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8 Must-Try DIY Side Tables

Easy Custom Pieces for Work and Lounging

High Angle View Of Potted Plants On Tree Stump By Window
Yuki Cheung / EyeEm / Getty Images

A good side table quickly becomes an indispensable companion to your favorite sofa or reading chair. Pull it close to get some work done, set down your drink, or stage a lamp for a cozy reading nook. No matter your style, there's an easy DIY side table that will suit your space and win your heart as a trusty sidekick.

  • 01 of 08

    DIY Studded Tree Stump Side Table

    DIY Studded Tree Stump Side Table
    A Beautiful Mess

    Find a use for the beautiful tree stump you were left with when you cut down a tree in your yard by repurposing it into an affordable and stylish side table with a coat of your favorite paint color. To add even more visual interest, contrast the organic look of the wood by adding a band of decorative studs.

    DIY Studded Tree Stump Side Table from A Beautiful Mess

  • 02 of 08

    DIY Ikea Hack Side Table

    DIY Ikea Hack Side Table
    DIY Ikea Hack Side Table Sugar And Cloth

    This clever Ikea hack transforms the Expedit shelving unit by adding four small legs to the base to give it more height, making it the perfect side table for your living room. It can even double as a bar cart or a beside table, as it offers plenty of storage space on top and in the middle area.

    DIY Ikea Hack Side Table from Sugar and Cloth

  • 03 of 08

    DIY Copper Laptop Table

    Build the perfect space to work on your laptop while sitting on the couch with this inexpensive side table that uses copper pipes and fittings for the table legs and stained pieces of scrap wood to create a sturdy table top. The pieces of the copper stand simply glue together—no soldering required!

    Easy DIY Copper Laptop Table from Zest It Up

  • 04 of 08

    DIY Acrylic and Brass Side Table

    DIY Acrylic And Brass Side Table
    In My Own Style

    Combine your old television tray base and a new acrylic serving tray to create a beautiful modern side table that feels airy. The brass detailing is very trendy at the moment and is an easy way to incorporate the warm metals trend in your home, while the transparent table top will visually take up little space, making this piece the perfect choice for small or cluttered rooms.

    DIY Acrylic and Brass Side Table from In My Own Style

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  • 05 of 08

    DIY Wooden Sofa Arm Table

    DIY Wooden Sofa Arm Table
    The Ugly Duckling House

    If your living room is tight on floor space, this DIY wooden side table may be the perfect solution. It sits over your sofa arm rest and keeps your drink or snack within easy reach. Made with scrap wood, it can be stained or painted to match your living room color scheme. (It's also is the perfect way to hide damage on the armrest of your sofa.)

    DIY Wooden Sofa Arm Table from Ugly Duckling House

  • 06 of 08

    DIY Ombre Stump Side Table

    DIY Ombre Stump Side Table
    Sugar And Cloth

    Add some warmth to your living space by using a tree stump as a rustic side table. While it is possible to buy tree stumps, if you keep your eyes peeled, you can probably find one wherever tree work is being done, or ask for a stump from a local tree care company.

    To give the tree stump table even more visual interest, decorate it with a gold ombre finish, as done by Sugar and Cloth, to create a unique rustic yet glamorous piece of furniture.

    DIY Ombre Stump Side Table from Sugar and Cloth

  • 07 of 08

    DIY Concrete Side Table or Stool

    DIY Concrete Side Table
    Chelsey Andrews

    This striking DIY concrete side table has a metallic top and can be made for about $15. It also doubles as a stool. The project uses a 5-gallon bucket, a bag of quick-setting concrete, a cardboard concrete form, and a few other odds and ends to create a sturdy piece that's hollow on the inside but looks completely solid. And because it's concrete, it can live outdoors just as well as indoors.

    DIY Concrete Side Table Or Stool from Better Homes and Gardens

  • 08 of 08

    DIY Record Side Table

    DIY Record Side Table
    The Flourishing Abode

    Show off your love of vinyl by making this very affordable and hip side table with a record and a plant stand. Instead of using your beloved records, head to a thrift shop to purchase one, and pick up a plant stand while you are at it. If you're lucky, all the materials for this table might cost you under $10.

    DIY Record Side Table from The Flourishing Abode