How to Make a Wood Side Table

Some DIY projects can seem daunting when you look at them, but they actually turn out to be pretty easy to make. This DIY wood slice table is a great example of that. You really only need a few materials to make this stylish surface that you can use as a coffee table or side table. Plus you will have the glory of knowing that you made it yourself! If you love incorporating natural materials into your home decor, this could be the perfect weekend project for you.

Tools

  • Drill
  • Palm Sander
  • Sandpaper

Materials

  • Wood Slice
  • 3 Hairpin Legs (16″ for a coffee table)
  • Screws
  • Pencil
  • Osmo Top Oil Finish

Steps

  1. Gather the tools and materials listed above.
  2. Sand the top of the wood slice until you achieve a smooth surface. Start with a medium grit sandpaper and work your way up to a finer, higher grit.
  3. Finish the table with a protective coating according to the product instructions. We used Osmo Top Oil, a natural oil and wax blend, because it is non toxic and water resistant. You can also use polyurethane, Danish Oil or similar.
  4. After the recommended drying time, flip the table and determine placement of hairpin legs. The legs should be close enough to the edge that the table is stable, but shouldn’t extend out past the tabletop edge. Mark placement with a pencil.
  5. Screw the hairpin legs onto the wood slice using a drill. You may need to pre-drill holes for the screws or just tap them with a hammer to keep in place before screwing.
  6. Flip the table and make sure leg placement works and the table is stable.

Finding your Wood

The most important part of making your wood slab side table is of course finding the wood. We were lucky enough to find a great deal from a woodworker on Craigslist, so we definitely recommend starting by looking there. If not, you will probably have some luck at your local lumber store. Another source that we found is The Lumber Shack, or you can find smaller wood slices here. Keep in mind that shipping might be costly if you buy your wood from a source that isn’t local. The wood is extremely heavy!

Styling Tips

Our table has a diameter of about 24 inches, but you can make a table in any size using this tutorial. We added a link to the exact hairpin legs that we used in Shop this Project below, but there are lots of sources for hairpin legs. And they come in a variety of colors so that you can customize your wood slice table to your specific color palette. We love that the hairpin legs can give this table a mid-century feel, while still maintaining that rustic Pacific Northwest style that is near and dear to our hearts. Once you finish your handcrafted side table, style it with some paper botanicals like our split leaf philodendron or adorable crepe paper succulents.

More Inspiration

If you are feeling inspired by this DIY wood slice table project, make sure to see our concrete table top tutorial for another beautiful DIY home decor accent! Browse all of our DIY home decor projects for more ideas, or share your project suggestions and requests with us in the comments below. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for daily doses of inspiration, or head over to our membership page to see how you can become a part of our creative community. We would love to see your wood slab tables, so please share your photos with us using #DIYDreamingWithLia. Cheers! ~ Lia & Team

Oil Finish | Hairpin Legs

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