It’s eye-opening how many ways there are to make a coffee table. From the overall design, the materials used like wood, metal, upholstery, the size, the “legs”, top, drawers, accessories, you name it – there are countless options when you DIY one of these classic family or living room pieces.
Take a look at just a few possibilities below that we’ve featured here on KnockOffDecor.com. If you have a dull or ordinary coffee table now, you’ll be salivating by the time you get to the end of this article!
1. Factory Cart Coffee Table
Ever since the Restoration Hardware Factory Cart Table came out, Amy from The Blissful Bee has been dying to have it!
Unfortunately, there was a price tag of about $1000 – and for Amy (and probably the rest of us, too!), that was out of the question.
That’s when Amy and her hubby decided to build it themselves. They scoured flea markets, antique stores, and eBay to find just the right materials to create a truly vintage-looking beauty for only $150!
2. Rustic Wood Coffee Table
The girls over at Shanty 2 Chic are cranking out the projects!
This fabulous coffee table build is brought to us by Ashley who requested the help of beloved Ana White to draw up the project plans.
Ashley’s DIY table only cost $100, as compared to Pottery Barn’s $699 inspiration.
I am so drooling over this design and Ashley’s remarkable craftsmanship. Have you been inspired yet to grab the power tools and get building?
3. Aqua Painted Trunk Coffee Table
Kristin of Finley Gray was flipping through Pottery Barn’s catalog when she laid eyes on their Rebecca Trunk, a trunk-style coffee table inspired by an Amish hope chest.
Kristin was immediately smitten and just so happened to have an old trunk sitting in her bedroom.
Since Kristin is having a love affair with aqua lately, she decided to let the trunk join the ranks and made it over using her own special paint concoction.
Here’s what Kristin says about her old-made-new trunk: “I love the way it turned out!… it gives me the same sparkly LOVE IT feelings the original did in the catalog.”
4. Industrial Wood and Metal Coffee Table with Casters
Elisha from Pneumatic Addict Furniture was recently inspired to build this industrial steel-frame coffee table using her newly-learned welding skills.
Through DIY Elisha was able to save money and make some of her own changes, like using oversized casters, choosing a deeper shade of wood stain, and adding carriage bolts to the tabletop for interest.
Elisha says this is her favorite furniture build to date, and I can most definitely see why!
5. Trunk Coffee Table
It’s impossible not to be inspired by talented ladies like Ashley and Whitney from Shanty 2 Chic, who are skilled with power tools and have stocked their homes with gorgeous furniture pieces that they built.
Just look at this trunk-style coffee table that Whitney recently built following plans from Ana White!
It’s pretty, budget friendly, and, best of all, easy to make!
Whitney even says it’s a great beginner building project for those who have been on the fence. Time to get building and make your own coffee station magic!
6. DIY Coffee Table with Apothecary Style
Brooke from Killer b. Designs is no stranger to the popular 20-Second Tidy Up Table from Ana White.
After completing the build many times, Brooke was thrilled when Ana contacted her about tackling an apothecary version.
Brooke says, “I love this trundle style table, it’s seriously the best idea ever.
So much storage, yet easy to keep out of sight! Best of both worlds.”
7. Salvaged Wood Balustrade Coffee Table
After living with her small, wobbly coffee table for ten years, Tricia from Simplicity in the South was more than ready to welcome a more substantial piece into her home.
Tricia actually built her new “beefier” table for a mere $50 since most of the wood was salvaged from an old building.
And would you believe this was Tricia’s first furniture build?
She borrowed a little help from Ana White for the tabletop but can take the credit for the rest of the plan.
Of course, Tricia shows you exactly how she built it and achieved the distressed finished with milk paint and a wet rag.
8. Factory Cart Coffee Table
Jan from With Love has a brand spanking new addition to her living room – a handmade (with love of course) factory cart coffee table.
After wanting one of these babies for years, Jan was inspired by Ana White’s plan to finally make the dream a reality.
Jan learned a few things the hard way, but the finished product is totally beautiful.
I love all the details Jan put into it with the chunky hinges and name personalization.
9. Wood and Metal Coffee Table
Debra from Bungalow loved the look of a reclaimed wood and metal coffee table for her living room, but spending a couple thousand dollars on a small table simply wasn’t happening.
Instead, Debra purchased some iron from the hardware store and put her husband’s welding skills to work.
Even if your husband can’t weld, Debra suggests finding a friend or hiring out the welding to still save a pretty penny from Restoration Hardware’s price tag.
10. Library Coffee Table
The girls from Shanty 2 Chic are such an inspiration when it comes to knockoff furniture pieces!
Just check out this awesome library-style coffee table that Ashley built with plans from Ana White.
This table combines both form and function with a generous tabletop for decorating and drawers for hidden storage!
11. Industrial Coffee Table
This project is actually a knock off of a knock off that was spurred on by the DIY factory cart table from Amy at The Blissful Bee.
Emily from Gray Matter fell in love with Amy’s table, especially the idea of an old-looking table made from new wood.
Emily got her husband on board to help her, and together they modified the plans a bit to build a beautifully beat-up coffee table that she absolutely loves.
12. Clock Coffee Table
This project from Corrie at Red Hen Home is one of my favorite kinds.
Not only does it look like it’s straight from a catalog, but it also gives new life to an old round coffee table that was sporting a big old crack.
After nabbing a round maple table from a garage sale for only $8, Corrie refinished it to look like a vintage clock face. I so love this table, and Corrie totally nailed the look of a beloved Pottery Barn wall clock!
13. Zinc Coffee Table
One thing Kelli from Restore Interiors felt was missing from her living area was a coffee table.
She got a secondhand table from a friend that happened to resemble one from Pottery Barn with a zinc top.
Kelli liked the idea of a zinc top but wanted it to have more of a vintage look than all shiny and new.
Kelli experimented with “recipes” and really achieved the look of zinc in the end.
