DIY Coffee Table

Sometimes the best things take time. I am beyond excited about today’s post! I’ve dreamed of this white oak coffee table and Luke built it for me. Read on to learn how we made this DIY Coffee Table!!!

Eeek! You read that right! Luke made me this coffee table. I started dreaming of this round Scandinavian design shortly after buying the sectional. At the time I discovered round tables really work with sectionals.

See what I mean? This table needed to be here, right?!?

If you’ve been dreaming of a round coffee table and can’t seem to find just the right one then read on… We’re sharing how to build and finish this table!

What are the elements of Scandinavian Design?

This table is classic Scandinavian style, but what does that mean?

• The table’s shape and form is extremely simple.
• The base is almost modern with a halving joint interlocking the wood at the base.
• Wood is an integral part of Scandinavian design. White oak adds lightness and a call to nature. I really love the graining in white oak.

As you can see from the photo above our home is a 1927 Dutch colonial with original dark woodwork. I knew I wanted the white oak to blend but not match our homes woodwork. I wanted the table to feel light and airy because it actually is quite big – 36 inches in diameter.

Why You’ll Love This Table

• Well, it’s sooooooo pretty! Right?
• It’s timeless in design and style which means you’ll NEVER tire of it
• It’s solid wood (unlike many tables available in big brand stores)
• Oh, and by building your own furniture you can customize the height and shape to work in your room, and for your couch height.

(here is the table with nothing on it just so you can see the beauty of the wood)

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What You Need To Make This Table

• Wood – we decided on white oak. I LOVE the graining
• 2×2 White Oak Boards for legs. We used 4×3′ and 4×18″
• 1x White Oak Boards for top; ours were assorted widths to make up a 3′ diameter
• Titebond III wood glue
• Drill Press/Hand Drill with 5/8″ bit
• Assorted Chisels – Luke uses Lie-Nielsen but has heard these chisels are good.
• Glass paper
• Router & Bit
• Circle Router Jig

How To Build a DIY Coffee Table

Okay are you ready to learn how to build this table?

The skill level required for this build is intermediate to advanced.

Step by Step

Step 1 – Cut your 2×2 boards to length: 4×3′ and 4×18″, the 34″ length gives you enough room for a mortise at the end

Step 2 – Cut halved joints in the center of the 34″ boards; so we can create two crosses. We cut a strengthened halving joint, but a normal one will do.

Step 3 – Cut a 1/2″x1″x1″ tenon in each end of the 34″ boards

Step 4 – Pre-drill and chisel a corresponding mortise in one side of each 18″ board, to house the tenons

Step 5 – Lay out, and glue up, the full base structure. Remember to do the horizontal pieces first.

Step 6 – Cut and glue up the 1x boards to cover an area larger than a 36″ diameter

Step 7 – Attach the circle jig to the center of the underside of your new top, attach the router, and route your circular top.

Step 8 – Lay your base onto your top, aligning the center. Then pre-drill holes from the base into the top, making sure to only drill 1/4″ into to the top

Step 9 – (When the finishing is done) screw the base into the top, sometimes it helps to warm some beeswax in your hand, and apply it to the screw.

How to Finish Your Table

Now that your table is built it’s time to seal and protect it. We decided we wanted our finish to enhance the beauty of the white oak so we opted to use Woca Worktop Oil in Natural to seal the table. I’ve used this product on many other projects and it works well when the the wood is raw or untreated. I’ve used it on our dining table, our butcher block in the shed, and the small Ikea island in our kitchen.

What You’ll Need:

• Woca Soap
• Woca Work Top Oil in Natural – they also make a white oil that would give the look of limewash
• A paint brush
• Wet dry sand paper – 400 grit
• Rags – I use old white t shirts my kids have outgrown
• a sealable bag
• A drill and a buffer attachment

Step by Step

I decided to seal the table in our kitchen because the basement would have been too cold. For woca oil you need the temperature to be 68° F, otherwise it can crack.

Step 1 – Before starting on sealing the table make sure the wood is smooth (you don’t want splinters). Then you want to clean your wood surface. I used the natural woca soap. Be sure to allow the surface to dry before moving onto the next step.

Step 2 – Stir the woca oil (do not shake as it could add air bubbles). I like to decant the oil into a mason jar so I’m not contaminating the whole can by dipping the brush in and out. Apply a coat of woca oil liberally.

Step 3 – Wait 20 – 30 minutes and then go along the grain of the wood with the wet dry sandpaper. With clean rags wipe the remaining oil off the wood, be sure to use a dry edge of the rag each time.

Step 4 – Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you have done approximately 4 coats on the table.

Step 5 – Buff the entire surface with the buffer attachment on the drill.

Wait 24 hours. The oil does not harden completely until about a week.

More About Woca Oil

I’ve used lots of oils on various pieces of furniture throughout the years, but love Woca Oil when it comes to Luke’s projects.

More from Woca Oil, “WOCA Oil Finish is the leading plant-based, environmentally responsible, sustainable, nonpolluting, durable wood finish, with no artificial color pigments or preservatives.

Oil finishes currently used in the U.S. are primarily tung oil based or similar. These oils, while they do penetrate and dry, do not harden and will not provide the best protection against wear and stains.

The European style oil finish provided by Woodcare of Denmark (WOCA) will both penetrate and harden to achieve a very wear resistant finish, which is easily applied and maintained. This type of oil finish has been manufactured in Europe for over 30 years.”

The Big Reveal

As you guys all know, we really really love collaborating on projects together. From the dreaming to the doing this table has probably been in the works for 3 years. Lots of life has happened – Luke only does wood working on the side when he’s not working at his full time job and some time was taken up during the summer building the shed. Soooooo, finally, our DIY Coffee Table is done and it turned out so much better than even in my dreams!

The wood is gorgeous and Luke’s craftsmanship is simply amazing!

As you can see it’s the perfect spot to cozy up with coffee and cookies. I’m loving my new Cornishware and these oatmeal cookies from Ikea are unbelievably good – dangerous, in fact!

I fully believe that building your own furniture and hand finishing it makes it even more special. I am so grateful to have a large coffee table we can now gather around. This is where we hang out as a family and we have date nights in front of the TV.

Isn’t the wood beautiful? It gleams in the sunlight!

A huge thank you to my husband who put so much love and hard work into this amazing table. It truly is such a beautiful gift I will treasure forever! I, of course, had to capture him by it (but that’s usually my seat). 😉

We all love the new addition to the room and can’t wait to hear what you think!

Other Posts You might Enjoy

• Favorite Paint Colors with Dark Wood Trim
• How to Keep White Slipcovers Clean
• Blue and White Home Decor
• English Inspired Dining Room

Let’s Stay in Touch

Did you make this project or do you plan to? If so, let me know! I’d love to see your finished table.

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