Table Top

Rustic Modern Pedestal Bistro Table

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DIY bistro table. Rustic modern style with industrial pipe and weighted bowl base.

This DIY bistro table is just the right size for one or two people and would work great for a small dining space or to create a cozy nook in a wide open patio, deck, or yard. The pedestal base is made of an industrial galvanized steel plumbing pipe and a wooden serving bowl, turned upside down and weighted with concrete for stability. The table top is a store-bought pine panel.

DIY patio furniture bistro table
DIY Bistro Table table top view with tea set
base of pedestal base of DIY bistro table

This is the first dining table that I have made, and I’m happy with how it turned out. The table is standard height, 30 inches high, and the table top is 24 inches diameter. The bowl that I used for the bottom of the base has a diameter of 12 inches. When I was “designing” the table, I scoured the internet for information on how wide the base should be relative to the table top diameter to reduce the possibility of the table tipping over. What I found out is there are no hard rules on the ratio of the base to the table top. But, generally, the base diameter (what sits on the floor) should be at least half the diameter of the table top. Variables that affect the ratio, while I don’t understand it all, include the weight of the base, the weight of the table top, and the height of the table top off the floor.

Why am I telling you all this? The bowl that you use will probably be different from mine, with different dimensions and may hold more or less weight in the form of concrete. My table seems very stable, so you will probably be okay if you stick with the dimensions that I used. But if you want a larger-diameter bistro table (for instance 30 inches diameter) or you want a bar height table (36 inches), I suggest getting a bigger wood bowl to use in the pedestal or install a “foot” underneath your bowl to increase the base diameter.

The Rustic Modern Pedestal Bistro Table project has six main parts:

  • Preparing the wooden bowl for adding concrete
  • Weighting the wooden bowl with concrete and finishing the bowl
  • Painting the plumbing pipe and flanges
  • Cutting flattening cleats and attaching them to the table top
  • Sanding and finishing the table top
  • Assembling the table

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Easy IKEA Hack Side Table: Frosta Stool + Aptitlig Chopping Board

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DIY side table project ikea hack. Frosta stool legs and Aptitlig chopping board table top.

Here is another easy DIY side table and my first IKEA hack. (Well, it’s my second IKEA hack if you count the mid-century modern inspired cement replacement sofa legs. Check the cement legs project out here.) For this DIY furniture project I used the legs from an IKEA Frosta stool.  The IKEA Aptitlig chopping board made a great bamboo table top to go with the interesting Frosta bentwood legs.

 

Easy IKEA Hack DIY side table made with frosta stool and aptitlig chopping board

I decided to do another project for my new “Easy” category of furniture-making adventures.  I’m really enjoying getting projects done in quick order and hope you appreciate it too!

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Bamboo Legs Revisited: Two New Looks

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DIY side table made with upcycled bamboo garden stake legs. I paired the bamboo legs with a simple pine board table top.
DIY side table made with upcycled bamboo garden stake legs. I paired the bamboo legs with an interesting plastic cutting board as the table top.

Previously, I used these bamboo legs in a nightstand project. I liked the legs so much that I wanted to show you two new stylish side tables using the same bamboo legs.

Both of the table tops are easy to make.  The first is a pine board that I sanded and finished.  The second is a cutting board that I unpackaged.  It doesn’t get much easier!

I have broken this post into three parts:

  • Making the bamboo legs and base
  • Making the pine board and bamboo leg side table
  • Making the plastic cutting board and bamboo leg side table

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Folding X-Base Coffee Table with Metal Tube Legs

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Upcycle your TV tray! DIY folding coffee table with x-base legs.

For this DIY project, I upcycled the legs from an inexpensive TV tray table and used two pine stair risers as the table top.

DIY x base folding coffee table made with tray table base and stair risers.

I’m really excited about this x-base coffee table because it folds like a tray table, making it a snap to store when it is not being used.  Wouldn’t this be nice for a small living room–you can get it out when you want it, and put it away when you don’t.

DIY coffee table furniture project x base

Because the entire legs/base is from a tray table, this coffee table is about as sturdy as a tray table.  Keep that in mind, and see if it meets your needs.

Here is my folding coffee table loaded up with about 60 pounds of goods, so I feel okay about putting a laptop on it, and some books, a drink, a remote, and kicking back with my feet on the thing. But I’m not going to sit on it or let my children sit on it (they’re teenagers). You get my point.

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Easy DIY Side Table with Magazine Rack

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Really easy-to-make DIY side table, mid-century modern style.

Learn how to make this easy, stylish side table.  I used a magazine rack as the base and added a painted pine board table top.

 

An easy DIY furniture project! Mid-Century Modern style side table with a magazine rack.
Easy DIY side table with magazine rack storage.

When I started thinking about this project, I knew I wanted something easy.  It’s spring cleaning time, and the grass is growing and needs mowing.  Also, I was away from home and the blog for a while, visiting my sister who is recovering from a medical situation.  And of course, my husband and kids always need tending to.  So I needed an easy project.  In fact, I like the idea of easy projects so much that I’m making a new category called “Easy.”  These will be projects that can be done fairly quickly and involve mainly painting/staining (as options to your taste) and assembling by screwing or hammering things together.

The Side Table with Magazine Rack project has three parts:

  • Choose and prepare the table top
  • Choose and prepare the magazine rack
  • Attach the table top to the magazine rack

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