Hey friends! I have a fabulous new project tutorial, a DIY live edge wood coffee table with hairpin legs to share today. It goes perfect with my Live Edge Coat Rack. It’s time for the Power Tool Challenge Team’s monthly event and this month is another Reader Challenge! That’s right you guys get to share with us your best home decor item you’ve made with a power tool. The entry voted best power tool project wins an awesome prize package from HomeRight too.
My project for this month’s theme is a DIY live edge wood coffee table with fabulous metal hairpin legs! It was finally time to retire my $20 Ikea table. It was supposed to be a short term fix until I found one I couldn’t live without. Unfortunately, I never found a coffee table that measured up to my dream table.
You’ll find my full tutorial on how to build a modern wood slab coffee table and how to get a super smooth finish that brings out details in natural wood at the end of this post.
In the meantime, let’s take a look at what the rest of the team made for their home decor themed 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
Now it’s your turn dear friends and readers!
Show us what you’ve got! Like I mentioned earlier, there’s an awesome prize package at stake for the project voted best by the team and our sponsor HomeRight. The reader challenge is open for two weeks so you’ve got plenty of time to make your dream DIY build project. You can also use a project you’ve already made.
So now let’s talk about your project. You ready for the details?
- The Home Decor project can be made from anything as at least 1 power tool was used to build it.
- The Home Decor Power Tool Project Challenge is open for entries from 3/16 through 3/30 via a link up.
- Submit an old or new project as long as it’s a home decor item you made.
- Anyone can enter, the more the merrier, winner must be 18 or older
- Each participant can enter up to 3 projects.
- Winners must live in the US.
- The Power Tool Challenge Team and HomeRight will vote on the best project and one winner will be selected. The winner will receive a HomeRight DIY Paint Package which includes a Finish Max Pro Paint Sprayer, Large Spray Shelter and Small Spray Shelter and a Rapid Clean cleaning tool for the Finish Max Pro Paint Sprayer.
- Void where prohibited.
You can learn more about the HomeRight products and how they are a DIY’ers go to for saving time here.
How To Enter
Add your project to the link up below. If you’re a blogger, you know how it works. If not, than post your project on my H2OBungalow Facebook page and use the link as the URL to enter. If that’s too complicated, just email me your project photo, along with your name and the title of your project and I’ll be happy to enter it for you.
Need more ideas on what kind of home decor items you can make with power tools?
My Pedestal Bowls are still a favorite project of mine. I made two Blanket Ladders for the North House Lodge last fall. Or click over to my Woodworking Project pages to see lots of ideas, like the DIY Farmhouse Table I built and the DIY Cutting Boards I made from scrap wood!
How To Make A DIY Live Edge Wood Coffee Table
Like I mentioned earlier, It was high time I had a coffee table that did justice to my living area. Last fall Osborne Wood Products sent me a fabulous set of steel hairpin legs. As soon as I saw them I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them. You got it, build my dream coffee table 🙂
I’d seen live edge coffee tables before but wasn’t sure I’d be able to find a good slab of wood locally much less replicate the perfect finish. My personal favorite is the hand rubbed look. On a fluke I thought I’d check out an awesome urban lumber place in St Pete that friends had been to. The place was fantastic and I found the perfect top for my table and they shared awesome tips toget the perfect finish 🙂
Supplies needed to make a DIY live edge wood coffee table. I use affiliate links to help you find the products I used.
- live edge wood slab – I found mine at Funktion House in St Pete (they ship!)
- hairpin legs – Osborne Wood Products has a good selection and three pronged for heavy projects and coffee tables and lots of awesome building products too!
- table saw
- random orbital sander
- drill
- Minwax Water Based Polycrylic in satin
- large paint brush 2 1/2″ to 3 “
- Howard’s Feed-N-Wax Wood Polish
- clean lint free rag
- screws, 1 1/4″
- eye protection
- mask
- level
- pilot hole drill bit
- sandpaper, 180 and 220
Step One: Trim the wood
Trim the wood slab to size and be sure your end cuts are smooth.
I used my Kreg Measuring Tool to measure the thickness of my wood slab and easily lined it up to adjust my table saw blade height. Sending out a big thank you to Gail from My Repurposed Life who shared this handy tool on a project of hers! This little measuring tool has become one of my favorites and I use it all the time, even for non-building projects!
Step Two: Sand the wood slab
Sand the wood slab for your coffee table as needed. I started with a 120 grit sandpaper on my random orbital sander and worked my way up to the 22o grit. Follow the grain of the wood when you’re sanding. Always protect yourself when sanding. Wear your safety goggles and use a mask when sanding.
Don’t you love the grain that’s peeking through?
Step three: Clean off the sanding particles before finishing
I used my HomeRight Finish Max Pro Paint Sprayer with the air attachment to blow all the sanding dust out of cracks and crevices before wiping the entire wood slab down with a tack cloth.
Step Four: Apply finish
I used a modified water based poly on my DIY live edge coffee table project. Dip the top 1/4 of the brush into water, wipe it off on the edge of the container. Next dip the brush in the poly, again gently wipe the edges so the brush isn’t dripping. Apply a thin layer following the grain line of the wood on the top and sides. Allow it to dry for 2 – 4 hours.
Using light pressure and a piece of 220 grit sandpaper wrapped around a sanding block, lightly sand the wood with the grain. Sand just enough to make the top feel smooth. Wipe down with a tack cloth. Repeat with another layer of Polycrylic, drying and lightly sanding. Repeat again until you’ve applied 4 thin layers.
Step Five: Lightly wax and buff the live edge coffee table top
Using a soft lint free cloth, apply the Howard’s Feed-N-Wax to the table top. Wait 20 minutes and wipe off the excess and buff gently with a clean soft lint free rag. You’ll be loving the finish at this point! If you’re like me you’ll keep walking by just to touch the newly finished wood top of your coffee table. I did 😉
Step Six: Add legs
Lay the wood slab upside down on a soft blanket and install the legs. I used my Kreg Tool to easily mark the position of the hairpin legs.
Drill pilot holes for the screws. I marked my pilot hole drill bit with tape to be sure I didn’t drill to deep.
Keep in mind not all wood slabs are perfectly even. Place the hairpin legs in position and use a level to check for levelness before attaching them with screws. If needed shim a low side. If you look closely you can see the bottom right leg has shims sticking out from under the leg bracket. I had extra paint stirrers and cut a few pieces for shims.
It’s OK. You can’t see or tell the leg was shimmed a extra 1/4″ when the table sits upright. Isn’t she a beauty?
All you’ll notice is how gorgeous the wood looks. This is a slab of Southern Magnolia, it’s a hardwood which means it’s perfect for a table top. I love the natural movement, organic edges and spalting this piece has.
The light color wood is the perfect for this room. I think it goes great with the sofa and other casual pieces, don’t you?
Now that I’ve shared my resources and a tutorial to make DIY live edge wood slab coffee table don’t you want one too?
Pin this project for later!
Emily says
This is gorgeous! I love the look of live-edge furniture. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday!
Wendi says
Hi Emily and thanks! I’m on a wood and natural wood look kick lately. I love how the table turned out too. Plus, I’m very happy to say the finish has held up beautifully! Thanks so much for your visit and note!
Julie Briones says
So gorgeous! You are my DIY hero!
Wendi says
Hi Julie! Thank you…what a beautiful thing to say! You have no idea how much enjoyment I get from sharing what I create for my house with everyone. Hey- it was so nice meeting you at Haven! Congrats on your big win at the closing ceremony too!
Julie Briones says
It was a joy meeting you, as well! Maybe next year we can have a visit! Seemed we kept missing each other! Thanks for the congrats! Super crazy… then I just got an email about winning another giveaway with Zibra! WOW! Just WOW!
Wendi says
Congrats again Julie! Yes, maybe next year. Haven is usually such a whirlwind, it’s hard to make plans 🙂
Roselle says
Something like this will truly be a classic heirloom piece! And I’d like to make one myself. I see a lot of legs in raw steel or black. Maybe feature hairpin legs DIY with colored legs? I’m looking forward to seeing those.
Wendi says
Hi Roselle! Powder coated legs in a color would look great with the right top for a table like this. I hope you get to make one too. Thanks so much for your visit!
Kelly @ North Country Nest says
This turned out so great! I love the industrial style hairpin legs with the rustic wood table top.
Best,
Kelly
Wendi says
Hi Kelly and thank you so much! I like the mix of the two also. This was one of my favorite projects ever simply because it turned out so beautifully! Thanks so much for your visit and sweet words!
Ginger says
Gorgeous! I just love this. I would be so honored if you would share in my new link up called Support Your Fellow Crafter Linky Party 🙂 Thank you so much! http://superstinkyboys.blogspot.com/2017/03/support-your-fellow-crafter-linky-party_20.html
Wendi says
Hi Ginger and thanks so much for your sweet note! This little ol’ live edge table was a long time coming and I’m so excited to finally have it done! I’ll do my best to visit your party. Thanks for the invite and your visit!
Jeanie says
Wow, what an awesome find! And you did a fabulous job creating the perfect coffee table for your space!
Wendi @H20 Bungalow says
How did I miss your comment Jeanie? Thanks for the compliment! I’m so happy with this project and the way it turned out. Enjoy your day!
Kim Six says
I love this table! I love the wood slab and how you made the legs. I am so doing this at some point in my life! Great job Wendi!
Wendi says
Hi Kim and thank you! With your skills I’m sure you’ll make something awesome too!
Marie|The Interior Frugalista says
What a stunning coffee table, Wendi – I just love it! The can only imagine how much money you must have saved by building it yourself. Pinning and sharing
Wendi says
Hi Marie and thank you! I love it too…and STILL walk by it just to see how pretty it looks in the living room! LOL..yes, I save a lot of $$ on DIYing the coffee table, money that I’ve already spent somewhere else! LOL Can’t wait to share too. Thanks so much for your visit and sweet comment as always my friend!
Karen @ The DIY Bungalow says
This is gorgeous!! I love it. What a great project! Pinned and shared!
Wendi says
Hi Karen and thank you! I’m over the moon happy with my new coffee table!
DeDe Designed Decor says
OMG! Wendi this is beautiful! It looks great in your home! STUNNING!
Wendi says
Hi Dede and thank you so much! Yes, after 4 years of looking I think I finally solved the issue of “the perfect” coffee coffee table! Thanks for your sweet note!
gail says
Wow Wendi! Your live edge coffee table is beautiful! It looks perfect in your space. Thanks for all the great tips, and the shoutout about the Kreg Multi Tool. I LOVE it too!
pinned!
gail
Wendi says
Hi Gail and thank you! I LOVE the new table, especially because it’s so much lighter in the space. The old black one was chunky and made the area look dark. …And thank YOU for sharing so many good stuff and tips. I’m always learning something new from you. Thanks so much for sharing my project too! Hugs!
TwoPlusCute says
*Swoon* looks fantastic! Great tutorial, one can’t possibly wrong with it. I love live edge wood anything lately.
ps. love the measuring the table saw photo !
Wendi says
Hi TPC…aka Dione 🙂 I know! It’s gorgeous isn’t it? I keep touching the top as I walk by because it feels so good. I know it was a crazy long post but I wanted to give enough details so it would be foolproof to follow. I’m on the same bandwagon with loving wood and live edge anything lately too! You can do this project too by the way! Cheers and thanks for your sweet comment!
Maryann @ Domestically Speaking says
Wendi that turned out absolutely gorgeous! I’ve always loved that live edge look… so pretty!
Wendi says
Thanks so much Maryann! I’m loving the look too and especially that the wood is a light color. This style works in so may ways and places. Thanks so much for your visit!
Mindi says
Oh man, I am drooling! This is just beautiful Wendi, you did an amazing job!
Wendi says
Hi Mindi and thank you! This is so your style my friend! This was an easy project to make. The time was in the finish and that was easy too 🙂
Vanessa says
Oh it came out fabulous! If it was mine I would be petting that pretty grain all day long.
Wendi says
Hi Vanessa! That’s exactly what I’m doing too. I keep walking by and touching the top. I’m amazed at how gorgeous the finish is and that I made it! Seriously so! Thanks so much for your visit and have a lovely weekend!
Paula says
What a beauty your new coffee table is! I have a feeling that anyone who visits you is going to spend quite a bit of time admiring this piece. I also think that your kids are going to argue over who is going to inherit this. 🙂
Wendi says
Hi Paula! Too funny you mention that because I’ve already had texts from my girls they want it as well as my sister! LOL I’m loving my new coffee table, especially after searching for 4 years and not finding one that I liked!