Homemade Library Table

by Liz, HomeTalker

4 Materials

$70

30 Minutes

Easy

I'm in forever renovation mode in our home. I wanted an office area/study. I also wanted a larger dining room. Our old dining room actually used to be our old bedroom before we put the second story on our house. Plus it was also the smallest room in the house, but we needed a dining room, so I turned it into one. But when the addition finally settled in, and I realized after five years we needed more room for both spaces, I realized I could just switch places! I did and it turned out beautifully.

This is the original space. In the process of switching out rooms, I wanted a new computer/library table. We were using an old curbside find, a really cute desk, but as time wore on, we all realized it was way too small for our needs, albeit it having a drawer, which we all used.

Here's the original desk that we were using as our computer table. Cute and usable, but very tiny as an actual work surface. What I really wanted was a turned leg table, but at a very minimal cost of around $300, they were out of reach for us right now. So I had to make do with what we had, and the gears started turning. What could I repurpose that we already owned? I was feeling desperate.

Then I thought of it. My DH and I picked up an old coffee table that someone was throwing out. It was a bit warped on the top, so my husband actually Elmer Glued another board on so it would have a smooth surface. The coffee table never worked out for us space wise, but was still in good shape. I decided I could use the top of this coffee table as my library table surface.

I was really surprised how easy it was to take the entire coffee table apart; everything was just screwed together. So unscrewed all the parts, took some hair pin legs that I had laying around from another project, and added them to the coffee table top.

It was amazing how the hair pin legs seemed to fit to so perfectly on the underside of the table surface, like it was meant to be. I was beginning to wonder if The Almighty wasn't overseeing this project for me and giving me the go ahead nod. :)

Voila! Here is my new library table, all from used materials around our house. I'd still like to finish off the edge with some decorative trim and repaint it. See pics below.

Unfinished edge with extra board glued on top by DH.

Decorative trim I plan on using to hide the seams. I'll need to miter the edges for a smooth finish and then fill. I might even do a stencil on top after I repaint the entire surface.

For now, it serves it's purpose and provides a much larger work surface for us to work from. To think I made this table from stuff laying around our house. I'm so excited and pleased. I hope you are too! You just never know what you could come up with in time of need....