Free DIY Train Table

Mercedes Madrie
by Mercedes Madrie
4 Materials
1 Day
Easy

I found this table on marketplace for free, I was originally going to use it in our kitchen, but I found another table that fit better in our "breakfast nook." I didn't know what to do with this table, but I got an idea when my baby kept trying to play with his train tracks in his bedroom (which is all carpet) and it wasn't working too well for him. I kept looking for train tables for his room that weren't too expensive, but were cute and had no luck, so I figured I'd make him one instead!

The first thing I did was took the legs off the table and measured them to a height that would fit him better. I used a miter saw to cut them, then reassembled the table to make sure it was the right height. (And yes, his pants are on backwards lol).

I applied three coats of rustoleum chalk paint to the table. Once it was dry, I went over it lightly with 220 grit sandpaper to smooth it out.

I took the table up to his room and chose a train track layout that would best fit the table, (this is what google helped me come up with). I used wood glue to glue the tracks down, then I painted the "lakes" and added painters tape to outline what would become the "roads."

Once the paint was dry for the "road", I removed the painters tape and added the yellow lines on the road, and voila, free DIY train table! He loves the train part of the table, but I secretly think he likes the roads for his dump trucks even more.

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  • Tracey Frieszell Tracey Frieszell on May 08, 2020

    Did you secure the train track to the table? If so what did you use? Awesome Craftsmanship!!!

    Love it!!

  • Delores M Stevens Delores M Stevens on May 08, 2020

    Another idea, could this table be painted with paint that would allow chalk drawings on it that could be erased?

  • Pat Pat on May 07, 2022

    Fantastic! Maybe later, LEGOS?



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  • Jennifer Jennifer on Jun 22, 2022

    You did a great job and I absolutely love that his pants were on backwards!💗 My kiddos have a train table but now I’m tempted to paint over it with my own village design. As an alternative to the table (or even for use when traveling), Amazon sells “road tape”. Think wide painters tape but black and with the centerline. They have both straight and curved segments and even after months, lifts without leaving residue. Great project- thx for sharing!

  • Barbara Dirkmaat Barbara Dirkmaat on May 05, 2023

    Wonderful job! I absolutely love how it turned out! Very cool idea and I’m sure your son loves it. Hopefully, he’ll keep it for when he has kids of his own.

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