DIY Sofa Table Project

Remember my DIY Pallet Coffee Table? TodayI bring you another DIY project. How is it food related? Well, I partially build this Sofa Table so that I could have a place to rest cups/glasses/plates when I eat my dinner sitting on the couch and watching TV.

The project actually started when I noticed that my AC unit was leaking. Oh the joys of home ownership! I had to move my couch away from the window and make sure the hardwood floor was ok. And then I decided to use the space between the couch and the window wall and build the sofa table!!

So I took a few measurements, asked my friend Cindy to drive me to Home Depot, and got to work.

Basically, I decided to make two shorter tables instead of one long one. It was a great decision: 1) easier to build 2) sturdier 3) easier to move around when needed.

I got all the wood cut according to my measurements at Home Depot for free. All the materials for this project (including an electrical sander) cost me about $100. Not bad for a custom piece of furniture.

What you need: wood, L brackets, screws, sand paper, electric screwdriver (I already had one), wood stain and gloss. I bought wood glue, but could not figure out how to open it, so it did not get used. I also bought little "feet" to put on the bottom of the table in order not to scratch my floors.

Here's what I did:

1) sand all wood pieces
2) attach the feet to the bottom of the pieces that would be the legs for the sofa table
3) pre-drill the holes for L brackets and then attach them to the top and leg pieces of the sofa table

Do you like my little assembly line??!! Doing this project inside my condo was not easy, but not having another option I managed.

4) stain the tables

5) apply the gloss finish (I had to do this multiple times even though the fumes were horrendous)

Ta da!!!

So now I have a place to set my dishes and to display my plants/flowers!

You can barely see the table looking straight at the window. At first it bothered me a bit, but now I'm completely used to it.

This was a fun project for sure.

Lessons learned: always double check the number of screws you buy for a project. I was 10 screws short and had to go back to purchase them.

Have you done any DIY projects lately? 

PS I wanted to share a quick design project: I turned my existing book shelf upside down to use on the wall by my front door. I added a framed poster (thanks, mom!) and accessorized the shelf with cookbooks, photo frames and flowers. 

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