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    Home » DIY » Build It » Rustic Coffee Table

    Rustic Coffee Table

    Published by Gail | Published April 28, 2016 | Updated July 12, 2022
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    This rustic coffee table came about because of an outdoor building challenge from some DIY blogger friends. Be sure to check out their projects at the bottom of this post.

    It is time for  fun building challenge! This month our friend Katie at Addicted 2 DIY is hosting this Great Outdoors Challenge!

     

    rustic coffee table inspired by pottery barn MyRepurposedLife.com

     

    front arbor top postsMy neighbor and I spent a couple of months putting up a new diy picket fence built from scratch. yep, every board cut by yours truly about three times. I wanted to show you where I got the legs for my outdoor rustic coffee table. They were the scraps that were topped off the front arbor.

     

    Scrap lumber for rustic coffee table

    scrap 4x4'sThis is where they landed—and they were the perfect size for my new outdoor rustic coffee table.

     

    scrap 2x4'sI also had some 2x4’s left over in this pile.

     

    scrap picket piecesAnd these? Pickets that were cut too short.

    Here is my cut list:

    • 4x4 16” long (4)
    • 2x4 30” long (2)
    • 2X4 10” long (2)
    • 1x4 38” long (ripped in half)
    • 1x4  14" long (11)

    Basic build for coffee table

    dry fitThis is the dry fit of all the pieces to see how they go together.

    Mark lumber for pocket holes

    mark 2x4 for kreg pocket holesI mark my boards for the pocket holes so I don’t get confused as to where they go. (been there, done that)

    Drill pocket holes

    drill kreg pocket holesI drill the pocket holes in the two 10” side skirt pieces.

    Need more details on using a Kreg Jig? See my article How to use a Kreg Jig Pocket Hole System

    pocket holes and screwsYou can see where the pocket holes are drilled.

    outdoor blue pocket screwsI used these blue (outdoor) Kreg pocket hole screws.

    Easy assembly with pocket hole screws

    outdoor coffee table baseThis is the base of the outdoor coffee table.

    ripped 1x4I ripped the 38” 1x4 in half to box in the 1x4 slats.

    How to build rustic coffee table

    dry fit coffee table topYou can see here on the dry fit that I laid the ripped 1x4 on either side of the picket planks. Also notice that I had to rip one of the planks (the middle one) in order to get the planks to fit the length of the table.

    Now it’s time to secure the planks.

    drill pocket holes in table top planksWhile the plank boards were in the dry fit stage I marked the sides that were less desirable for pocket holes.

    clamp boards secure pocket hole screwsI used a Kreg Jig Clamp to hold the planks in place in order to secure them with the screws.

    Sand table top

    sanding coffee table topI sanded the table top smooth with my Ryobi cordless orbital sander.

    More pocket holes to attach table top

    pocket holesIn order to attach the table top to the base, I drilled more pocket holes around the skirt of the table base.

    secure table top to table baseYou can see where I secured the table top to the table base with 1 ¼” pocket hole screws.

    outdoor coffee table completeI did a little more sanding on all of the table legs, top and skirt. It’s ready for some stain!

    Stain rustic coffee table

    minwax stainI used Minwax Special Walnut stain and a cheap chip brush on the entire table.

    dark stained outdoor coffee table

    Voila!

    Seal with Polyurethane

    minwax poly sealerAfter allowing the stain to dry overnight I applied some Minwax Fast Drying Poly using a chip brush. You can see that I didn’t fill any of the pocket holes, not an issue for me.

    outdoor coffee table on the patio

     

     

    pottery barn knockoff outdoor coffee table MyRepurposedLife.comThis Pottery Barn knockoff rustic coffee table was a fun and FREE project using scrap wood. My only cost were the screws.

     

    potter barn outdoor coffee table 249.00

    Here’s my inspiration for the table.

     

    More awesome outdoor projects

    Be sure to visit my friends to see their awesome outdoor challenge projects.

    outdoor challenge

     

    outdoor challenge with diy bloggers

     

     

    Pneumatic Addict

    My Love 2 Create

    My Repurposed Life

    That's My Letter

    Her Tool Belt

    Addicted 2 DIY

    The Ugly Duckling House

    Now it's your turn! If you have an awesome outdoor project to share that you built using wood, metal, concrete, etc--link it up!

    An InLinkz Link-up


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    1. Wendi @ H2OBungalow

      May 05, 2016 at 2:49 pm

      I love this project and especially the budget friendly part! You've got me thinking how I need an oudoor sofa table & how I could modify this to fit my idea! Loved the link up too, shared two of my favorite outdoor patio projects:)

      Reply
    2. Kim Six

      May 05, 2016 at 12:43 am

      This looks phenomenal Gail! I love how it turned out!

      Reply
    3. Doris Styles

      May 04, 2016 at 11:54 pm

      I declare...that coffee table is G O R G E O U S!!!! I L O V E it!! You rock girl!!!

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        May 05, 2016 at 9:03 am

        Thank you so much Doris for you enthusiastic comment. 🙂 I love it when free comes together so nicely.

        gail

    4. Amy

      April 30, 2016 at 1:19 pm

      Love your outdoor table Gail. I makes it even better that you were able to use up some scrap wood, love when I can do that! Awesome project.

      Reply
    5. Debbie @ Refresh Restyle

      April 29, 2016 at 9:40 pm

      Love it Gail! My favorite lumber is left offer lumber! Beautiful, pinned it so I can make one!

      Reply
    6. D Coats

      April 29, 2016 at 8:15 pm

      Love the cushions on your swing.

      Reply
    7. Elisha Albretsen

      April 29, 2016 at 11:32 am

      It looks exactly like the Pottery Barn version! I love how the breadboard ends run along the long side instead of the short. Great job!

      Reply
    8. Mindi

      April 29, 2016 at 11:08 am

      Yes! A stunning pottery barn knock off for FREE!!! I LOVE it Gail, so beautiful and way to use up those scraps!! I need to follow your good example, I am drowning in scraps. Amazing job!!

      Reply
    9. Katie @ Addicted 2 DIY

      April 29, 2016 at 10:54 am

      It looks amazing, Gail! You definitely can't beat FREE projects built with scraps. Especially one that turns out so beautiful. And I hear you on marking the pocket holes! I swear every time I forgot to mark my hole placement, I mess it up!

      Reply
    10. Jaime Costiglio

      April 29, 2016 at 8:01 am

      Gail I alove your repurposed spirit! So wonderful to reuse the scraps and your trimmed out planked top is beautiful. Nicely done.

      Reply

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    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

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