How to Make a DIY Modern Coffee Table Inspired by Studio Mignone
The Tavolo Morbido by Studio Mignone is going viral all over Instagram. I have no idea how it’s going viral because it costs over $3,000! Someone suggested that I recreate this, so I’m going to make my own DIY modern coffee table inspired by Studio Mignone for only a fraction of the price.
Can we make a Tavolo Morbido dupe out of Dollar Store food containers, aluminum foil, and joint compound? Yes, we can!
Tools and materials:
- 8 Food containers
- Spray foam
- Knife
- Superglue
- Tape
- Sandpaper
- Gloves
- Joint compound
- Water
- Paper
- Scissors
- Marker
- Aluminum foil
- Plexiglass
- Glass cutter or jigsaw (optional)
- White spray gloss
1. Fill the containers
Fill the food containers with foam sealant. There’s no need to fill them to the top, as the foam puffs up.
2. Cut the tops
Cut the excess off the top.
Tip: wait a few hours until the foam has completely dried. I didn’t because I was impatient, and the foam was still soft inside, so I had to wait.
3. Connect the containers
We’re going to stick the containers one on top of the other. So, apply superglue along the edges and then stick them. You could also do this with silicone.
I also taped the containers together to keep them in place while the glue dries.
4. Cover the containers
Mix joint compound and water together.
Go over the containers with sandpaper to scratch them up. Make the surface as rough as possible so that the compound will stick to it, rather than slide off.
Cover the containers with joint compound. Make sure you put on your gloves for this part! You don’t need to be precise, just cover it and give it some thickness.
Make sure you place a piece of paper on the bottom. Then, once the rest of the cube is dry, turn it over and cover the bottom as well.
5. Make the corners
As you can see, the corners of the Tavolo Morbido have a distinctive shape, so that’s what we’re going to make next.
Trace the corner of one of the leftover containers (or do this before you cover them), then cut out the shape.
Add a little bit of joint component to the corner of the containers, which will act as a sort of glue. Then, use your paper template as a guide, and place a rolled-up piece of aluminum foil on the corner. Cover it with a layer of the joint component.
6. Make the cubes straight
Once you have the right shape, go over the whole block with a flat tool to make the edges straighter and more like a cube.
Once finished and dried, go over the surfaces with sandpaper.
7. Make the glass tabletop
Now it’s time for the tabletop. You have two options here: glass or plexiglass. I went for plexiglass, not because it’s cheaper (it was actually more expensive), but because this table will be in my workshop, and I don’t want to risk it breaking.
Whether you use glass or plexiglass, you’ll need to shape the corners using your template, as shown above.
If you’re using glass, use a glass-cutting tool.
If you’re using plexiglass, use a jigsaw to cut the edges.
I got my plexiglass cut at the store where I bought it, so I didn’t need to do this step.
8. Spray the cubes
I left the cubes drying overnight and then sprayed them with a shiny white gloss.
DIY modern coffee table
My DIY modern coffee table is complete! I’m so happy with how it came out. This Studio Mignone Tavolo Morbido dupe barely cost anything to make and it goes so well with the rest of my modern decor.
What do you think of the final result? Let me know in the comments below.
Resources for this project:
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I love this!
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I love diy' projects like this! Creative, inexpensive and beautiful. Great job!
Frequently asked questions
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Interesting approach. question: would concrete have been an option to cast these footings? I like your idea, but would want it more cocktail table height (24”) and would want to have it be weatherproof for use in my yard. Then, when winter comes, stack the cubes/store the glass.