Discover these DIY coffee table ideas that can be created on a budget. Recreate a designer dupe or upcycle an existing piece.

DIY coffee tables can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Yes, it can take some time to make, but once you've placed it in your living room, you can sit in smug satisfaction knowing you crafted that bespoke piece of furniture with your bare hands.

Whether you're drawing from designer inspo or being a bit more spontaneous, buying the raw materials (or getting them for free) can feel like an immediate quick-win. Especially if the best coffee tables are out of budget.

So we've scoured social media for some of the most stand-out DIY coffee table ideas. Some come with step-by-step guides, and others, a really transparent rundown of the costs involved so your expectations are managed right from the get-go.

These real people come from all walks of life, some are working moms, and some are stay-at-home superstars. So you can be sure that these ideas are attainable and affordable (financially, and without taking up too much of your precious family time).

First things first: equipment. If you're already a little handy around the home, you may already own one of the best drills on the market. You'll need this for screwing in and securing your materials to create a DIY coffee table that's stable enough to hold your items, and of course, will be safe for the family to use.

We've even gone as far as 'drilling down' on specific models including the Ryobi Cordless Right Angle Drill and RYOBI ONE+ HP 18V cordless drill and driver.

Upcycler, Polly Coulson aka @attic.furniture.qld shows us how to mask off areas to create a clean, geometric design on a retro laminated coffee table with storage.

'After scouring the internet, we found the ideal one for the room - the plinth coffee table from Menu. One problem, it costs about £1,600 ($2200),' says Luke Arthur Wells, an interior influencer and content creator.

'So, we set about thinking about how we could come up with something similar. We spotted these marble-effect tiles from Mandarin Stone with a beaut rust-color veining that sparked an idea. Could we cover an MDF box in tiles and create the same look?'

'There were a couple of issues we’d need to figure out, however. Firstly, there wasn’t a way realistically that we were going to be able to cut these tiles ourselves and keep the really clean lines we needed. This meant we had to make it beholden to the sizes that the tiles came in. Luckily for us, the Mandarin Stone tiles came in a square and rectangle format, at the same width. This meant we could use two squares for the top, two rectangles for the length on each side, and then one rectangle at either end.'

'Secondly, as the tiles had a flat edge, there’d be no way to piece them together without one raw edge of the ceramic showing at every join. We looked at how easy it would be to mitre these edges, we looked at tile trim, but nothing was really working for us.'

'Our solution, in the end, was to buy pieces of beading, miter the edges to meet at the corners and then sand them down into a smooth join. I then stuck it down with Gorilla glue, painted it black, and grouted it with the same dark grout to fill in the gaps. I was pretty happy with the final result!'

'The total cost was £165, compared to the price of the original, which is £1,600.' 

Follow more of his DIY projects on Instagram.

'I saw a cross leg coffee table design that was way out my budget so I did what any DIYer would do and I built one... And I’m obsessed,' says @homewitheman.

'A coffee table is very functional and also one of the main pieces in a living room so I wanted to use high-quality oak plywood stained with Pickled Oak by Minwax (available at Lowe's). I stacked two sheets on top of each other for the top and legs to make it look thicker.'

'I glued my pieces together using wood glue, making sure to brush it on evenly. Tip: add salt between boards to keep them from slipping around while the glue is drying. Try to evenly distribute clamps or weight across. And then I went around with a wet rag and wiped off any glue that seeped out.'

'The legs are a cross. They are two sheets glued together for the long part of the leg and for the shorter leg. I used a bucket to figure out what height I wanted my coffee table, I liked it best when the height was a little shorter than the couch cushions. I stacked all of my legs and cut them at the same time to avoid any possible variation between height if I cut them separately. Always cut with the nice side of your wood down.' 'I sanded with 220 grit to get everything smooth. To attach my legs, I didn't want to complicate things and add pocket holes so I used corner braces. And since the middle leg is pretty long, I added four braces on the inside corners. Then I added edge banding (ironed on and trimmed) to the sides of the top and the edge of the legs showing.'

Whether this is your first home project or you're well-versed in the world of do-it-yourself – it's best to have a plan. Here one homeowner did her homework to create a characterful DIY coffee table with a warm finish. We love the mix of rustic wood, coupled with the best coffee table books on top.

'Us amateur builders loosely followed some plans and made this custom coffee table for about $50. Small space living is our main reason for DIYs, we customized it to fit our space,' says Sam aka @thelovedhome_ 'We used inexpensive 2x4 and 2x10 pine boards to create our table. Adding simple pocket holes, and distressing to give it an aged look finishing up with Golden Oak stain. It was a really easy DIY project and easily customizable.'

How stylish is this contemporary round coffee table? Pairing blonde or pale wood with Pampas in a goldfish bowl vase, Hurricane candles, and a woven tray is coffee table decor dreams!

'I searched and searched for my perfect coffee table but nothing was in my perfect but nothing was in budget... Which meant DIY,' says Bex Elizabeth, aka @harps_andco.'

There's an interior Ikea hack for everything, including DIY coffee tables. And, this upcycle (courtesy of Heena Gardner's handiwork) looks so much more high-end than its original foundations. If you can't afford an electric drill or aren't confident handling a hammer (sore thumbs – we've been there), you'll be pleased to know that you won't need sharp nails.

'As always, when you can’t find something you like with the right price tag, you just have to make it yourself! I was inspired by waterfall tables and set out to create a similar look with an old IKEA tabletop and some dowels.' says Heena Gardner.

For more information, and to see a visual step-by-step guide, head over to Heena's blog.

We've all heard of the saying 'One man's trash, is another man's treasure' and this DIY coffee table quite literally delivers on this. Using chip foaming found in your online packages, you can create a lightweight glass coffee table using the material you might have thrown in the trash. 'Our first DIY project when we moved in was the foam coffee table. We recycled some chip foam from some delivery packaging glued into a cube,' explains Roz aka @process.doc

'We needed to stabilize it so it wasn’t wobbly, so we used four huge bolts from the development’s construction site in each corner. These raise it up from the floor slightly as well as give the top a level surface to sit on. The glass top was just repurposed from our old dining table that we needed to replace.' 'We still have loads of foam left so I‘d like to make a matching side table but just need to figure out how to stabilize it if it’s taller.'

As convenient as our hardware and furniture retailers can be, different variables including the type of materials used, the physical shopfront overheads, and even logistics can influence the price point.

 Of course, all of us have different budgets, and if you don't think it's worth the price tag, why not try and experiment at home? The midcentury modern coffee table referenced here is actually now out of stock – another 'off-the-peg' shopping dilemma. 'I really wanted the wood and wire Hearth & Hand coffee table from Target but wasn’t willing to pay $139.99 for it,' says Tina Rivera aka @triveras_brightwoodlife.

'It's a fairly simple design so I knew I could recreate it! I used a 36-inch round wood board from Lowe’s that cost $48.84 and 4 16-inch black hairpin legs from Amazon that cost $21.99. I already had the stain, sealer, and tools on hand so this coffee table only cost me $70.83! Half the price.'

'I was looking for a giant coffee table…and for a reasonable price, but no dice,' explains Emily Tanner aka @tannerdesignco, an interior designer from Columbia, South Carolina.

'After scouring the internet and not finding anything I liked, we decided to build our own. Using just 2x4’s and 1/4” cement board, we built the base and added a few skim coats of Ardex Americas feather finish cement-based underlayment. A sealer was crucial. You know, to prevent red wine stains. Then we were good to go! It’s 42”x60” and perfectly imperfect.' 

This super creative DIY black coffee table is made from a combination of garden and kitchen equipment. Who knew what is essentially a planter and oven tray could be a match made in interior heaven? 'Feeling pretty chuffed with myself' says Jaq Croft, aka @revisionistalondon

'Here’s a money-saving tip for a side table... Buy a larger plant pot and fit a pizza oven tray on top! Store mags/cushions drinks inside!'

This DIY coffee table cost under £28/$38... A perfect piece if you're looking for living room ideas on a budget.

Elegantly low? Check. Scandi-inspired? Check. Curvaceous silhouette? Check. We can't think of anything we dislike about this DIY modern coffee table. This three-legged piece, made by Nadia aka @floranceinterior has Nordic influences with its light wood and curvilinear shape.

Team this with other neutrally-colored soft furnishings, homeware, and accessories, and create a cozy living room experience by playing about with textures for tactility and to add interest.

 CHRISTINA CHRYSOSTOMOU: DIGITAL WRITER, REALHOMES.COM

The newest addition to the team, I am a Digital Writer at Realhomes.com and joined the team in June 2021.

Living in close proximity to Epping Forest, I am spoiled for choice with lush green spaces and also have a lovely English garden complete with a floral melange of roses, lavender, jasmine and an apple tree in my 2-bed ground floor maisonette.

My interior style is…

Quite the juxtaposition, my home is a 'coordinated hodgepodge' of the latest interior styles. However, featuring lots of white and grey decor, oak doors throughout and an upcycled rustic shelf made from a ladder and two wooden planks, the Scandi Chic trend dominates my home.

I'm also a massive fan of multi-functional broken plan design. My living room space is an office by day and social space to relax on evenings and weekends.

I love entertaining family and friends and often extend my hospitality to include an overnight stay. So my next project would be to renovate our guest room with a boutique hotel style scheme to create a luxe-looking space.

Appearances are everything in Essex, so a huge statement floor length mirror is on the list! Failing that, a lovely vintage Persian rug would also add some color and culture to my sitting room space. Having been stuck indoors during lockdown, I'm a woman consumed by wanderlust. 

So all in all, I think the real answer is - a blank checkbook?

I'm a sucker for high street and designer brand collaborations. I think they are a great way of getting your hands on a statement piece at an entry-level price. 

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