15 DIY Coffee Tables You Can Build Over the Weekend

Make a Coffee Table That Suits Your Sense of Style and DIY Hand with These Fun Ideas
Trends may rise and fall, but one thing stands true—a coffee table is the unsung hero of your living room. It’s the hub, the conversation starter, the snack station. So instead of breaking the bank on a store-bought one, roll up your sleeves and check out these budget-friendly, weekend-available DIY coffee tables. Each one requires a bit of time, some basic tools, and a pinch of creativity to make a reality—we guarantee it’s totally worth it.
1. Crate Expectations
Redeign old shipping crates into a trendy and functional table. Place them side by side on a wooden board with holes facing out to achieve extra storage. Glue or nail them in place, attach some casters to make it mobile, and paint to match your room.
2. From Bench to Best
Bring an old wood bench back to life as an indoor natural coffee table. Sand and stain a little way to go—or make your own with reclaimed barn wood for a rustic look.
3. Slatted and Stylish
Go midcentury modern with this sleek slatted table. Cut strips of wood, arrange them on a board, glue into place, cut off the edges, stain. Attach legs of your project, and voila!
4. Pallet Perfection
Stack two wood pallets and create a low-key, low-slung coffee table—perfect for indoors or out. Glue, paint, and add a little caster wheels. Need a little more lift? Just add another one!
5. Treasure Chest Charm
Why build when you can repurpose? Dust off an old trunk and have an immediate showstopper. Tuck away throws, games, or whatever else you want to stash yet have at hand.
6. Tire Turnaround
Yes, a tire. Spray paint it, top it with a circular wood board, and add wheels. Who knew that garage junk could look so good?
7. Rustic and Ready
Bring the outdoors in with birch wood, plywood, and wheels. A little cutting, sanding, and staining turn these raw materials into a cozy centerpiece in a weekend.
8. Nailed It
Transform a flea market treasure into a glam statement. A fresh coat of paint and a sliver of nailhead trim (buy it on a roll!) makes the ordinary, extraordinary—without all the hammering.
9. Double Trouble
Two side tables just taking up space are transformed with black paint and gold leaf feet. Use them together as one coffee table, or bring them out when having friends over.
10. On a Roll
Turn an end table on its head by cutting the legs down and bolting them to a thick wooden base. Paint and affix colorful wheels to create a rolling table that’s as fun as it is functional.
11. Revival Crate Salvage
Bits of crates are repurposed as cool storage benches with cushioned, lift-top lids. Place them in a line for a storage coffee table, or wheel them into place when you need a bit more seating.
12. Stack and Store
Four drawers, three wood tops, and a little clever arranging. Offset each layer for a tiered look, then secure them together and add heavy-duty casters for a table that’s easy to move and easy to love.
13. Patio-Perfect Table
Top a metal base with a plywood round, stencil it with oversized flowers, and seal it with spar varnish. You’ve just made an outdoor coffee table that’s picnic- and weather-ready.
14. Kitchen Cabinet Hack
Convert redundant kitchen cabinets to a tidy coffee table. Attach two top-of-the-fridge cabinets, wrap with painted MDF, include a base of cherry veneer, and finish with cute knobs. Leftovers have never been so lovely.
15. Round and Resourceful
Sandwich rectangular boards between two MDF disks for a cubby-filled table with all-around storage. Add casters for mobility or pad the top and dub it an ottoman. One build, a thousand options.