design will be the organization of spacious storage places for various magazines, books and other gizmos.

Coffee table for travel lovers

Nowadays, traveling to different countries has become available to many. But there is a special category of people who simply cannot live without constant trips to remote corners. It is they who will surely like a coffee table, reminiscent of certain pleasant voyages. For manufacturing, any old suitcase with hard walls that is not suitable for its intended purpose is suitable. You will also need a sheet of thick plywood, a screwdriver with screws, paint and, if desired, legs or wheels.

We cut out two sheets of plywood with an area equal to the base of the suitcase, fasten them from the inside to the base and lid. We fasten the legs or wheels. Next, you need to decorate the table - for this, different methods are used. One simple option is to paint it white, and when the design is dry, use sandpaper to make scuffs indicating the antiquity of the item. Such a product will adequately decorate the living room in the style of shabby chic. The black color of such a table will harmoniously fit into the loft living room, and the decoupage decoration will become a real masterpiece of Provence design.

Driftwood coffee table

The uniqueness of furniture made from stumps and snags lies in its uniqueness - what is created by nature itself does not have similar patterns and textures. Such products always attract the eye with their curves and weaves. In addition, getting the source material is not so difficult - it can be found in the forest, on the shore of a reservoir. The driftwood must be washed, cleaned of bark, and rotten branches removed. Next, you need to correct, align the shape under the countertop and base and let the workpiece dry thoroughly (if there are large holes in the wood, it can be puttied).

The dried snag is carefully polished, covered with stain (you can choose the shade you like best) and varnish. The base is ready. The tabletop can be attached with construction adhesive or self-tapping screws (depending on what it is made of). Glass tops are now very popular, through which winding wooden branches are clearly visible.

DIY coffee tables - photo ideas

We considered only some of the options for making coffee tables with our own hands. Much more information and photos of finished products will be provided by our gallery, where you can get a lot of interesting ideas. Enjoy watching!

It would seem, how can a coffee table surprise a modern person? A long-forgotten item in many apartments can no longer be found. A modern person loves space, remembering that they often stumble over a bulky table, here and there newspapers and unsolved crossword puzzles are lying around. What now? It turns out that coffee tables not only have not lost their relevance, but have also become an ultra-modern piece of decor, craftsmen make masterpieces with their own hands. And yes, there are even annual exhibitions dedicated only to this type of furniture.

Read in the article

Yes, what is it like today, a modern coffee table that has survived more than one generation of Russians. The answer is not so simple at all. The only thing that sometimes unites this name is only a collective phenomenon, relating to a certain type of furniture with quite understandable tasks. The rest is a problem.

Sometimes it seems that a person is slightly distraught and drags all sorts of rubbish home. And no…. This is also a piece of furniture art.

It would seem that there is no rational grain in this chaos. But no! It turns out that each of these samples must meet both aesthetic standards and correspond to a certain functionality.

Indeed, for factory products there is a whole list of norms and specifications. For example, they must be stable and safe. Forms - "perfect, providing usability." And the materials should be simple and environmentally friendly. In fact, a coffee table is one of the simplest designs. With this, looking at some amazingly simple and elegant masterpieces, you can’t argue.

Simple, but how elegant! Another recommendation that furniture makers talk about is that the coffee table should be assembled and disassembled. More complex models may have pull-out cabinets, for example, like this. And although some of them are slightly non-standard, such a table will definitely attract the attention of guests.

Another requirement is the accuracy and cleanliness of assembly and fitting of elements. Here again questions arise. And if the table was practically not processed. How to be in these cases?

You will be surprised, but each table that left the factory has a long history of creation. From a simple sketch to a whole pile of papers. All details must be unified. That is why in Soviet times, factory tables created such a dull impression.

And it's great that today there are enough art workshops, videos and other ways to exchange information and knowledge in order to try to spy on really interesting projects to create such small works of art.

The main thing to remember is that the coffee table really needs to be stable and safe. And even the same as in the photo.

How to prepare do-it-yourself drawings with dimensions for a coffee table

Drawings are the most important part of working on your own table project. Here it is important to choose the golden mean between functionality and originality. You can take ready-made drawings as a basis, and there are a huge number of them today, and already in the process of work, modernize it. Variants of schemes that may come in handy during work.

And here is how a seemingly ordinary, at first glance, table can be turned into a small front garden. The main thing is to imagine in advance what your table will be, and the decision will arise by itself.

Advice! To build your own drawing, prepare a piece of paper, a pencil and a tape measure. With a centimeter, you need to measure the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe space where you plan to put your creation. Based on the data obtained, prepare a drawing.

A schematic drawing is the basis for further work on the creation of furniture. The drawing will help you choose the right basis for the structure, calculate the load on the frame, prepare the required number of corners, screws or clamps, as well as supports or legs on wheels. Do not forget that in the drawings, in addition to the dimensions of other materials, the thickness of the countertop is indicated.

What materials can a coffee table be made from?

A coffee table is most often made from one or two types of materials. Usually it is both metal and glass. However, there are hundreds of solutions to imagine what your dream could be and what it could look like.

The most important thing here is to think over all the elements in advance. Sometimes you have to work with each of them separately. Plastic, glass, metal - all this can become an important part of your art object.

tabletop

How to make a coffee table from chipboard

To make a simple table, you need to purchase sheets of chipboard. For work we need. In general, the work process resembles the previous instruction, with the only difference being that in the case of sheets, they are attached to the corners.

Advice! If you do not have a jigsaw, then cutting work can be done right in the store. To do this, you just need to name the dimensions of the blanks.

Shelves can be fixed on confirmations. To screw them in, we pre-drill holes with a 4.5 mm drill. If you have questions about the best way to make a coffee table, you can watch this tutorial video.

We make a glass table with our own hands

A glass table will make yours light and airy. Very often, such a technique is resorted to in small rooms so that this piece of furniture does not clutter up the space. In some cases, tabletop painting is allowed.

Particular attention should be paid to the quality of glass fasteners. To do this, there are special fixing systems that prevent damage to it.

Making your own coffee table from improvised materials

Despite the abundance of ready-made solutions, in our country, the use of unnecessary things for solving quite mundane tasks has always been considered a favorite pastime. Some crafters share ways to use unexpected materials to create furniture.

Tire table

Tire products are especially popular - they are convenient to install in summer cottages and. Here are some options for such non-standard furniture.

Some masters manage to hide the presence of a junk item with the help of simple, but very effective tricks.

Table-suitcase

Very often, an ordinary travel suitcase is used as the basis for a coffee table.

The main task is to ensure reliable fastening to the base. By itself, such a table will differ considerable functionality.

Such tables practically do not require additional processing, and fastenings to the base are very versatile. They can be mounted on a wooden base, tightened with straps to a metal frame.

How to make a coffee table with additional elements with your own hands

And now consider the order of assembly of a simple table. This master class is quite simple to implement and does not require special skills.

Table on wheels

So, today we will analyze how on wheels from old wooden boxes for vegetables or pallets.

Illustration	Action Description
	According to tradition, we will prepare the tools and necessary materials for work.
	We begin the assembly of the base, for this we lay out four boards in parallel, fix them with perpendicular segments of the boards.
	We fasten all the elements with nails.
	We fasten the connecting elements that form the frame of the pallet.
	We fasten the top of our pallet. Now it's time to move on to decorating.
	For coloring, you can choose any color that is close to the desired range.
	From suede or leather we prepare an element for fasteners. The material must be strong enough not to tear.
	We braid a pigtail. And fix it with screws.
	This is how our coffee table turned out.

Table with drawers

Drawer design is considered one of the most difficult for beginners to perform. Take a closer look at how diverse the options for retractable systems can be.

The coffee table exists in an innumerable number of varieties. Make it easy; drawings, if required, are not at all complicated. True, there is a folding mechanism in the transformer tables, but if you wish, you can implement it yourself without being a very skilled craftsman; we will touch on this point later.

But, on the other hand, a coffee table in the interior is like a business suit for a man or makeup for a lady. The same material, similar cut, the same cosmetic bag can give the owner the appearance of a respectable gentleman or a careless bon vivant, a sleek self-confident lioness, a playful ingenue or an overdressed coquette.

Therefore, we will not dwell in great detail on step-by-step recipes on how to make a coffee table yourself (although due attention will be paid to this), but we will focus primarily on the aesthetic and creative side of things. Then - on reliability and durability, combined with low cost. This is also an important point: the coffee table is one of the most heavily used pieces of furniture.

And what is it in general?

Is there any definition of what we decided to take on? Any norms, requirements, rules? Ergonomic terms? Only one thing: the height is from 40 to 50 cm.

Registration

First of all, the decor gives the look of the table, so it would be appropriate to start from the end: with decoration and decoration. Having solved this issue, it will no longer be difficult to choose a design from ready-made ones or develop your own: the loads on the subject are small, and suddenly a flaw came out, it is easy to redo or do it again. The cost of labor and money - just nothing.

You can decorate the table in different ways, see fig. The positions will be sorted as they are read, from left to right and from top to bottom. In the same order they are arranged according to the degree of increasing complexity of the work.

Wallpaper

With the help of the most ordinary wallpaper, you can quickly and inexpensively ennoble the most ancient shabby table, as long as it is strong. Cleaning, priming, painting have no features. A piece of wallpaper on the surface of the tabletop is also suitable for anyone: it is covered with glue in several layers with a transparent colorless or tinted lacquer NC or acrylic.

Each layer, except for the finishing layer, is sanded after drying, but for this you need a velvet skin, which you can’t always find on sale. Therefore, we do this: we take two pieces of sandpaper number 240-280 and three against each other until the base begins to look through. This is what we grind.

Note: it is desirable to collect the pouring abrasive powder. It is very useful for various works, especially on glass.

If the wallpaper is embossed, then grinding begins with a layer above which the unevenness of the relief no longer protrudes. As a rule, this is the 2nd - 4th layer. Above it should be at least 3-4 layers of varnish.

Lacquer is applied in an envelope from the center to the edges. The first layers are plentiful so that it flows to the ends; at the same time, the tabletop is placed on stands, the floor is covered with a film. Sanding layers are applied slightly shrinking to get a run of varnish (its thickness can reach up to 4 mm) to the edges of the countertop. Drops hanging at the bottom after complete solidification of the entire coating are cut off and the edge of the lower layer is sanded.

The elegance of the table will be given by wallpaper nails or metal push pins driven in a row along the edge. The most important condition for it to look is that the plaques should be arranged in even rows and with a uniform step. Here the simplest device will help out: a piece of a metal corner with holes drilled on one side with a diameter slightly larger than the thickness of the button rod (most often - 1.2 mm). It is used as a template, moving around the perimeter. The extreme holes should be spaced from the edge by the value of the driving step minus half the diameter of the cap.

Shell stones

From a vacation at sea, you can bring a pile of empty shells and sea pebbles. A table with such a scattering under glass looks romantic. But the popular bamboo frame design, as in the picture, is not very practical. Bamboo stalks taper towards the top, and it is not so easy to pick up four pieces of uniform equal thickness, and dust soon collects in the cubbyhole between the glass and the bamboos, which is difficult to clean out. Adhesive glass does not adhere well to smooth semi-circular parts. Finally, bamboo does not grow near salt water, and such a table does not look quite natural.

For the manufacture of a frame for a sea table, it is best to use the most common plinth. Sectional configuration, size, tone, texture - in a huge assortment, the price is inexpensive. Glass with aquarium silicone is glued tightly to the top shelf of the plinth. Silicone glue for gluing aquariums is sold in pet stores, it lasts forever, holds incredible loads. It is available in transparent (gluing is not visible), white and black, which gives additional possibilities for design. The chamber with filling turns out to be practically airtight, nothing gathers dust inside.

For a tabletop 400x750 mm, glass with a thickness of 6 mm or more is required; for 600x900 mm - from 8 mm; for more - from 10 mm. The glass needs to be mirror-like, without striae and waviness. If you are not too lazy and choose from the inside of the plinth a quarter as deep as the thickness of the glass, it will be glued flush and the table will come out absolutely reliable and safe.

Note: in the early 80s, some French company made a splash in the exclusive furniture market by selling aquarium tables. The underwater world was visible through the transparent tabletop. Manufacturers assured that the resource of a closed ecosystem in a thick hollow tabletop is 40 years old, but it turned out to be a complete embarrassment. The fish began to multiply, the biological balance flew into turmoil, and the aquarium table turned into a vile-looking burial ground. A friend of the author of the article remarked on this: “They would first bring out the fish, which are in French ...”

Mirrors

The mirror table will fit into any interior. Mirrors, reflecting the environment, automatically include it in the design style.

The base is an ordinary box of sufficient strength with smoothed corners, carefully painted. It is impossible to leave wooden gaps in plain sight: wood is a natural noble material. Leaving it in narrow stripes means deliberately suppressing what by its nature should dominate, and this is bad taste. Bare wood can and should be left under the mirrors, so they will stick more firmly to the glue - mounting nitro, construction or aquarium silicone. The base box must first be primed with a niro-based primer, not water-based!

The authors of the design recommend painting the base with silver (aluminum powder), which is quite justified: the silver color is in harmony with mirrors in any setting. But, if the table is made for a certain interior, the color tone may be different. For example, in an art deco living room - golden (painted with bronze or gold leaf), black or white - in classic modern; in high-tech - also black or blue, purple; in the fusion living room - bright red, in the minimalist - any in a general tone; Let's say lettuce.

Decoupage

Decoupage - gluing ready-made fragments of a drawing onto the base, something like modified decals. The decoupage technique itself is simple, and everything you need is sold in sets, but preparing the base (top layer) and fixing the pattern requires some work.

Until recently, decoupage furniture was considered a sign of simple (if not bad) taste, but the decoupage technique is improving, the choice of ready-made drawings is constantly expanding, and now even connoisseurs often confuse decoupage under varnish with hand-painted art.

The tabletop is first sanded, leveled, gaping cracks are sealed, as in the restoration of furniture. Then primed with chalk, mixed with transparent furniture varnish NC until the density of sour cream. Primers cannot be used on water! After decoupling, the face is covered with transparent acrylic varnish in two layers or furniture nitro varnish in 3-4 layers. Each subsequent layer is applied after the previous one has completely dried, as described above.

Video: decoupage master class

Mosaic

Coffee tables have been adorning since they first appeared. But few people know that the tabletops for them were made of marble or alabaster - it is impossible to make a solid classic mosaic on a wooden base: fibrous-layered organic materials with monolithic mineral ones are very different in terms of temperature, mechanical and strength characteristics.

Note: do not confuse alabaster - a translucent pinkish semi-precious and ornamental stone - with building alabaster.

Nowadays, a durable and beautiful mosaic on a tree can be typed from plastic. Fragments can be cut out of PVC plastic boxes for electrical communications. They are produced mainly in white, occasionally in black or dark gray. But painting is not a problem. Graffiti paint is ingrained into the PVC with filler. There is only one condition - you need to paint the already cut fragments, otherwise the white threads will be visible along their edges on the already assembled composition. Stick plastic smalts on the tree with mounting glue; the base is pre-leveled and primed, as if under a mirror.

Art painting

Here you already need artistic taste and the set hand of the painter. It is undesirable to use a stencil - not a ceiling or even walls, the slightest streaks right before your eyes. The base is primed, as if under a mirror, for all types of painting, except for Khokhloma, where priming with clay is included in the technological process.

It is advisable to use traditional Russian wood painting techniques: in addition to Khokhloma (which is very complex) - Polkhov and Gorodets. They are designed for wooden utensils and kitchen utensils; they don’t eat at the table and don’t make dough in it, so it will be for many years.

Video: decorating a table with stained glass paints

Craquelure

And finally, the crack technique. Principle: not yet completely dried paint (the finger is imprinted, but without tack) is covered with a special varnish-crack. When it dries, it drags the paint behind it, it cracks like a mesh, and the finished coating looks nice and old. This is especially valuable in country or traditional styles - baroque, empire, etc.

The crack on the table must be lacquered, otherwise dirt will soon fill in the cracks and the view will disappear. This allows you to do without expensive craquelure varnish. Instead, you can use:

• PVA glue, diluted two to three times - for water-based paints (gouache) and nitro. Apply a little bit, with the thinnest layer, after determining the dosage according to a prototype of exactly the same paint! The contours of the gouache painting come out a little blurry, airy. Bright colors are highly undesirable.
• Egg white - for oil paints.
• Table vinegar - for alkyd and acrylic enamels.
• Edible gelatin - for all types of paints, but the coating lasts no more than 5 years even under varnish.

Video: complete restoration of the old table

Round tables

Round coffee tables are the most popular: a small table is cramped and the corners get in the way. For example, we give three constructions. On the left in fig. - a round table with a folding top. The look is archaic, would go with any old-fashioned (or just plain old) living room.

In the old days, such tables were called business tables; guests left their business cards on them when they left. If, when leaving, the visitor saw the rear of the countertop (which was secretly given to the servants), this was an unambiguous sign that his appearance in this house was no longer desirable. But such a passage did not give a reason for a challenge to a duel. Today, a business table can be used in a less offensive way: an acrylic mirror is firmly glued to the countertop with aquarium silicone.

At the top right is a wooden table-shelf, also 700 mm in diameter. The design is elementary simple, but if there is something heavier than gloves or a scarf on the table, it is better to support the shelf with the tabletop under the edges with racks made of polished metal pipe. Option - radial partitions made of laminate, wood, chipboard. Supports from a bar will spoil the view.

Below right is also a 700 mm round table, requiring a minimum of labor and cost. Why? It can be seen from the drawing. The tabletop is nailed to the legs from scraps of sticks through and through, then primed and finished clean. The tripod must be assembled in advance, not with glue and nails; the wooden ring on it is decorative. The top is cut into the plane according to the markup with a home-made pseudo-thickness gauge from improvised materials, see the section on stump tables.

Idea: an unusual round table made of plastic pipes (it)

transformers

A folding coffee table is also not new. They have long been made on the model of a dining table: with a sliding top and an insert board. Tumba, as a rule, was assigned the role of a wine cellar. Party workers kept there together in a bottle and stacks of wine glasses a volume of Lenin or Karl Marx. Depending on the received visitor, one or the other was called to the “deck”. Techies, not prone to hypocrisy, despised such double-dealing with all their hearts.

In our time, coffee tables finally got rid of the hypocrisy of the owners. The most popular design is a coffee table and a dining table at the same time. In a small odnushka - a godsend. How such a transformer table works is shown in Fig. above.

Its highlight, of course, is the transformation mechanism. Purchased ones are quite expensive, but you can make your own. To do this, you will first have to master some kind of program that allows you to produce three-dimensional modeling. The easiest way is Google Sketch Up. It is not as functional as the PRO 100, but it is much easier to use, and it is enough for a table transformer.

The principle of operation of the mechanism is a system of levers with two dead points in the extreme positions and with a point of unstable balance between them. This ensures ease of conversion without rumbles and pops. The steps for creating a mechanism are as follows, see the figure:

1. We draw a schematic diagram (pos. 1), even by hand or in CorelDraw;
2. We develop a layout in three dimensions and check the interaction of parts, pos 2;
3. We make one section in kind from pieces of wood (pos 3), check how everything goes, adjust the dimensions;
4. We make detailing already under the metal, pos 4;
5. We assemble the sections, finally check in kind, pos 5;
6. According to the mechanism, we make a cabinet, boards and assemble a table, pos 6.

For such a mechanism, you will need about 4 m of a professional pipe 20x20, 1.2 m of its own 50x25, a meter of strip 20x4, 6 M8x120 bolts, 2 M8x60 and M8x50 each, 8 M4x20, 26 M8 nuts and 30 washers 30x8, 12 intersection couplers, 6 cm a piece of a corner 45x25 and 4 gas lifts 120-140N. Wooden details - according to the chosen design of the table. It is better to put MDF on the countertop, it is lighter and stronger than chipboard. Costs - about 1000 rubles, which is more than half the price of branded models.

Video: an example of a finished transformer table

Note: in the following figure - drawings of the transforming mechanism without gas lifts, on springs. This one will cost even less, but you will have to conjure with the springs, picking up their strength.

Originals

The fact that a coffee table is better to have an original look is also a common place. To paraphrase a famous saying about the Indians, we can say: a good coffee table is an original coffee table. To begin with, we will analyze three designs (see Fig.) in order of increasing manufacturing complexity.

From the press

A coffee table made from old newspapers and magazines (on the left in the figure) is not only original in appearance, but also subtle in design. That there is evidence, albeit not traditional, but developed taste. True, the room under it should be decorated accordingly. It will not look in any interior of a common design, even if it is old or modern.

The manufacturing technology is quite simple:

• We roll waste media into tight tubes and fix each with a few rubber bands.
• Immerse for 2-7 minutes in a bucket or trough with a water-polymer emulsion; it doesn't stink and is cheap.
• We hang on wire hooks on a clothesline to dry; it is necessary to dry in a non-dusty room, laying a film below under the flowing excess.
• We glue the puk-pedestal PVA; dry in an upright position, tied with a thread so as not to crumble.
• We mark the planes with a pseudo-thickness gauge (see below) and cut it to size with a hacksaw with a fine-toothed “clean cut” blade.
• We glue a tabletop made of mirror glass at least 12 mm thick with aquarium silicone.

From logs

This table, the middle one in fig. from above, it is already more difficult to work, but you don’t need as many logs as it might seem. It is based on the same wooden box glued to a 20 mm plywood board on wheels. It is furnished on all sides with logs on glue. The height of each pole is the height of the box plus the thickness of the round block of the same logs lining the upper surface (20-50 mm).

The marking of the planes on the logs is done with a home-made thickness gauge, which has already been mentioned and will be discussed in more detail below. When sawing, sawdust is carefully collected in any suitable pallet so that dirt from the floor does not accumulate. Kruglyashi are glued to the face; then the sawdust is kneaded on liquid nails until the density of plasticine is obtained and the gaps between the rounds are rubbed with a rubber spatula. It remains to sand, properly vacuum, lacquer the top - and you're done.

This table has two nuances. Firstly, sawdust from, so to speak, regular sawing, is probably not enough. Therefore, it is necessary to put part of the material into sawdust. Secondly, it is advisable to put glass at least 6 mm thick on top of the entire plate on the aquarium silicone. It will not only protect the wood from pollution, but also protect it from ultraviolet radiation, which causes the wood to darken. And the view of the glass false table will not spoil.

bent

Table on the right, no fig. at the beginning of the section is still available for self-production, but it already requires serious skills, a ventilated production facility and the strictest safety measures in manufacturing. Its design is based on the property of wood to soften when heated dry (not to be confused with steaming!) And then keep the shape given to it. Different types of wood, and the same - depending on whether it is in the array or in veneer, can be molded in different ways, on which home-made technology is based.

First of all, you need to make a type-setting, on nails, blockhead in the form of the internal space of the table. Material - solid hardwood: oak, elm, beech, walnut. The blockhead will cost a lot, but it is reusable, up to 15 products. The blockhead is immediately covered with a fluoroplastic (Teflon) film with an overlap on non-working surfaces. Non-working - which will not fit with veneer. The film is fixed with small nails with plywood linings for hats. You need to fix it well, teflon is very slippery and does not stick at all.

factory variation of the bent table

Then you need lime, birch or (better) bamboo veneer. The length of the strips - along the length of the entire surface of the table; the stripes in the layers must be solid and oriented in adjacent layers mutually perpendicular. The best, but time-consuming and difficult way of laying is diagonal.

The first layer from the block is laid on a dry one, heating the veneer with a building hair dryer; the initial ends of the strips are fixed with carnations. You need to work in a gas mask, not in a petal! Stroyfen develops temperatures up to 400 degrees, and just at this temperature Teflon begins to decompose, releasing deadly poisonous hydrogen fluoride. In fact, 300 degrees are enough to soften the veneer, and 160 degrees for bamboo. You need to set the hair dryer to this temperature, but God saves the safe. Volatile fluorides are no joke.

After cooling the block with the first layer, the carnations fixing it are removed and the laying of the second layer begins; the ends of its strips are also temporarily fixed with nails. The second and subsequent layers are heated in sections of 20-30 cm, applied, bent in shape, held until cool, lifted, lubricated with PVA, waiting for setting, heated and molded further.

This is how all subsequent layers are formed until the desired thickness is obtained; minimum - 6 layers and 12 mm. The fixing studs of each layer must be remembered to be removed before laying the next one. Finally, the finished table is carefully torn off from the block (expensive fluoroplastic will have to be thrown away), soaked 2-3 times until it flows through with a water-polymer emulsion, dried and decorated using any of the methods described above. Of course, keeping the style.

From boxes

A coffee table made of wine boxes has been walking on the Web for quite a long time, see fig. The design is elementary simple and very functional. It is immediately clear that if the authors use the contents of the container, then in moderation and high quality.

In terms of aesthetics, here we can only recommend driving nails deeper with a finisher and puttying the holes with sawdust of the same wood mixed with liquid nails, as described above. This will not only hide the fasteners. Now you can close the central recess with some kind of sheet material. In addition to actually a full-fledged plate, this will give an amazing adaptability of the table to the style:

1. Glass - any modern style.
2. Wood - country.
3. Polished metal - art deco and high-tech.
4. White, black or colored plastic - modern, minimalism.

You can emphasize belonging to one or another direction by placing a lamp in the center of the corresponding type.

Simple

A very simple and cheap coffee table with a bookcase can be made from laminated chipboard, see fig. You can do without shaped metal racks by replacing them with pieces of timber, as shown by the red dotted line. One or two per niche, in the center or from the edges - depending on the expected load and design. True, such a table is not very suitable for the living room; more in the bedroom or nursery.

Sawing boards will be cheaper to order in a furniture company, they will cut them there. It is not necessary to assemble on eccentric connectors, it is possible on dowels or self-tapping screws through. In the latter case - puttying the holes and covering with self-adhesive under the tree. After varnishing, it will be possible to distinguish from natural wood only by scratching.

Video: a simple table with an original element

Glass

Is it possible to make an all-glass coffee table yourself? Like the one in the picture? Or simpler, but completely made of glass?

Yes, you can, only it will cost a lot: you need mirror glass with a thickness of 12-14 mm. Cutting must be ordered on industrial equipment with edge grinding; at home with a glass cutter you cannot cut exactly in size with perpendicular edges. A master individual in a shed will not cut out either, and glass firms of this level are not found in all large cities.

Gluing is not difficult in one: aquarium silicone, and that's it. A failed joint can be separated with a safety razor blade; drips immediately, before drying, are removed with a rag moistened with table vinegar. Metal fittings (wheels, for example) are also firmly glued to the glass with aquarium silicone.

The surfaces to be bonded must be thoroughly degreased with isopropyl alcohol (the fumes are poisonous!) or with an optical cleaning compound, and then wiped to a squeak with a microfiber cloth for cleaning glasses. Then we look against the light almost along a sliding line: if stains are visible, the napkin is oily, you need to change it to a new one. Not washable.

Video: glass and plywood mobile tables

From the stump

A very original and sought-after piece of furniture - a table made of a thick stump, see fig. But how to cut a stump of something like that exactly from two ends? This is where it's time to talk about the pseudo-gauge. In fact, a thickness gauge is a special tool for marking any kind of rough edges; Widely used with self-made small shipbuilding and modeling. But we'll make it easier.

Need two stools; lower, preferably on loose wheels. Still need a flat smooth floor. If all this is available, we put the second stool on the first upside down. Together they are fastened with clamps. You probably already guessed about the future: a piece of rail or pipe, a pencil, a felt-tip pen or marker, adhesive tape.

We fasten the bar with the “drawing” at the right level to the legs of the upper stool and, moving the device, mark the plane. For a stump - first on the butt; Don't forget to give some margin for root pruning! Before marking under the roots, pre-cut in advance, we put wedges until the butt stands up as it should (by eye in aesthetics, not in plumb line).

Then we saw off from the butt according to the marking (better - with a chainsaw), turn it over and mark the plane on the ridge. If the ridge is on the floor, we remove the roots in the middle to make a notch, so the table will be more stable. It remains to make a countertop, attach it - and a completely unique exclusive is ready!

Coffee table - at first glance, not the most necessary furniture. Therefore, its acquisition is endlessly delayed. But it is precisely such items that make the interior truly cozy and comfortable. Therefore, we share ideas that will tell you how to make a stylish coffee table with your own hands and not go broke.

1. Democratic and accessible

To make such a table, you will need a pair of metal or plastic boxes and two large boards. Be sure to securely fasten the structure.

2. For the smartest

Books with beautiful covers and a small glass for the tabletop - that's all the materials for such a coffee table. Books must be glued together, and the glass can be fixed on them with silicone glue, which becomes transparent after drying.

3. Ordered chaos

A coffee table made of flat elements fastened together in a chaotic manner is an idea that is easy to implement. Wooden saw cuts, parts of boards, large books are suitable.

4. Industrial style

A reel for industrial cables is a thing that cannot be found on every corner. But if you are still lucky enough to become the owner of this item, you can make an excellent coffee table out of it.

5. Table for motorists

A coffee table made from a car tire will last for many years. But it is desirable to use the tire without damage. It remains only to paint it, fix the countertop and legs.

6. Wooden table almost free

Ordinary pallets, which can be purchased for a penny, are an excellent material for making furniture. A little imagination, and the wooden coffee table is ready.

7. The second life of old boxes

Another way to become the owner of a coffee table made of natural wood is to use old boxes as a material for its manufacture. Four large drawers fastened together form a stylish table.

8. Extravagant chic

Especially original, but at the same time luxurious, looks like a coffee table on asymmetrical legs. The tabletop is made of a thick board or a wooden saw cut.

9. From the cottage - to the living room

A large wooden barrel easily turns into a coffee table. It must be cut into two parts, and then attach the countertop and legs to one of them.

10. Roomy and functional table out of the box

A household box made of plastic or wood can also be used as a coffee table. In order for the table to be mobile, you can fix small wheels on its bottom.

11. Warm table

An old heating radiator is a reliable basis that will help you make a coffee table with your own hands. You just need to paint it in the desired color, attach the wheels and put thick glass on top.

12. From the interior door

An interior door that has served its time becomes a material for making a coffee table with your own hands. It must be cut into several parts and fastened together.

13. If it’s a pity to quit and it’s hard to carry

An old suitcase can become an original coffee table top. You just need to attach legs to it.

14. Brutal elegance

An affordable option for making legs for a coffee table is ordinary plastic or metal pipes connected by fittings. Such furniture will perfectly fit into the interior in loft style.

15. From an ordinary wooden beam

A wooden beam, folded in a checkerboard pattern, will become a countertop for a homemade coffee table. Legs can be made of thick metal wire.

To make the interior look harmonious, it is necessary to take care not only of the details, but also of the decoration of the room. Continuing the theme -

The living room will look empty if it does not have a chipboard coffee table or other suitable material. If you wish and have free time, you can make a coffee table with your own hands. The recommendations below will help with this, as well as drawings of coffee tables. If you plan to fly a coffee table with your own hands, then you can easily find suitable drawings here.

Drawer table Metal table Transforming table

To make a coffee table with your own hands, you will need:

• hardboard slab or plywood, if you are going to create a plywood coffee table with your own hands or a transformer coffee table;
• boards;
• tape measure, which will help determine the size;
• hammer;
• grinding machine;
• 3-4 legs. If your plans include a round coffee table with your own hands, then you should take 3 legs;
• hacksaw for woodworking;
• drill and a set of drills;
• screws, self-tapping screws, finishing nails;
• putty and high-quality glue;
• paint and primer;
• sandpaper.

You may need additional tools, it all depends on what kind of coffee table you intend to make.

How to make a coffee table?

You can create a tea table with your own hands by following the scheme:

1. Cut the ends of the boards at an angle of 45º, cut out elements from wood material or chipboard, the length of which will be equal to the length of the blanks made.
2. Place the parts in the center, carefully align the ends.
3. Take measurements to determine the distance separating the extreme bars. Using the parameters obtained, cut out a pair of blanks that will be used as the lower supports. Fasten them with screws. Screw fasteners into each longitudinal rail to give the table strength and stability.
4. Drill a couple of holes at the ends of the support rails, which will be useful for integrating the structure with other elements. If you do not have enough experience with the tool, practice by taking unnecessary wood trimmings.
5. Place the workpieces on the sides, secure with a quick-clamping device called a clamp. Masters who create a coffee table from chipboard or from softwood (pine solid wood) do this: they put board trimmings under the supports of the fasteners. By doing so, they avoid marks left on the surface.
6. Firmly fix the extreme bars on the base, screw the screws into the holes made in advance.
7. Take measurements to find out the width of the base made (this is necessary in order to understand how long the blank for the end part should be). Experts say: “I assemble a thing with an accuracy of a millimeter, because I take a sip with a small margin in length, and carefully grind off extra centimeters.” When making a wooden coffee table, use the advice.
8. Moisten the end parts with water, apply adhesive, assemble the individual parts. Make a belt. This will allow you to fasten the structure together and fix it in a certain position. For a stronger bond, use carnations for finishing work.
9. Process the assembled coffee table with sandpaper with your own hands, removing irregularities. The gaps formed at the site of the seams must be filled with a putty mass.
10. Color the assembled coffee table, made by yourself, using the finished project.
11. Place mounting plates on the lower crossbars of future coffee tables, which will later be useful for making the lower part. Make holes and screw the legs into them.

Do-it-yourself transformer coffee table is a little more difficult to make, however, the coffee table assembly scheme is approximately identical.

A transforming table, made from improvised materials with your own hands, will complement the room and make it more functional. Transformer for the living room - this is optimal for the room.

1 2 3

As you can see, making a coffee table made of wood with your own hands is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance.

DIY coffee table on wheels

1 2 3

If desired, you can assemble a table from chipboard with your own hands on wheels. A folding coffee table is very convenient to use, as it allows you to move furniture from place to place without any extra effort. An original coffee table with your own hands is quite a feasible task. Make a lunch option according to the algorithm presented above, and then fix the wheels on the legs. You can remove this part from an old cart and equip a dining or stylish folding table from boards for magazines or other accessories.

To fix fixtures at home, use high-quality screws. Attach the wheels to the base of the structure, making sure that they do not peek out from under the bottom. It is unacceptable that the plinth makes it difficult to move the homemade table. Adjust the location that the coffee table will occupy: low or high level of supports. It is important that the wheels turn without difficulty, allowing you to move the table.

DIY glass coffee table

Tables with glass are very presentable and practical. The transparent top is perfectly combined with various types of materials. To make a coffee table out of wood with a glass top, decide how thick the glass needs to be and choose the appropriate method for cutting it.

To make a glass coffee table with your own hands, you will need a furniture board in which a hole of the desired shape is cut. Next, you need to fix the pre-cut glass in it (for this purpose it is most convenient to use a glazing bead). In the presence of a glass cutter, it is better to use this particular device, which ensures high-quality work.

There are two main types of glass cutter: roller and diamond type. Devices of the first type are suitable for working on a thinner glass plate, whose thickness is not more than 4 cm. The tool includes from 1 to 6 rollers. There must be a cut line. Experts say that models with an oil reservoir have the best properties. They are great for both professionals and beginners.

Carefully prepare the glass before cutting, that is, rinse it and degrease it. If you are dealing with a relief surface, then a diamond glass cutter is absolutely not suitable for working on it. Cut such a plate, turning the smooth side towards you. When cutting with a roller glass cutter, make sure that the line is completely covered with turpentine liquid.

After the glass has been cut, fix it using special glue. If there is no adhesive available, it is allowed to use suction cups for making furniture in the Provence style with your own hands, which are attached first to the leg and then to the glass.

If desired, the table with your own hands can be decorated with a variety of decorative elements, which will make it even more presentable and modern. View a photo or video on our website to understand how best to arrange a table on wheels. If you don’t understand some details, ask the experts how to make a coffee table with your own hands.