Decorating DIY Home Decor DIY Home Accents How to Build a Farmhouse End Table Start your room makeover with this DIY farmhouse furniture project. By Hannah Bruneman Hannah Bruneman Hannah Bruneman is an editorial associate at BHG.com. Her contributions focus on home renovation and decor trends. Her work has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens, Ladies Home Journal, Southern Living and more. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on January 14, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Email Project Overview Working Time: 3 hours Total Time: 12 hours Skill Level: Intermediate Even if you're not ready to take on shiplap walls, you can easily incorporate farmhouse style into your home. This DIY end table is a great alternative to expensive store-bought options and works in almost any setting, whether next to a sofa, bed, or in an entryway. Angled wood boards make up the top and bottom shelf, providing a simple detail with farmhouse flair. We'll show you the steps, and you decide what photos, books, and trinkets you want to display on your new custom side table. Check out our easy-to-follow steps below to see how to make a DIY farmhouse side table. What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Chop saw Tape measure Corner clamps Cordless drill Pencil Putty knife Sander Paint brush Materials 8 1-1/2 x 36-inch square dowel 2-inch screw Wood glue 1/2 x 36-inch square dowel 1x4x96-inch wood board Brad nails Wood putty Medium and fine sandpaper White paint Instructions Make Cuts Make all cuts according to the cut list below using a chop saw. The 1-1/2-inch square dowels will be used to build the table's main frame. The 1/2-inch square dowels will be used to support the table and shelf top. Cuts Piece Dimensions Quantity Long 1-1/2-inch square dowel 1-1/2 x 24-inches 4 Medium 1-1/2-inch square dowel 1-1/2 x 17-inches 4 Small 1-1/2-inch square dowel 1-1/2 x 13-inches 4 Medium 1/2-inch square dowel 1/2 x 17-inches 4 Small 1/2-inch square dowel 1/2 x 12-inches 4 Build Side Panel Legs Working with the 1-1/2-inch square dowels, glue and clamp the ends of a medium dowel and a long dowel together. Predrill and secure with 2-inch screws. Attach a second long dowel on the other end of the same medium dowel. You should now have a U shape.Measure up 3 inches from the bottom of each long dowel and connect another medium dowel in the same fashion. Repeat this process with the other two long and medium dowels. These builds will stand upright to form the sides of your table. Create Table Frame To finish the table frame, align and attach a small 1-1/2-inch square dowel to the base of one of the side panels. Repeat, connecting the remaining three 1-1/2-inch square dowels at the top corners and remaining bottom corner. You should now have four dowels attached perpendicular to a side panel. Attach the second side panel to all four 1-1/2-inch square dowels to finish the frame.Editor's Tip: To prevent screws from running into one other, drill in each screw slightly off-center. Attach the Ledge Turn the table upside down and set a 1x4-inch scrap board inside the table frame, lined up with one of the long 1-1/2-inch square dowels. Run a bead of glue along the side of a medium 1/2-inch square dowel. Place the dowel on top of the 1x4-inch scrap board, with the glue side to the table frame. Secure in place with a nail gun. Repeat on the second long side in the same manner. Continue with the shorter 13-inch sides using the small 1/2-inch square dowels. Repeat this process on the bottom tier of the table, clamping a longer board in place to set the 1x4-inch as a guide. Cutting the Inlays Using the chop saw set at a 45-degree angle, cut the end of one of the 1x4-inch boards. Once your 45-degree angle is cut, align it with one inner edge of the table in the corner. Using a pencil, make a mark where the uncut end of the board meets the adjacent side. This will be your cut mark for the other 45-degree angle. Make the cut and flip the board over to repeat the process and fit all of your inset pieces. Once they are cut and placed to fit, remove them and place a bead of glue on the ledge piece and replace the inlay pieces. Secure in place with a nail gun. Finish and Paint Fill screw holes with putty. Once the glue and putty have dried, lightly sand the table and wipe down. To get a white-washed look, we choose to do a pickling treatment involving watered-down white primer. This almost-translucent coating helps age the look of your wood giving it farmhouse style. To do the pickling treatment, mix a white primer with water in a 1:3 ratio and brush on thinly, wiping off excess paint as needed. After the paint has dried, sand rough areas smooth and coat with a clear polyurethane. Related Articles How to Build a DIY Cabana to Create a Shady Oasis for Your Backyard How to Build a Simple Shelf How to Make a Farmhouse Side Table How to Make a DIY Industrial Bar Cart in Just an Afternoon How to Give Your Nightstand a DIY Storage Upgrade How to Build a Storage Bench for Your Mudroom Landing Zone Turn Basic Wood Trellises Into a Stylish Outdoor Plant Stand How to Build Laundry Room Shelves How to Build a Plywood Box for Modular DIY Storage 26 DIY Kitchen Cabinet Updates So You Don't Have to Replace Them How to Make a Modern Farmhouse Planter How to Build a Dry Bar How to Build a Porch Swing How to Build a Nightstand with Hairpin Legs How to Build a Farmhouse Bench How to Build a Cabinet Door Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies