DIY: Coffee Table
DIY Concrete Coffee Table: How I Made My First Piece of Furniture!
I got the biggest compliment ever! Someone asked me where I bought my coffee table, and I proudly told them, “I freaking made it!!!” Yes, you read that right—this beautiful piece of furniture is 100% DIY, and I couldn't be more excited to share how I did it!
A year and a half ago, I decided it was time to stop just wishing and start doing. There was this huge item on my “to-make” list: a handmade coffee table. But even with all my accomplishments, this was the one thing I had never attempted. I always thought furniture-building was something I’d never tackle—but it turns out, all I needed was the right project to make it happen.
I kept it simple because, let’s face it, I have a tendency to overcomplicate things, which can lead to procrastination (yep, guilty!). I needed something easy to ease into this whole furniture-making world. So, I grabbed a piece of project board from Lowes, a couple of 5-gallon buckets, and some concrete, and got to work. Here’s how I did it!
Plan the Design
First things first, I decided on the size and shape of the table I wanted. I drew everything out with pencil directly on the project board and carefully cut it out with my jig saw, then sanded it on both side including rounding out the edges. Simple and clean. No overthinking.
Concrete Molds
Then, I greased the inside and filled two 5-gallon buckets with mixed concrete using an eggbeater attachment on my drill (talk about a heavy project—good thing I had help!). After the concrete set and dried inside the buckets overnight, I removed it to reveal the perfect concrete molds for the legs. To release the concrete I cut a slit on the bottom of the bucket to make the removal of the bucket easier! Note: concrete is heavy—this is definitely a two-person job. Trust me, my back can tell you all about it (I’m basically 80, with the way I decorate my house, right?!).
Painting the Table
Now the real fun begins. I started with one coat of primer, followed by a couple of coats of paint using my paint sprayer - making sure I was lightly hand sanding in-between each coat with 220 grit sandpaper. I used Cabinet and Furniture Paint in the color Otter by HGTV Home by Sherwin Williams! Then, to protect my hard work, I added a few layers of polyurethane using a throw away roller and brush.
Putting It All Together
Let this part be a lesson on what not to do. I connected the concrete legs to the table top using construction adhesive. Sure, maybe it wasn’t the most professional connection, but I’m still learning! Next time I’ll upgrade my technique.
Final Product!
And voila—look at this beauty! It’s gorgeous and it’s 100% made by me. In fact, someone even asked if they could buy one just like it. I’m taking that as a massive win!
So if you've been dreaming about creating something like this, stop waiting for the "perfect" time. Grab your materials, keep it simple, and just start. You might surprise yourself with what you can create. Happy DIY-ing!
