These DIY 15 dollar side tables were so fun to build. They were dreamt up with the “skinny bench” look in mind that is super popular right now. But seeing as they had to hold a substantially large lamp and a coffee cup or two, I wanted them to be decent sized, but small enough to have two in our room!
Since all we had was pine on hand, we had to put a bit more effort into these 15 dollar side tables.
But if you have an old chain and a hammer, it makes the beating up of the wood simple and quick!
So, lets dive into how to make these 15 dollar side tables!
Shop List For Side Tables
- Two 2″ x 8″ x 10′ Pine Boards
- One 2″ x 4″ x 4′ Pine Board
- Drill
- Wood Glue
- Old Chain, Hammer.. Anything to beat up the wood
- Stain ( We used our Beachwood )
- Varnish ( Optional - Here’s what we use )
How To Build DIY 15 Dollar Side Tables
We needed our side tables to be small enough to fit two in our room, but also big enough to hold our big chunky lamps. We decided on 14 x 14 x 24″ High.
Since Glen always forgets to photograph the process and builds out of his head, here’s a tutorial on what he did. You can make that into any sized side table.
For the cross pieces, Glen took a jigsaw and cut holes into the wood. Since the legs are on a 10 degree angle, he had to cut the holes on a 10 degree angle. So if you’re a beginner, maybe keep the legs straight. You can also place your 2×4 where you want to place your brace and trace the wood onto your legs. If you’re a beginner, this will be your easiest method.
For a more in-detail view of how we made these, you can also head on over to my Instagram and watch my “DIY Side Table” highlight.
For the custom stain mix we made almost five years ago, click here. There’s also a highlight on my Instagram to show different tones of it and how you can achieve that look!
As you can see from the photos, they are really beat up, which is how I envisioned them. If you want a more modern, clean cut look, I would avoid that step.
For these specific side tables, I stained with a rag so I could wipe it up immediately. I didn’t want the stain to penetrate the wood too much.
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