How to Build a Farm Table

A cozy addition to the new living room is a farm table. Because of their versatility, farm tables can be used in just about any room of the house. The more common use is the living room or sitting room where beverages might be placed. Of course, they can also be the resting place of a number of different items used in home dcor. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Place the 4 pieces of 1x2-inch lumber on the table. Drill pilot holes on the ends of the 14-inch pieces with the countersink bit. Next, apply glue to the ends of them, place the 2 longer pieces between them and secure them with the drywall screws. This is the skirt for the table.

2

Drill pilot holes through the width of the skirt every 6 inches. Be certain that the countersink hole is not deeper than -inch.

3

Place the 18x48x-inch MDF on the table. Measure and make marks 2 inches from the edges around the perimeter of the MDF. Place the framing square on these marks and draw lines to create a rectangle that is set 2 inches inside the perimeter of the MDF (dimensions of the drawn rectangle: 14x44 inches).

4

Apply glue just inside the rectangle drawn in Step 3. Place the skirt on the line and secure it to the MDF with the drywall screws. Clean up excess glue with a damp cloth.

5

Drill countersink holes through the face of the skirt 1 inches from each of the corners (8 holes total). Apply glue in the corners of the skirt and on the MDF and place a spindle in the corner. Secure it to the skirt with drywall screws. Be certain the spindle pulls up tight against the skirt and is resting on the MDF as well. Clean up the excess glue with a damp cloth. Allow the glue to dry overnight.

6

Turn the farm table upright. Sand with 100-grit sandpaper and an electric vibrating sander.

How to Make Your Own Wooden Table

A nice, functional wooden end table can be put together by just about anyone if they have the right tools. The wood used is a single board in the species of your choice such as oak, walnut or pine. It is a project that can be done over a weekend and can be a wonderful addition to your home. Only fundamental woodworking skills are needed, along with a few basic tools. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Measure and cut two 18-inch lengths from the board. Measure and cut two 16-inch lengths. Measure and cut one 11-inch section from the remaining board.

2

Measure in from one end of each 16-inch length 3 inches and mark a line with the pencil. Repeat on the other end of each board. Center the dowel jig over each line and drill a 1/2-inch-deep hole. Dip a 1-inch dowel in wood glue. Use the rubber mallet and a scrap piece of wood to pound a dowel halfway into each hole on one of the 16-inch boards. Spread wood glue on the edge of the drilled second board. Lay the two boards together and pound the exposed dowels into the holes on the second board until the two boards are flush together. This is the tabletop.

3

Measure up 6 inches from one end of both of the two 18-inch boards. Use a pencil to make a straight horizontal line across the boards. Measure in 3 inches from each side and make a vertical line across the horizontal line. Center the drill bit where the two lines intersect and drill a 1/2-inch hole.

4

Measure in 3 inches from both ends on the top edge of the 18-inch boards. Use the dowel jig to drill 1/2-inch holes.

5

Measure in 3 inches from each end of the 11-inch board. Mark the measurement with your pencil Use the dowel jig to center and drill a 1/2-inch hole at these marks. Dip two dowels in wood glue and pound them into the holes on the 18-inch boards. Lay a bead of glue on each end of the 11-inch board. Quickly pound one end of the 11-inch board onto the dowel pins on each side. This creates the table legs and shelf.

6

Lay the tabletop upside down on a flat surface. Take the lower table assembly and center it over the underside of the tabletop. Mark on the underside of the tabletop where the assembly fits. Drill dowel holes 1/2 inch deep into the tabletop in the appropriate position.

7

Dip dowels into wood glue and pound them into the table leg assembly. Position the tabletop over the dowels and pound the tabletop into place.

How to Decorate a Shadowbox Coffee Table

Shadowbox coffee tables are available in a variety of styles but one consistent design feature is a glass top and at least one compartment that can be viewed from the top, side or both. Shadowbox displays are perfect for rooms that have a lot of traffic, children or animals. A shadowbox coffee table can hold memorabilia, a favorite game or a puzzle. To create a cohesive design, select items that have a significant relationship to each other. Items should also have a meaningful visual presence. You can achieve this through color choice and item placement. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Select a background image for your shadowbox. Choose something meaningful to you or an image that emphasizes the rooms pre-existing color scheme. A decorative puzzle or crossword puzzle would work well. If you select an online image, print the image to fit the entire page.

2

Remove the glass top and set it aside. Measure the inside area of your shadowbox coffee table and record the measurements. When you are using a background image, the image should cover the entire bottom surface.

3

Copy your image onto card stock. Enlarge the image if it does not match the measurements of your coffee table. This procedure may take several different enlargements and may span across several sheets of card stock. Stabilize the image by taping the underside of the papers together.

4

Place the copied image onto the bottom surface inside your shadowbox coffee table. It should fit snugly in place. Trim any excess if the image is too large. Add ribbon edging if the image is still a little too small by simply hot-gluing the ribbon to the underside or your image.

5

Place the largest display object in the center of the background image. This object could be a coffee mug and saucer, another picture, or a candy dish. Any display object will work.

6

Add other objects to the shadowbox corners. Remember that objects will be viewed from the top and possibly from the side. Select objects that are visually stunning from both top and side views.

7

Place more treasures around the centerpiece for additional decoration. Pens, flowers, seashells--anything can be used.

8

Return the glass to the top of the shadowbox coffee table. The glass protects your display from dust and accidental spills; however, any liquid spill should be cleaned up immediately to prevent liquid drops from forming on the inside of your shadowbox.

Types of Coffee Tables

For many people one of the most necessary pieces of furniture in their living room is the coffee table. A coffee table is the perfect place to set and store things that are used often but are not used at the moment. A coffee table also creates a focal point in the room. Coffee tables come in a wide variety of styles, types and materials. The reason that a coffee table is so important is that it breaks up the room; few other furniture choices look right in the middle of the room. Does this Spark an idea?

Glass

Coffee tables made of glass are a favorite choice for many people because they are elegant and match any theme, room or design. Glass coffee tables come in a wide variety of styles, sizes and designs, and custom-made glass coffee tables are sure to fit the decor of any home to a tee. Glass coffee tables are reasonably priced and easy to care for. The only drawback to a glass coffee table is that, although they are made of durable reinforced glass, they can shatter. In a home with rambunctious children, a glass coffee table is not the best choice.

Wood

People have chosen wood as the material of choice for their coffee tables for years. Many types of wood are available to choose from that come in many colors, designs and types. Wood coffee tables are sophisticated, simple, modern, classic or any other design that is required by the decor of the rest of the room. The variety of woods, sizes, styles and colors available are overwhelming, so if a wood coffee table is the choice for your home, perform some research before making the final choice.

Lift Top

Lift-top coffee tables are one of the most useful and versatile types of coffee tables on the market. As with all coffee tables, lift-top tables are found in a wide variety of sizes and styles. Lift-top tables are generally made of many types of wood. The beauty of a lift-top table is that the top rises to the perfect height to use as a dinner table, a workspace or an ideal place to work on a laptop computer. Along with these features, under the tabletop is storage. Lift-top tables generally offer generous storage under the top, creating an excellent place to store remotes and other items out of sight.

How to Replace a 14-Inch Glass Tabletop

Glass tabletops are subject to breakage. Smaller tops, such as an end table top that is less than 18 inches, can be easily replaced. It is important to match the glass if there are other glass items or shelves on the same furniture piece or if the piece is part of a set. It is also important to replace the top with glass that is thick enough to hold up under regular use. The edges of tabletop glass are always smoothed to prevent accidental cuts. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Remove the remains of the old glass. Be careful that no shards remain near the area such as in the carpet or closest furniture. It is a good idea to vacuum the surroundings very well since you may be unable to see all of the broken pieces. Note the thickness of the glass and whether the glass edge was beveled. Save a piece of the glass edge to show the glass shop.

2

Measure the inside of the ledge that forms the shelf that the glass was sitting on or the area where the glass fit into the table. Write down the measurements. Note if there are small clear silicone pads where the glass used to sit. If your table has these, count how many there should be and replace them with new ones that are all the same size. Often one or more of these are lost when a tabletop breaks.

3

Take your table sample and measurements to the glass store. Usually a new top can be cut, beveled and smoothed for a good price when the top is small. Pick up your new glass pads at the store.

4

Install your new tabletop by replacing the pads and cleaning the underside of the tabletop. Holding the top by the sides, position it in the table and line it up where it should be. Clean the top of the glass to remove your fingerprints.

How to Make a Glass Table

Making your own glass table is a worthwhile project that can be done by using readily available materials. You can finish this project in one weekend. There are inexpensive materials you can use in order to assemble a beautiful piece of furniture such as a glass table. By creating your own glass table using a planter or pot as a base, you'll end up with a piece that is both practical and beautiful. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Think of what type of table you want to build. It can be a dining table, a sofa table, side table or a coffee table. For this project we shall make a coffee table for a living room.

2




Go to a nursery or garden center near you. Look for a pot that is about 15 to 18 inches high and around 30 to 35 inches wide. There are a lot of choices to choose, but pick the one that has a wide body and wide opening. It can be made of clay, stone, ceramics, concrete or resin. If you choose a pot made of resin, you can add river rocks or gravel inside to keep it heavy so the finished table would not wobble. It can give a sort of Zen-like look when people see through the glass top.

3

Buy a round beveled tempered glass approximately 12 mm thick and around 48 to 40 inches in diameter. You can buy your glass from a glass company or you can go to salvage yards to look for old glass tops you can reuse. If you can also go to the glass cutters and then give them your specifications, they can cut the glass for you. You can choose a clear or smoked glass, or a tinted glass in any tint color of your choice. Then choose either a single-beveled or double-beveled glass for your glass top.

4

Practice safety when handling glass to avoid breakage and injury. Wear work gloves and safety goggles if you will attempt to cut the glass yourself using a glass cutter. Wrap the glass with pads and styrofoam for protection and secure it so it doesn't fall and break when transporting from the shop to your home.

5

Place the pot of your choice at the center of your living room sitting area. You may want to place it close to your sofa table, chairs and love seat groupings.

6

Put the round beveled tempered glass on top and adjust the positioning. To prevent from toppling, put silicone clear adhesive. By adding at least four or six round beads of silicone clear adhesive spread evenly around the top rim of the pot's mouth, then placing the glass on top carefully at the center you will be able to secure it in place. Let the silicone set before attempting to use the coffee table. Place a heavy item on top of the glass to help set the adhesive quicker