How to build a sofa table- the easy way

 

Did you wonder what I found on the 400 mile yard sale?

It wasn’t deer antlers.

Sadly.

I was hoping find some and paint them orange.

Maybe next time.

But I found something I wasn’t even looking for.

A sofa table.

Well…..it wasn’t a sofa table at first.

Before- the amazing finds from the yard sale

It started life…..like this.

A wobbly, scratched up, neglected coffee table.

And some cast-off legs.

Purchase for a grand total of……$14.03.

Around mile 398.

Here's the after- completely revamped

Here’s the after.

I adore it.

Seriously.

It’s a little Brady Bunch sprinkled with a teaspoon of Downton Abbey.

Want to make your own?

Here’s a little step-by-step.

The sofa table came together easy and was well within budget thanks to yard sale hunting

How to Build a Sofa Table

(the easy way)

You'll need a saw, safety glasses and paint to begin your project

Supplies:

a coffee table

a pair of table legs from another table

sandpaper

3M TEKK Protection Safety Glasses

miter saw

primer

gray paint

First, you'll need to remove the old table legs

Step 1:  Remove coffee table legs

This was really easy to do with this coffee table

All we had to do was unscrew the board the legs were attached to.

Simply remove the screws to take the legs off the table

Each board was attached to the edge of the table with two screws.

We simply unscrewed these from the edge and detached the legs.

Then we unscrewed the legs from the board.

You'll also need to take apart the extra legs

Step 2:  Deconstruct the extra set of table legs

We started by unscrewing the board from the top.

We started by removing the legs from the board

Then we sawed off the leg from the top.

We…..as in this handsome carpenter.

Doesn’t he look so cute.

Seriously.

I made him pose wearing his safety glasses.

And winked at him after I took the picture.

Here's a close up of where we removed the legs

Here’s a close-up to show you where we removed the legs.

The goal was to have the center column to add to the coffee table.

You'll also need to remove the feet from the legs

Step 3:  Remove feet from the leg

We knocked off the feet from the bottom of the table leg.

They were attached by mini dowels and really easy to remove.

Next, attach the newly sawed column to the table legs

Step 4:  Attach center column of the extra leg set 

There was a screw already where we had removed the coffee table leg from the table top.

We simply used a drill bit to drill a hole in the center column and attach the two pieces together.

Here's how it looks when the table is complete

Step 5:  Re-attach the legs to the table top

Here’s what the leg looks like when you are finished.

One-of-a-kind.

Perfect.

And it will look even better…..

…..in the gatehouse with a pair of orange spray-painted deer antlers hanging above it. 🙂

PS Looking for super simple ideas to decorate your coffee table?

Here are 21 of my favorite.

Want to know how to decorate your home for free?
Click here to get my FIVE BEST secrets.

Posted On: June 13, 2013

Written By: KariAnne Wood

Comments

  2. Image for Gee Gee

    I am still scrolling back up to recheck the price. I mean, this is def drool worthy... at that price??? I am living in the wrong part of the country for sure! I am suffering from a bad case of sofa table envy right now KariAnne ... pouting here. Not a pretty picture :-/ Beautiful! Hugs, Gee

    Reply
  8. Image for Amy Watson Amy Watson

    karianne, that table is just awesome...I have a a handsome carpenter too !!!! well, he isn't a carpenter by trade...but he really is handsome :) and if I need him to do carpenter stuff he so sweetly does..maybe I should say he is my "handyman" for the last 33 yrs.....I have to tell you as much as I love that table...It is your photography that is blowing me away lately...You really have a talent for it, along with sooooo many other great talents.....BTW if we were neighbors I would have told you if your roast was done :) I can't take pictures very well, but I sure can cook, maybe we could work out a barter system..you help me decorate and I would cook for you...although I have a feeling you do just fine in the kitchen...."of couse she (you) does" see I really do read ALL of your blogs...(((hugs)))..amy........ I am switching to lowercase letters for my name :)

    Reply
  9. Image for Pattie @ Olla-Podrida Pattie @ Olla-Podrida

    This is, simply, FANTASTIC! And I desperately need a sofa table. Seriously. I'm hosting Father's Day in my slow-to-be-furnished lower level, and I was seriously considering dragging my husband's antique radio (read: large and on legs), out of the storage area, putting it behind the sofa and throwing a blanket over it.

    Reply
  20. Image for Marti Marti

    Love the table and how you put it together. Also love the idea of a 400mile garage sale. I remember hearing something similar about 700 mile on HGTV Marti

    Reply
  21. Image for Kelly @ JAX does design Kelly @ JAX does design

    I do the same thing - I come up with furniture maekover odeas and then get my hubby to do all the power tool stuff :-) I know I'll chop a finger off if i try to do it! Love how you you re-purposed the coffee table & legs to make a whole new sofa table. Great colour too. Looks great!

    Reply
  22. Image for Sarah Sarah

    Cute carpenter! Does he hire out in TX? This is a great project and you two did an outstanding job. Were you looking for a sofa table and just happened to see this and thought, "oh, that's what I'll do." Or did you go looking for pieces to make a sofa table. Just curious how your mind thinks. I'm not one to think out the box, so I admire your vision. '-)

    Reply
  33. Image for Dotte Dotte

    Love the table, wish I could find bargains like that where I'm from!!! Also, love the bingo pillow, did you make that as well????

    Reply
  41. Image for shirley@housepitalitydesigns shirley@housepitalitydesigns

    Beautiful Kari...you and your resident carpenter did a fantastic job...I remember so many years ago when my dad make a dining room table from casts off...we kids thought it was awful that we did not have a "store bought" dining room table...but looking back, it was beautiful...Love the table in that space..perfection!

    Reply
  42. Image for Diane | An Extraordinary Day Diane | An Extraordinary Day

    Well of course. On mile 398 I would definitely have seen all the possibility in that coffee table and the legs. NOT!!! I'm sure, my eyes would have been crossed by that point and I would been in great need of a cup of hot chocolate no matter how hot it was outside, 'cause that's my comfort food. ;) And that, Girlie, is what makes you the rock star. :) Rock on!!

    Reply
  44. Image for Lynn Fern Lynn Fern

    Adorable table! Don't you just love how those things work out. It looks like it was just meant to be. I have been on the hunt for a sofa table or something to make into a sofa table for a spot on a wall in our guest bath. I love this!!

    Reply
  46. Image for Amy@StowandTellU Amy@StowandTellU

    So brilliant and gorgeous! What an awesome transformation and at $14...how could you pass that up?? Although knowing you have just the right carpenter lined up for the job might have sealed the deal, too :)

    Reply
  47. Image for Regina Merrick Regina Merrick

    I kept going back and forth from the "before" to the "after!" It's perfect! I mean, it looks like it was made that way, originally! Next time, I'm gonna check out that yard sale! :)

    Reply
  50. Image for Patty O Patty O

    It's beautiful Karianne! And guess what! I have deer antlers for you! Email me your address if you want them and I'll send them off to you! I can get you pictures if you'd like!

    Reply
  57. Image for Savanah Fahrney-Day Savanah Fahrney-Day

    What a great idea and so much more economical than purchasing a sofa table! I would love to feature this idea on one of my blogs (using a thumbnail) and link back to your tutorial, if that would be okay?

    Reply

Comments are closed.