Living in a small apartment or home presents unique challenges, especially when it comes to furniture. Finding pieces that fit your space without making it feel cramped can be a real struggle. Like many, my fiancée and I live in a cozy two-bedroom apartment, and furnishing it has been an exercise in strategic space management. Instead of feeling confined, we’ve learned to embrace and optimize the space we have.
This means carefully considering each furniture choice. A full-sized couch? Out of the question. Instead, we opted for a comfortable loveseat. We maximize vertical storage, utilizing shelves and wall-mounted solutions. And, importantly, we’ve accepted that our dining and living areas must coexist harmoniously. The hunt for a small dining table proved surprisingly difficult. Everything we found was either too large, too expensive, or simply didn’t fit our aesthetic. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and build a small dining table myself!
This DIY project was born out of necessity, but it quickly evolved into a rewarding creative endeavor. The goal was simple: create a functional and stylish dining table that wouldn’t overwhelm our limited space. The result? A charming two-person table that perfectly complements our apartment.
The entire project, from start to finish, took just a single day. The table occupies less than three feet of wall space, making it ideal for small apartments. Since it’s usually just my fiancée and me, a two-person table is perfectly adequate. While we often find ourselves eating on the couch (let’s be honest, who doesn’t?), it’s wonderful to have a dedicated space for enjoying a proper meal together. One of my favorite aspects of this small dining table is its portability. The legs are easily detachable, making it a breeze to move or store when needed – a huge plus for apartment living!
Ready to create your own space-saving dining solution? Let’s dive into the materials and step-by-step instructions for building your own small dining table.
Materials
- Baltic Birch Plywood Board (24 x 30 inches, 3/4 inch thickness): This will be your tabletop. Baltic birch is known for its strength and attractive edge grain. Most home improvement stores offer cutting services, so you can have the wood cut to the precise dimensions you need.
- Four Wooden Table Legs (27.5 inches in height): Choose legs that match your desired style. Tapered legs offer a mid-century modern look, while straight legs provide a more contemporary feel. Waddell 27.5″ Wood Round Taper Legs are a great option.
- Four Metal Leg Mounts: These mounts attach the legs securely to the tabletop. Make sure they are heavy-duty for stability. Consider Waddell Heavy-Duty Top Plates.
- Router: A router is used to round the edges of the tabletop, giving it a more finished look. A trim router is perfect for this project. Consider the Ryobi ONE+ Trim Router.
- Power Drill: A power drill is essential for attaching the leg mounts. A hammer drill is even better, but not strictly necessary. The Ryobi ONE+ 18-Volt Hammer Drill is a reliable choice.
- Orbital Sander and Sandpaper: An orbital sander makes quick work of smoothing the tabletop. You’ll need various grits of sandpaper, starting with a coarser grit (around 120) and finishing with a finer grit (around 220).
- Safety Glasses and Ventilator Mask: Safety first! Protect your eyes from flying debris and your lungs from dust particles.
- Polyurethane Finish: Polyurethane protects the wood from spills and stains, ensuring the longevity of your table. Choose a satin finish for a subtle sheen. Minwax Satin Polycrylic Protective Finish is a popular option.
- Gold and Black Paint: For painting the table legs. Choose colors that complement your decor.
- Paintbrush: For applying the paint to the legs.
- Masking Tape: For creating clean lines when painting the table legs.
Step-by-Step Guide: Building Your Small Dining Table
Step 1: Rounding the Edges
To give the table a more refined and professional appearance, the first step is to round the edges of the plywood tabletop. Since I opted for 13-ply Baltic birch plywood, I knew the exposed edges would look aesthetically pleasing. While plywood with more layers tends to be more expensive, it’s a worthwhile investment for projects like this where the edge grain is visible.
With the help of a friend, we carefully rounded both the top and bottom edges of the plywood. This was accomplished using a Ryobi ONE+ Trim Router. It’s crucial to securely clamp the tabletop in place to ensure stability during the routing process. After attaching a “rounding over” bit to the router, we carefully routed the top edge of the tabletop. We then flipped the tabletop over and repeated the process for the other side.
Step 2: Sanding the Tabletop
Next, I used an orbital sander to thoroughly sand the entire plywood board. As the wood was already relatively smooth, I started directly with 220 grit sandpaper. I also lightly sanded the rounded edges by hand to ensure a smooth, even finish.
Step 3: Applying Polyurethane
To protect the table from potential spills and messes, I coated the wood with polyurethane. I applied a thin, even layer of the sealant and allowed it to dry completely according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Once dry, I lightly sanded the tabletop again with 220 grit sandpaper to create a smooth surface for the final coat of polyurethane. I then applied a second and final layer of polyurethane for added protection and durability.
Step 4: Painting the Legs
Finishing the table legs was a straightforward process. I used masking tape to create clean lines at the bottom of each leg, creating a two-toned look with black and gold paint. This color combination is a clear nod to the Mid-Century Modern aesthetic, a design style that often features similar color palettes on furniture from the 1940s to 1960s. Allow the paint to dry completely before moving on to the next step.
Step 5: Attaching the Leg Mounts
Once the tabletop had completely dried, I attached the metal leg mounts to the four corners of the table using the Ryobi ONE+ 18-Volt Hammer Drill. Ensure the mounts are securely fastened for stability. After that, it was simply a matter of screwing the legs into the mounts, and the table was ready to use!
One of the key design principles I adhere to in my apartment is maintaining an open and airy atmosphere. A cluttered living space tends to cause stress for both my fiancée and me. While it may take longer to find furniture and decor that align with this aesthetic, the end result is always worth the effort. This small dining table is a perfect example of how thoughtful design can enhance a small space.
This post was sponsored by The Home Depot, but all opinions are my own. We appreciate working with companies that support DIYers, and we thank you for supporting the brands that make projects like this possible! This post contains affiliate links; if you click on them and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the sale.
Want to see what else we’ve been working on? Check out this stump side table we just finished!
Or learn How to Make a Simple Built-In Bench for Extra Storage. The perfect kitchen weekend upgrade.
