In our article we will talk about how to make and decorate a coffee table with your own hands. There are many varieties of this piece of furniture, and you can make it yourself quite quickly. The main thing is to have detailed instructions and drawings on hand. There are tables of a folding type, which are equipped with special mechanisms. Such devices can be purchased at furniture stores, but with a strong desire, you can make it in a couple of hours from improvised materials.
In our material you will learn how to make a beautiful coffee table on your own, and even make it easy to use. But let's also pay attention to the aesthetic and creative sides - after all, this piece of furniture is used more often than others. Except for the sofa and armchairs, of course.
Design features
It is worth paying attention to the fact that there is only one requirement for a table. Andthis is the height of the coffee table - it should be in the range of 40-50 cm. And then use your imagination to help - create, invent, use various forms and decorations. Of course, the design is the most important, as it affects the appearance. Decide in advance how you will decorate the table. This will immediately solve one important issue - to make your own design or use the ready one.
It is also worth noting one feature of coffee tables - they are affected by small loads, so at any time, even after final production, you can easily make any changes to the design. At the same time, spend a minimum of money and effort. And now let's look at the most popular options for finishing tables. As mentioned earlier, the height of the coffee table is no more than 50 cm, so we will not go in cycles in size.
Wallpaper trim
Yes, the simplest wallpaper is a material that can be used to process any table. Moreover, even the oldest and shabby structures can be used, the main thing is that they are strong. There are no special features in cleaning surfaces, putty and primer. Be sure to paint the surface before starting work. A layer of wallpaper is laid on an adhesive base. It is necessary to apply a colorless or tinted varnish on top. If there is a prepared drawing of a coffee table (you can draw it with your own hands in any modeling program), then immediately after varnishing, outline the location of allfasteners.
All layers of wallpaper, except for the last, must be sanded. Velvet skin is used for this purpose. But you can rarely find it on sale, so go for the trick. Take two sheets of sandpaper with number 240 and rub against each other until the foundation shows through. With this material, and grind. The abrasive that will fall off the sandpaper can be collected, it can be used to process glass surfaces. If desired, you can make a coffee table with drawers and treat all surfaces with wallpaper.
In the case when embossed wallpapers are used, they begin to do polishing from the layer above which there are no longer irregularities. Varnish must be applied liberally, especially the first layer. Make sure that it flows over the ends. Set the countertop on a stand, and be sure to cover the entire floor with plastic wrap so as not to smear. Those layers that will be sanded should be applied slightly shrinking. It is necessary to make sure that the varnish runs off (maximum thickness is not more than 4 mm) to the edges. Drops will appear below, which subsequently must be cut and sanded.
To add a touch of elegance to the design, drive in a row of push pins or wallpaper nails along the edge. The main thing is that the hats are located at the same distance from each other and on the same line. To do this, use a metal corner. On one of its sides, you need to drill holes with a diameter of 1.2 mm. This corner is used as a template, it must bemove around the perimeter and evaluate the position of the buttons.
Decoration with shell stones
Surely everyone has been to the sea and brought empty shells and pebbles with them. If you make such a scattering on the table, you can achieve a romantic look. It is not recommended to use bamboo for manufacturing - it is rather difficult to select stems by thickness, and if you take tapering ones, then dust will begin to accumulate in between. And it's pretty hard to clean it up. And one more feature - it is very difficult to glue glass to a round surface. It is worth noting that a coffee table in a classic style can be easily made "marine", for this it is enough to make a new tabletop, which you fill with shells or stones.
For the manufacture of a "marine" table, it is best to use ordinary skirting boards. On sale you can find various options that differ in size, tone, texture, price. And glass with the help of aquarium silicone can be glued to the surface of the plinth literally tightly. This glue can be purchased at any pet store. Usually it is transparent and durable, able to withstand any load. But there are adhesives in black and white, so we can assume that the choice is simply wide.
If the countertop is 400 x 750 mm, glass at least 6 mm thick is used for it. If you decide to increase the size of the countertop to 600 x 900, then it is better to use glass over 8 mm. For large sizes, it is desirable to use glass 10 mm thick or more. Glass must bemirror, it does not allow the presence of undulations and striae. It is recommended to make a small sample under the glass on the inside of the plinth so that it is flush. In this case, the table will turn out to be safe, reliable and very beautiful. You can make a coffee table from chipboard with your own hands - this material is quite durable, it is very convenient to work with it, and most importantly, it has a low cost.
A bit of history
Just over 30 years ago, a French factory made a splash on the world stage. She released a line of very exclusive furniture - aquarium tables. Through the perfectly transparent tabletop, one could watch how fish swim and algae grow inside. The manufacturer assured buyers that the resource of such an interior item was over 40 years old, but then a small embarrassment occurred. The fact is that the system is completely closed, and during the reproduction of fish there was a violation of the biological balance. And this table just turned into a mass grave for a lot of fish.
Mirror trim
Mirror table can fit literally into any interior. After all, mirrors reflect everything that is around them, so they fit into the overall picture as accurately as possible. A simple box is used as the basis for the manufacture of the table. It should have all corners smoothed. It is also necessary to take into account the strength characteristics. Before starting manufacturing, be sure to paint the base. It is quite possible to cover a coffee table made of wood with mirrors.
But it is not recommended to leave in sight the gaps in whichthere will be a tree. After all, wood will be striking, the mirror surface will fade into the background. You can paint with silver, because this color will be in perfect harmony with the mirror. But always pay attention to the design of the room. Black or white colors will look great in classic modern. In the case of a minimalist design, you can use only one tone common to all pieces of furniture. So, if the room is in light green tones, then it is necessary to paint the base under the table in the same color.
A little about decoupage
The original design method is decoupage. In fact, this is a procedure for gluing pre-made parts of some pattern onto the base. We can say that these are modified decals. The technique of the work is quite simple, and everything that is necessary for the work can be purchased in the kit. The main thing is to prepare the basis for the work. To stick the picture correctly, you should be careful. But how to make a coffee table with your own hands so that it is attractive and does not spoil the look of your room? This issue needs to be de alt with in more detail.
Of course, some may argue that furniture decoupage has long been considered a sign of rather bad taste. But it is worth noting that the technique is constantly being improved, and there are a lot of options for finished images, there are plenty to choose from. When manufacturing, it is necessary to carefully sand the countertop, level the surface as much as possible, repair all existing cracks and chips. After that, a primer is made with a solution onbased on chalk and clear furniture lacquer.
Water primers should not be used for this purpose. After work, the entire surface must be varnished with an acrylic base. You can also use furniture nitrolac. Please note that it is necessary to apply 2-4 layers. Moreover, each subsequent is applied after the previous one has completely dried. Varnish consumption directly depends on the size of the coffee table and the number of layers.
Mosaic in design
Quite often they decorate tables with mosaics. But hardly everyone knows that countertops are made from materials such as alabaster or marble. The reason is that it is unrealistic to fix mosaic tiles on wood. Of course, you can stick it on, but the tree can be deformed and all the decorations will fall off. What is an alabaster? No, this is not building alabaster, but an ornamental semi-precious stone of a slightly pinkish hue. But a coffee table made of wood is unlikely to be covered with a layer of stone or ceramic mosaic, there are reasons for this.
It is worth paying attention to the fact that you can stick a plastic mosaic on wood. Pieces can be easily cut out of plastic boxes yourself. As a rule, such boxes are white, but sometimes you can find dark gray and black. But after all, if paint is available, then any tone can be given to the mosaic. It is recommended to use paint for graffiti - it tightly eats into PVC with fillers. But there is one condition -paint only the cut pieces. Otherwise, flaws may appear on the edges. When assembling the mosaic, assembly glue is used. The base must be leveled and primed before starting work.
Show your skills
If you have the makings of an artist, it's a sin not to use them. But it is worth noting that it is impossible to use stencils, since all, even the smallest, flaws will be visible. Before starting work, it is imperative to apply a layer of soil to the base. True, if you decide to decorate under Khokhloma, a primer is not needed - in this case it is included in the process itself. But this type of painting is quite complicated, so it is not worth putting it into practice. It is better to use Gorodets or Polkhov. They are usually used in the design of wooden dishes, as well as various kitchen items. And if the table is made of wood, then the painting is perfect. And even when the size of the coffee table is very large, the painting will look just great.
Crackle technique
The essence of the process is quite simple - it is necessary to apply a special crackle varnish to the paint that has not yet dried (when the finger is still imprinted on the surface, but without tack). When the varnish dries, it begins to pull the paint behind it, which cracks with a mesh. The finished product takes on an antique look, so this table can be installed in rooms decorated in the Empire or Baroque style.
But the entire surface must be varnished, otherwise dust will begin to collect in the cracks very quickly. If there is no crackle varnish, you can make it yourself,To do this, use this instruction:
- Dilute the PVA glue twice or three times if gouache or nitro paints are used. The solution is applied little by little, in a very thin layer. The dosage is determined empirically - apply to the experimental sample of the painted surface. Try not to use bright colors in the design.
- When using oil paint, use egg white instead of varnish.
- Vinegar is used for acrylic or alkyd enamels.
- But gelatin can be used for any type of paint, only the coating cannot last more than five years, even if several layers of varnish are applied to it.
Well, we figured out a little about the design options for tables, now let's move on to forms and materials.
Round tables
It is round coffee tables that are the most sought after and popular. Some table designs have long been used for guests to leave their business cards on them. Such designs were called visiting. If they wanted to hint to the guest that they no longer want to see him in the house, then when leaving he could see the back of the tabletop. True, such passages have never been a reason for a challenge to a duel. These days, business tables have far less offensive uses.
A bookcase table made of wood will look good. Tabletop diameter from 700 mm. This design of a round coffee table is very simple, but it is more suitable for placing a newspaper or a scarf on it. Therefore, if you plan to put something heavy on the countertop, it is better to make a support under the edges of the rack - a piece of metal pipe. You can make supports from wood, laminate or chipboard.
Transformer table
Folding coffee tables have long become commonplace, their design is about the same as that of dining tables. Sliding type tabletop, there is an insert board. The curbstone was used as a wine cellar. Even in the Soviet years, such tables could be found not only in the homes of the urban intelligentsia, but also in the chic offices of party workers. The latter usually kept inside not only glasses and bottles of alcohol, but also a couple of volumes of K. Marx or V. I. Lenin. And what the situation demanded was put on the table. If any subordinate came to the carpet, then Lenin's volume flaunted on the table. And if it was an old friend, then they got a bottle of wine and glasses.
But today, folding coffee tables are also used as dining tables. This is just a godsend if you have a small studio apartment. Furniture stores have a large assortment of such tables, but their cost is quite high. But the design can be independently designed and manufactured. To do this, of course, you must have the skills to work with drawings. Experience with programs that allow 3D modeling will be useful.
Making from newspapers
And if you have a lot of old press? Newspapers and magazines can be used to make a coffee table that looks quite attractive. But onlyto use such material, it is necessary that the entire room be decorated in the same way. The technology looks like this:
- You need to roll newspapers into tubes and fix them with rubber bands.
- Immerse all tubes for 3-7 minutes in a container filled with polymer-water emulsion. It is good because it is low cost and has no smell.
- Hang all tubes on wire to dry. There should be no dust in the room, be sure to lay a film under the dryer.
- Glue the cabinet with PVA glue and dry it, placing it strictly vertically. It is recommended to tie with a thread so that the structure does not crumble during the process.
- Mark all planes with a pseudo-thickness gauge and trim with a fine-toothed hacksaw.
- Use aquarium silicone to glue the glass top to the base. The glass must be over 12mm thick.
This is an unusual use for old newspapers and magazines. It is worth noting that the strength of the product is no worse than that of wood or plastic. But inferior, of course, metal. You can strengthen the legs for a coffee table by wrapping metal or wooden elements inside the newspapers, which are subsequently connected. But there is simply no point in doing extra work.
