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DIY Coffee Table Inspired By West Elm

This DIY coffee table was inspired by a West Elm find for $999 – except we made our version for less than $50 using pallet wood. It’s easy to do!

Skills Required: Intermediate Beginner. I wouldn’t try this as your first woodworking project ever, because I think you should have a bit of experience with power tools. Maybe build something really simple first before trying this West Elm coffee table.

DIY Coffee Table Inspired By West Elm

Sometimes you see a piece of furniture in a catalog you HAVE to have (remember my DIY outdoor bench?). You know what I’m talking about, right?

For us it was a West Elm Plank Coffee Table, with the price tag of $999. But then we realized something – we could make our own DIY coffee table, for a lot less, out of pallet wood.

We’ve worked with pallet wood before, but this was the biggest project we decided to tackle with it. The good news? It wasn’t as hard as we thought . . . and this DIY coffee table ended up being less than $50 to make! $45 total.

West Elm Coffee Table

To give you a frame of reference, this is the table on the West Elm site that we liked:

West Elm Plank Coffee Table

Find it here listed for $999. We weren’t about to be intimidated by a table and we knew we could make a DIY coffee table ourselves! Here’s how we made ours.

How to Make a Coffee Table

The finished dimensions of this table are 16″ tall x 30″ wide (square).

Gather These Supplies

  • 3 – 4 old pallets – let pallet wood sit for several weeks before using (see first step); see Cut List for how to cut the pallet wood
  • 4′ x 4′ piece of pine plywood – (cut to 30″ x 30″, see Cut List)
  • 2″ x 2″ x 8′ lengths of pine (4) – (4 are cut to 27″, 8 are cut to 30″, see Cut List)
  • 2″ x 4″ x 6′ (or 8′) length of pine (1) – (cut into four 12″ pieces, see Cut List)
  • Wood screws (32) – 2 1/2″ long
  • Wood screws (8) – 1″ long
  • Corner braces (12 total, 2 in each package) – 2″
  • Miscellaneous clamps
  • Tape measure
  • Pencil
  • Wood glue – we swear by Titebond III
  • Wood stain – we used FolkArt Home Decor Antiquing Wax
  • Cloth
  • Goggles to use with your tools

Tools

  • Small table saw
  • Miter saw
  • Planer
  • Nail gun with 1 1/4″ nails
  • Drill with selection of bits

Cut List – you can download the entire cut list HERE or each page separately: Cut List 1, Cut List 2, Cut List 3. I highly recommend downloading the cut lists and printing to follow along with the instructions.

The cut list will help you purchase the right amount of wood assuming you don’t buy the same lengths as listed in the Supplies above.

We learned a lesson on this DIY coffee table project right away! Once you find your pallets, YOUR FIRST STEP needs to be to strip the wood off of the pallet and plane it to a uniform thickness of 1/2″.

Then let it sit for several weeks to dry in a non-humid environment (at least inside a garage or basement) so that the drying doesn’t occur after your table is assembled. We assumed our wood was already dry because it felt dry – we learned the hard way. :0

2 x 2x trimmed down to 30" pieces with 45 degree cuts on each end

Step One: Grab your 2 x 2s and trim them down to 30″ pieces. Make 45º cuts at each end using the miter saw (see Fig. 1 on the Cut List).

Four packages of Everbuilt corner braces
Part of a table with a brace in the corner

Step Two: Use the corner braces with your drill to join the 2 x 2s into two frames.

Like this:

2 x 2s joined into two frames

Step Three: Cut down the remaining 2 x 2 wood into 27″ long pieces (see Fig. 3 on the Cut List). You’re going to add two cross pieces to each frame.

Using a drill to attach the cross pieces to the wood frames

Use your tape measure to add them at 10″ and 20″ – so equidistant across the frame on the top and bottom. Mark with a pencil, drill two pilot holes, and then screw in 2 1/2″ wood screws.

If they aren’t EXACTLY at 10″ and 20″ – you’ll be fine. You’ll have two pieces that look like this:

Two wood frames on the ground with the crossbars screwed in

Step Four: Cut your plywood down to 30″ x 30″ using a table saw (or a circular saw – anything you can cut a straight line with, see Fig. 4 on the Cut List).

Wood frame attached to the plywood

Attach one of the frames to the plywood (it doesn’t matter which one you pick) using the bottom sides of the corner brackets and your drill. The plywood piece is going to sit on the base of your table, which you’ll make shortly.

2 x 4s cut into four 12" pieces

Step Five: Cut your 2 x 4 into four 12″ pieces (see Fig. 2 on the Cut List).

DIY coffee table frame with the four wood pieces attached

Attach the four 12″ pieces as shown in the photo using wood screws and a drill. Notice that the slats on your 30″ top frame are not parallel to the frame on the bottom with the plywood attached. This is on purpose to add some rigidity to the piece.

Step Six: turn the table skeleton over so the plywood base is facing up. You’ll want to have four pieces of pallet wood cut to 3.5″ wide by 22″ long (see Fig. 5 on the Cut List).

Four pieces of pallet wood on the top of a piece of plywood

We used a table saw to cut the length and the miter saw to quickly cut the ends. Use whatever saw works best for you.

Pallet wood forming the brace with braces in the corners

Form your base by making a frame out of the four 22″ pieces. Put wood glue on the end of each board, attach to another board as shown, then nail the ends with the nail gun (see the photo above, left).

Use your remaining corner brackets to add the base to the bottom of the plywood – use your measuring tape to center the base. Then add about eight additional 1″ wood screws to attach the plywood to the frame. Add them in the middle, randomly.

Base of the table attached to the plywood

This is how the base looks when it’s done. You can flip the table back over.

Step Seven: Pay close attention as I explain the next part. You now have a skeleton frame of a table, with a base. The next step is to cover the top, then in the following step you’ll cover the sides.

Our table top has two end pieces (shown as Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 on the Cut List) and SIX pieces in between (the top wood planks shown as Fig. 6 on the Cut List) of varying widths.

The top wood planks are 31″ because they overhang on each side by 1/2″.

You may or may not have six middle pieces depending on a variety of factors (like how big you decided to make your table or how wide the pieces were to begin with). The two end pieces need 45º angles down three sides – two short sides and one long side – cut with a table saw. The middle pieces need 45º angles on each end.

Showing the 45 degree mitered piece at the corner of the coffee table

Steve cut and glued as he went along. He started at one end. He cut the end piece using his table saw (with the 31″ length and the 45º angle), then glued it down with wood glue and clamped it into place.

Partially assembled table with one of the boards across the top of the coffee table frame

Then he cut a second pallet board – 31″ long, 45º angles on both ends, glued into place. You don’t need to clamp the second board, just put it in tightly.

Steve varied the width of the pallet boards using the table saw as he went along. You can cut and glue as you go, or you can cut all of the pieces and lay them out first. The way you approach your DIY coffee table is your choice.

Steve continued cutting and gluing, but not all the way to the end. Once he got close to the end, he did the end piece first, THEN went back and cut the last piece to fit in the remaining gap with his table saw.

Graphic showing which piece of wood went into the tabletop last

Oh, and I should mention, he used weights as he went along too. The weights were paver stones, because they were handy:

Gluing the tabletop down and holding down with pavers as weights

Once the table top is done, let it dry for a few hours.

DIY coffee table top drying on the driveway

Step Eight: Time for the sides! You’re going to approach the sides the same way you did the top.

The differences: the side pieces are shorter (12.5″ long), the end pieces need two sides with 45º angles (instead of three), and the middle pieces only need one short end with a 45º angle instead of both (see Figs. 9 and 10 on the Cut List).

Adding the sides of the coffee table with craft glue
Showing the glue on a portion of the coffee table as well as how the wood comes together

Cut and glue as you did before – the side boards will meet the top boards and the two 45º angles will fit right together. It might not be perfect . . . but it will be close enough for government work, if you know that saying? (tee hee)

Repeat with the other three sides – leaving a couple hours of drying time between sides.

Pretty soon, you’ll have a finished DIY coffee table! You can leave it as is, or you can do a light sanding with 120 grit. We chose to do a light sanding before staining. Wipe away any sanding dust, of course!

DIY coffee table drying

You might be asking if the wood glue is enough to hold all four sides and the top on – the answer is yes. We’ve done a lot of sitting and dancing on the table (you think I’m kidding) and it’s really sturdy. You’re in the home stretch!

Applying stain to the coffee table and wiping away with a rag

The last step was to stain and wax the table. We picked FolkArt Home Decor Wax in Antiquing – for several reasons. It’s non-toxic, we liked the color, and it also provides a really smooth finish to the touch because it’s a wax and stain in one.

Just glop it on as shown, then rub in with a cloth. Work about 1/3 of the table top at a time, then the sides, then the base. Don’t leave the wax on for too long before wiping away with the rag because it will soak in.

Top of a DIY block coffee table

It’s really amazing how the stain soaks into the pallet wood on our DIY coffee table and gives a beautiful finish . . . with gorgeous variations in color. The nail holes and knots add character as well.

Side of the DIY West Elm coffee table
diy wood block coffee table

Take a look at the details – we’re so happy with how our DIY coffee table turned out!

DIY Coffee Table Inspired By West Elm

Our West Elm inspired DIY coffee table is one of our favorite furniture pieces of all time! AND as I mentioned, total cost of $45 . . . a huge savings over $999.

The pallet wood helped with the cost and also helped with the character. If you want to make something with pallets but aren’t sure where to find them or where to start, check out this article.

You can scale our DIY coffee table to any size, and stain it with any color. I’d love to hear what you think in the comments!

Yield: 1 table

DIY Coffee Table

DIY Coffee Table Inspired By West Elm

This DIY coffee table was inspired by a West Elm find for $999 - except we made our version for less than $50 using pallet wood. It's easy to do!

Prep Time 1 hour
Active Time 4 hours
Total Time 5 hours
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $45

Materials

  • 3 - 4 old pallets
  • 4' x 4' piece of pine plywood
  • 2" x 2" x 8' lengths of pine (4)
  • 2" x 4" x 6' (or 8') length of pine (1)
  • Wood screws (32) - 2 1/2" long
  • Wood screws (8) - 1" long
  • Corner braces (12 total, 2 in each package) - 2"
  • Titebond III
  • FolkArt Home Decor Antiquing Wax

Tools

  • Small table saw
  • Miter saw
  • Planer
  • Nail gun with 1 1/4" nails
  • Drill with selection of bits
  • Clamps
  • Tape measure
  • Pencil
  • Goggles
  • Staining rags

Instructions

  1. Strip the wood off of your pallets and plane to a uniform thickness of 1/2".
  2. Grab 2 x 2s and trim them down to 30" pieces. Make 45º cuts at each end using the miter saw.
  3. Use the corner braces with a drill to join the 2 x 2s into two frames.
  4. Cut down the remaining 2 x 2 wood into 27" long pieces.
  5. Add two cross pieces to each frame. Use your tape measure to add them at 10" and 20" - so equidistant across the frame on the top and bottom. Mark with a pencil, drill two pilot holes, and then screw in 2 1/2" wood screws.
  6. Cut the plywood down to 30" x 30" using a table saw.
  7. Attach one of the frames to the plywood (it doesn't matter which one you pick) using the bottom sides of the corner brackets and your drill.
  8. Cut the 2 x 4 into four 12" pieces.
  9. Attach the four 12" pieces as shown in the photo using wood screws and a drill.
  10. Turn the table skeleton over so the plywood base is facing up.
  11. Cut four pieces of pallet wood to 3.5" wide by 22" long.
  12. Form a base by making a frame out of the four 22" pieces. Put wood glue on the end of each board, attach to another board as shown, then nail the ends with the nail gun.
  13. Use the four remaining corner brackets to add the base to the bottom of the plywood - use a measuring tape to center the base.
  14. Add about eight additional 1" wood screws to attach the plywood to the frame. Add them in the middle, randomly.
  15. Cut pallet wood to fit the table top. Cut the end pieces first. The two end pieces need 45º angles down three sides - two short sides and one long side - cut with a table saw. The middle pieces need 45º angles on each end.
  16. Vary the width of the boards. As the boards are cut, glue them down.
  17. Let the table top dry for several hours.
  18. Cut the side pieces. The side pieces are shorter (12.5" long), the end pieces need two sides with 45º angles (instead of three), and the middle pieces only need one short end with a 45º angle instead of both.
  19. Cut and glue as you did from step 16. Repeat with the other three sides.
  20. Do a lightsanding with 120 grit sandpaper. Wipe away the sanding dust.
  21. Stain and wax the table; let dry for several hours before using.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a rating or share a photo on Pinterest!


For some related crafts you might also enjoy, check out these posts:

Shreena

Thursday 22nd of September 2022

This is gorgeous! But why are the cross pieces for the frame 27” long and not 26”? (Since the skeleton frame is 30” minus the 2” width on each side)

Amy

Thursday 22nd of September 2022

Thank you so much! Because 2 x 2 x 8 is the nominal size - 1.5" is the actual size! It gets confusing: https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/understanding-wood-sizes-in-softwood-lumber-3536905

Kevin

Thursday 11th of February 2021

Hi! Thanks so much for the awesome coffee table idea! I had a quick question - the cut list states the pallet wood top pieces are 31" long but the steps above state 30" length. Which is the correct length? Thanks!

Amy

Thursday 25th of February 2021

Hi Kevin! The cut list is correct. I made the correction in the text - thank you for catching it! The top pieces overlap by 1/2" on all sides and meet at a 45 degree angle to the other pieces, so 31" is correct. Thank you!

steve

Tuesday 23rd of April 2019

So you need 12 corner brackets not 8 right? There are four more to make the brace for the bottom as you already used 8 to build the frames.

Also you meant connect the 4 22 inch pieces not 12 inches pieces. This confused me and I want to be sure.

I have read it over and over to be sure.

I want to do this tonight!

Amy

Wednesday 22nd of May 2019

Hi Steve! Yes, 12! And yes, connect the four 22-inch pieces. Thank you for catching both errors! They've been fixed. :)

Maria

Monday 22nd of October 2018

I wonder if it is possible if it can be made with the removable top so you can also use it as storage?

Ringding

Friday 4th of May 2018

Awesome!!!! I would also like to know what to substitute the pallet wood with? I cannot plane the pallets and want to get started right away. Pine 1x’s? I will be using this as an outside table with a few modifications to house my well pump for my garden. Thanks

Amy

Saturday 5th of May 2018

If it's going to be outside, use treated lumber like cedar - and then you could sand it smooth (if you want to). It's also fine to keep it rough. Use a waterproof sealer or a deck stain. Pine will disintegrate in the weather. Cedar is a little bit more expensive but then you won't be upset because your table won't ruin.

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