Friday, May 9, 2014

How to Build a Coffee Table in a Matter of Seconds


The coffee table in my living room is often a topic of conversation for people who come to my home for the first time.  With it's original, aged wood appearance, and it's two-tiered design, it is not like anything most people are used to seeing.  This unique table is one of my favorite pieces in my home for the simple reason that it literally cost me nothing, and even better; took me less than a minute to assemble. With how simple it was to create, I almost feel sheepish accepting compliments on it. Let me show you just how easy it was!



All you will need is two wooden crates. I have seen wood boxes like this priced very reasonably at thrift and antique stores many times. I got lucky a few years back, when on a camping trip, hiking deep within the woods, I stumbled upon a wrecked and long abandoned camping trailer. The license plates years past expiration, the walls all but completely deteriorated, and most of the contents missing or weathered beyond use, it had obviously been long forgotten. Me, being the curious person I am, I decided to take a look around, which ended up being such a great idea! I found so many wonderful and interesting artifacts, many of which I display in my home to this day.  Having been deserted so long, most items were incredibly weathered and rusted, which gave them a very interesting and unique appearance. Two such items were the wooden crates pictured above. I excitedly made my way back to camp with my unexpected loot.
I wasn't entirely sure what I would do with it all, but after getting it home (and giving it all a good scrubbing down), I had the boxes sitting in my living room, and I kept thinking to myself how well they belonged in the room; how nicely they fit in with my decor. Then, suddenly it dawned on me! I had been needing a coffee table for some time, but hadn't been able to find one that I liked that also fit my price range, and my tiny living room. Light bulb! I loved the boxes so much, I decided to turn them into a coffee table, which made the perfect addition to my otherwise lacking front room.


I simply turned the long thin box up-side-down to create the table surface, and turned the smaller box on its side to create the base. I would like to tell you it took more skill on my part, but it really was as effortless as that! I loved the way that it came together; I love the texture of the wood, and the way that it blends so well with the many natural elements in my living room, and how the age of the wood somehow made it look both antique and modern.
To make it easier to transport (I was about a month away from moving into another home), and to keep future changes in design as an option, I chose not to attach the boxes together. Had I decided to  make it a more permanent piece, seconds with a hammer and a few nails would have done the trick!


Having the base of the table be made from an enclosed box brought another interesting design element to the table (no pun intended...okay...maybe a little intended); it created a built-in shelf. I love the versatility that lends to the table. At times I like to leave it open, or occasionally I will create simple vignettes on the bottom shelf to utilize the space and to add some variety to my living room decor.  


Voila! By thinking inside the box, I managed to think outside of the box. With only two materials, and practically no skill required, I was inspired to create a coffee table that I hope in turn inspires you.


13 comments:

  1. This is a fabulous idea! I love the rustic look of the table too :) Visiting from The Creative Exchange.

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  2. Thanks for stopping by Tammy! Glad you came and that you like the project :)

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  3. Love how this turned out! Isn't it great what we can make out of crates?!

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    1. Yes Katelyn! We loved your crate project as well! I love the rustic look of crates and love the price tag even more! Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. very unique!! pinned..love it Christine from Little BRags

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    1. Thank you Christine! Just visited you cute blog as well and enjoyed it. Thanks for commenting.

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  5. that's wonderful and so perfectly rustic. I love it!. Thank you for sharing your sweet blog at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop ♥

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  6. This is such a great idea! It would be perfect if you needed extra table space for a party, too.

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    1. That's a great idea Laura! I often use crates for tabletop displays when entertaining as well. They're so versatile and fun.

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  7. Hi there! Great idea, thanks for sharing. We'll be doing a bit of home redecorating over the summer so we will definitely keep your ideas in mind. I'm stopping by from the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop at Katherine's Corner - hope to catch up with you again next week!

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    1. Thank you! I'm so glad we could help inspire you! Thanks so much for stopping by!

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