How to Build a Modern Oak Dining Table

How to Build a Modern Oak Dining Table

This blog is sponsored by The Home Depot Canada

If you are new here, we recently built beautiful wrap-around benches in our eating nook, and the last step of this renovation was to build a modern oak dining table.

We knew we wanted something really minimal, as the space is so small, and we wanted to fit the maximum amount of people in the space as possible while creating a very modern, sturdy table that would last us for years to come.

We decided to build a modern oak dining table because oak is a very dense wood. It doesn’t dent as easyily, and the wood tone is stunning

Dining Table Shop List

• 7 1x6x8 Oak Boards
• 6 2x2x3 Square Oak Boards (Legs)
• 3 1x3x8 Oak Boards (Frame + Stringers)
• 3 1x2x8 Oak Boards
• 1 1/2″ Trim Head Screws (lower profile head that avoids cracking)
• 1 1/4″ Trim Head Screws
• Torque Head Driver Bit (T-10 and T-15)
• Wood Glue
• Wood Stain – We used this stain
• Varnish – We use this varnish

It’s also important to note that The Home Depot Canada has tool rentals, so if you do not have some of the tools we’re using, you can easily rent them for a fraction of the cost!

Below is a photo of our inspiration table we modelled ours after, with the exception of the legs – we decided to use a square leg on our creation.

Building The Top

Our modern oak dining table dimensions are 72″ L x 42″ W x 30″ H. We used seven boards to create our top, and they were cut at 72″ in length.

Since this wood is only 1″ thick, we used a biscuit joiner and wood glue to secure them together. It might sound intimidating, but it is actually quite easy – all you need to do is some measuring.

• 

• 

Glen placed five biscuits on each board. He placed them four inches inset from each end and spaced one foot apart.He drew lines on the boards, so he knew exactly where to place each biscuit.

• 

• 

He applied a thin line of gorilla glue on the edge of each piece of wood. It’s okay if it leaks out the top once you push the two pieces together, you can easily sand this off once dry.

We used clamps on each end to secure the wood together to get a very tight fit.

Once your tabletop is clamped together, let it sit for 24 hours to dry.

Building The Table Base

The cuts you need to make for your table base are as follows:

• 4 Straight Legs 29 1/4″
• 2 Long Sides 57″
• 4 Short Sides + Bottom Braces 29 1/2″
• 2 Long Brace 57″
• 4 Angled Pieces 38″

I love oak because it’s so dense and needs minimal sanding to be perfected. It’s a beautiful wood and looks stunning stained.

To start building your base, attach the first two legs to the long side. Glen also used a 3/8″ spacer under the long side to centre the legs on the side. He also uses a brad point to drill the pocket holes before screwing them together.

Remember to glue all the joints together and screw two pocket holes at each joint to ensure stability.

Repeat this step again to make the other side of legs.

Once this process is completed, it’s time to screw the small sides to the legs you just built to create your base!

To ensure you get a square base, you want to use clamps to clamp your base together – see the picture below. Glen also puts two pocket holes on each joint as well as wood glue.

• 

• 

Once your table base is built, it’s time to add on the lower brace. For this part, Glen flipped over the table base to clamp them into place. You want to put your pocket holes where you will not see them. Glen usually places pocket holes on the underside.

For the long stringer, you’ll see two cuts because you have to join two pieces together to make it look like one piece. Oak does not come in 2×2 longer than three feet. But it isn’t a big deal; it only takes a few moments to brad nail and glue them together.

Once you’ve completed this step, you can screw it onto the two lower braces.

• 

• 

Next, it’s time to install the angled cuts. If you have never worked with angled cuts, you can skip this step. But we wanted to try and match as much of our project to our inspo table as possible!

We laminated together our two angles pieces, just like the long brace. Then we cut them at 37″ each.

The Table Reveal

I ended up staining the table in the Flagstone by Varathane. It came out a bit too orange, as oak is a very red-toned wood. I took 1/4 cup of white paint to one cup of water, whitewashed each board, and whipped it off immediately. I cannot tell you how perfect the finished colour is. 

If you have a small space or wrap around benches like this, this table build it so perfect because it allows so much seating since the legs are skinnier.

I’m so pleased with this modern oak dining table. It’s the table of my dreams, and I know it will last for years!

If you’re trying to count how many our dining room can fit, it seats ten on the benches and two on the chairs. A far cry from the squishy six it sat before renovating this dining room.

The Home Depot Canada is your one-stop-shop for all your home needs. Did you know that you can even purchase rugs, dining chairs and light fixtures on their website and have them shipped to your nearest store.

If you find this tutorial helpful, I would absolutely love it if you shared or pinned it to Pinterest! So much goes into creating a tutorial, and it’s so appreciated when it’s shared!