Small Sofa Side Table | Custom Build

I’m so excited to show you my small sofa side table that I custom-built for my little corner of the world. I’ve been needing a solution to a problem, and since this month’s Power Tool Challenge is all about home décor, I stopped repurposing and made something for myself.

 

This is/was my dilemma. Every night as I work on blog posts and such I need all of these random remotes and phones handy. I have been lining them up on the arm of the couch for a long time. I have to put them upside down so the rubber “buttons” help hold them in place and keep them from sliding off.

Because this table is custom, your size will vary.

How to Build a Sofa Side Table

The stained 1×10 is a “hand-me-down” from my daughter Jamie. She used it for shelving when she had an antique booth. The other boards are 1×6. These boards will be perfect for building a table.

Related Content: Simple Table Build

 Measure the Boards for Your Custom Table

You probably know that a 1×10 isn’t 1 inch thick by 10 inches wide. It’s 3/4 inch thick by 9 1/4” wide.

I made very specific customized measurements to suit my needs. Searching on Pinterest, I didn’t see anything that really fit my sofa problem. Most of the sofas are more modern and have straight lines. Mine does not. I wanted my table to run the full depth of my sofa armrest. As you can see, 23” was the magic number for my table. I cut two boards at this length for the top and bottom of my table.

Visit the My Repurposed Life Amazon Store to shop my favorite items.

This simple build starts with pocket holes using my Kreg Jig.

If you don’t have a pocket hole jig, you can use “L” brackets. However, if you do a lot of projects, I highly recommend investing in one of these jigs. For more details, see my post How To Use A Kreg Jig

How to Build a Table

I used my kreg multi-mark tool to ensure each leg was the same distance from the end. (about 3”) and secured the top and the bottom boards with pocket hole screws.

This simple build came together quickly, but it needs something more.

Add Skirt Boards to the Bottom of the DIY Table

I added two 1x4s on each side of the bottom, using my nail gun to secure the boards. I cut them to fit very snugly.

Attach a Top Shelf

To help stabilize the table and hold it square, I added a shelf near the top of the table, using pocket holes and screws to secure it.

Oh my gosh! I’m so happy to see it at this stage! I was so tired of having all the remotes lined up on the arm of the sofa.

Use Shellac to Disguise Knot Holes

I patched the holes with drywall mud and used clear shellac to seal the wood knots so I could prepare to paint. Meanwhile, the weather turned cold, so I took the table in and used it for days like this.

Paint DIY Sofa Table with Chalky Paint

Finally, the weather warmed a little, and I got back to work. Of course, I used my favorite DIY chalky paint primer mixture to prime the table. I used blue painter’s tape and a cheap chip brush to make this job go quickly.

I painted two light coats of the chalky primer.

 Then, I painted two coats of Polished Pearl semi-gloss.

Again, I took my new table into the house and used it “as is” until I could finish it.

Minwax Polyshades Stain

We had another batch of warm weather, and I was able to stain the tabletop using Minwax Classic Black Polyshades.

 I love the two-toned look of the light paint and the dark stain!

Add Embellishments to Your DIY Sofa Side Table

 While test-driving the table for a couple of weeks, I felt like it needed a little something—some embellishment of some sort. I dug in my stash and found these black wooden appliques from D. Lawless Hardware. Again, I use my Kreg Multi-tool to help me center the appliques.

 Because I’m not positive I want to leave the wooden appliques in place, I used double-stick tape for a more temporary hold. If I decide to keep them, I’ll just put a couple of brad nails in them the way they are.

 

What do you think?

Custom Table Build

Remember all the remotes/phones?

Voila! So much better!

The shelf is perfect for my notebook, and the lower area corrals books and magazines. Front and center is a book my friend Becky from Beyond The Picket Fence published. I bought my copy of Crafting with Wood Pallets on Amazon, and you can buy it!

Well, can you tell how much I LOVE my new table? It makes me wonder why I didn’t do this sooner!

PIN IT!

 

Creative DIY Projects

Now, here are my friends’ projects!

The Kim Six Fix – Pottery Barn Inspired Concrete Top Coffee Table

Domestically Speaking – Large DIY Wall Sign

H2OBungalow – DIY Live Edge Coffee Table With Hairpin Legs

My Repurposed Life – Sofa Side Table

My Love 2 Create – Fabric and Wood Wall Hanging

Virginia Sweet Pea – Card Display Holder

The DIY Bungalow – Repurposed Fire Screen

Designed Decor – Upcycled Wall Shelf

Create and Babble – DIY Wood Plank Walls

Thrift Diving – DIY Bath Vanity

gail