15 Awesome DIY Side Table Ideas
Updated on February 19, 2018
When it comes to DIY furniture, we often find ourselves hesitating. Sure, we’re crafty, but we’re not necessarily super experience in things like wood working, welding, or other very handy skills that you’d think of something like furniture building as requiring. Even so, we’re still usually tempted to look into making out own furniture pieces because we’re resourceful DIY enthusiasts and we don’t often back down from a challenge. That’s why we’re glad there are so many helpful tutorials outlining so many incredibly creative small furniture pieces on the Internet! So, what’s the piece we’ve been looking forward to challenging ourselves with lately, you ask? Well, we could really use a new side table and perhaps a new bedside table stand, and we’re convinced that we can make them ourselves!
Just in case you’re as intent on learning how to make your own furniture as we are, here are 15 of the coolest side table tutorials and ideas we’ve come across in our search so far.
1. DIY wire side table
Have you ever had a folding and unfolding wire shelf or laundry rack in your house and, as you were setting it up or putting it away, have you ever looked at how it folds and thought about how many other shapes and things it could be made into? Maybe it’s just us with the wandering minds, but we’ve actually had those thoughts often, so imagine how excited we were when we came across this awesome folding wire rack table from Lowes! Their tutorial shows you how to make a dual standing base from folded and zip tied wire racks, as well as how to add a smooth plastic top so you can set things on the table without them tipping or falling through.
2. Simple wooden side table
Perhaps you actually do have a little bit of experience basic handy work and maybe even wood work so you’re not totally opposed to the idea of making your own wooden side table from scratch, but you’d also still like to keep it basic just to make sure it’s actually a feasible project for you? In that case, we definitely think you should take a look at this awesome wooden side table from Not Just a Housewife! Their tutorial is step by step and simple so you’ll have a simple enough time following along, but once you’ve got a cheerful coat of paint on there too, you’ll feel very accomplished indeed.
3. DIY vintage record side table
If you’re going to make your own custom furniture pieces, would you rather make something awesome and personalized to reflect the things you love, right there in your living space? Well, if you’re a music lover and a fan of creative vintage aesthetics, then we have a feeling we’ve found just the project for you! Check out how The Flourishing Abode used a wire plant stand and an old record to create a beautiful, old fashioned looking side table that will instantly amp up the style in the whole space. It’s even flat and sturdy enough to set your coffee on!
4. DIY step-up side table
Does your current home decor for the room you need a table in actually reflect a more modernized, sort of geometrically influenced aesthetic rather than a homemade DIY or vintage one? Well, just because your central goal isn’t actually to make a piece that looks explicitly DIY doesn’t mean you can’t still make a custom piece yourself! For a mod space, we quite enjoy the look of this step-up style side table with multiple shelves at different heights. We even love the idea of painting it a really bright colour so it pops out from the rest of the decor like a statement piece! See how this one was made in more detail on Ana White.
5. Vinyl strip martini table
Have you ever looked at a table that you already have and thought about how, even though you don’t mind the basic shape of the piece, you just can’t help but think that the whole thing would be much more interesting if you got a little creative and added some more umph to the design? Well, Matsutake Blog must be on your same wavelength, because that’s exactly what they did here! Check out how they turned this plain circular, single stand side table into an awesomely wrapped looking martini glass inspired piece by attaching strips of vinyl at each end to the tabletop and base and then cinching them tight in the middle.
6. Industrial side table
Did we sort of hit the metallic mark you were looking for originally when we started talking about tables made of wire racks, but that design actually still wasn’t quite industrial chic enough for what you had in mind? In that case, we have a feeling you might prefer this metal bracket table frame with a wooden board top! We love the way it creates a stylishly modern look that’s a little more stripped down than some of the other crafty, ornate looking designs you’ll find online, but without taking away from anything else in the room or making the place look too cold. See how the whole thing is made step by step on Lowes.
7. Upcycled wooden door to side table
Were you intrigued when we talked about simple wood working because you actually do have a few basic handy skills in that regard, but if you’re going to go to the effort of making your own project out of wood, would you rather it be upcycled from something else? Personally, we’ll take just about any chance to repurpose old things rather than just throwing them out. That’s part of the reason we thought this wooden cubby side table with leaning support legs was such a cool idea! Kim Werker shows you how to cut and affix the recycled pieces in surprisingly few simple steps. We adore their idea of painting their table’s support legs a bright contrast colour to the rest of the room!
8. DIY rustic log slice table
Have you spend quite a bit of time and effort building the space you need a table in to reflect a rather rustic chic aesthetic and style so, no matter what table design you eventually choose, you really want to make sure it upholds that same style? Well, we know that there are several different ways to do rustic, but one of our favourite styles is to include natural elements from the outside world right there in the middle of the room. That’s why we liked this log slice table idea featured on Seakettle so much! They show you how to sand your section of log level so things will sit well on the table, and they also guide you through the process of attaching stool legs repurposed from an Ikea piece.
9. DIY copper tubing table
Just in case your mind is still on the idea of industrial chic things but you’re just not sure either of the metal ideas we’ve shown you so far is quite up your alley because they’re both silver, here’s an alternative that we think is very mod and cool! Design Sponge walks you step by step through the process of making yourself a simple wooden table painted with a half neon pattern, which is pretty cool in itself, but then also shows you how to make metal table legs from copper piping. We love that it somehow manages to look somewhere between worn, shiny and new, and fashionably chic, all at once!
10. Rustic square bedside table from recycled wood
Are you finding as you scroll that your mind is still wandering to the upcycled wood ideas we’ve shown you before, but neither is quite what you’re looking for stylistically? Well, it wouldn’t be difficult to make a few design changes to either piece, but we totally understand wanting a more specific tutorial that you can just follow from start to finish for clear guidance. That’s why we were glad to find this simple, upcycled natural wood table idea from Remodelaholic! It’s got the basic shape of the first table we showed you but it’s made with recycled wood like the second, making it the perfect, slightly rustic looking compromise.
11. DIY pallet table
We know we’ve already talked quite a bit about upcycled old wood to make tables, but what if the wood you have access to actually already has quite a bit of structure to it that you can’ help feeling would be useful to use as a base? Well, then you’re probably in possession of some wooden palettes and we’re here to tell you that, yes, those are an awesome tool for making your own table! This particular tutorial from Love Stitched is actually more of a coffee table size than a side table, but their basic steps are still very helpful to see and adjusting things to accommodate a smaller size of pallet of a side table sized finished product won’t be difficult.
12. Upside down flower pot and tray table
Perhaps it’s not actually the inside of your house that you’ve been planning on adding DIY furniture to, and the place that could really use a side table is actually your back porch seating area? Well, spring is fast approaching, so we can’t blame you for wanting to start your DIY process now! That way your table will be ready by the time the weather is warm enough to sit outside and use it. If you’re looking for simple, crafty, and clearly awesomely upcycled ideas, here’s an upside down planter and tray concept from Thrifty and Chic that we really enjoy. Paint them and add some thin rope or jute string to give it a cute outdoorsy feel.
13. Wire basket and table top
By this point, we’ve talked a number of times about designs that use bits and pieces of other household items or furniture, so it’ll come as no surprise that we’ve found another resourceful idea in that same vein for your consideration! Check out how Apartment Therapy used a copper wire waste paper basket flipped upside down as a table base for a rounded table top. We love this design that leaves the copper metal exposed, but you could also paint all kinds of combinations for your basket base and round top!
14. Spray painted upside down trash can side table
Do you very much enjoy the idea of making a simple side table out of an upside down waste paper basket, but you’re just not sure that you need a bigger table top than the one the bottom of the basket provides you already? Well, no one says you have to make any more adjustments at all than the basic maneuver of flipping the basket! The Crafting Chicks is right on the same wavelength as you and they kept it simple, but we love the idea of painting it all kinds of different colours! Try coordinating it with your bedding or other decorative or furniture pieces in your room.
15. Geometric copper side table
Okay, we know we’ve already talked a number of times about copper wire and piping as part of a DIY side table design, but we’re just so obsessed with the look that we’ve got yet another copper design idea for you! Check out the way Home Depot harnessed that same concept of making a base and attaching a table top, but this time by tightly stringing copper pipes all together in geometric shapes, almost like a piece of modern art.
Have you made another kind of awesome DIY side table that you loved creating and still proudly display in your home but you don’t see anything similar to your design on our list? Tell us all about how you did it or link us to photos of your finished work in the comments section.