Children’s furniture continues to increase in price these days, regardless of the economy. As the child grows, the furniture becomes too small, outdated and unwanted.
Here is a child’s table that over time, can grow with the child, keep up with decorating schemes with paint, decorative stickers, etc. and stay useful into the teen years, more if necessary. A table becomes a desk, entertainment center, hobby center or more.
As a trestle table, it breaks down for easy moving from one house to another or a dorm room.
Build this table for under $50, depending on the area where you live.
You will need:
• One sheet ½” furniture grade plywood
• Marking tools
• Measuring tape
• Edge tape or decorative moulding
• Table or power saw
• Sandpaper
• Drill with ¾” hole saw and bits
• One ¾” dowel, 4 feet long
• One ½” dowel, 1 foot long or two carriage bolts, 5/8″ diameter and six inches long
This table will be 24 inches wide by 36 inches long by 22 inches high.
Step One:
Cut one piece of plywood 24 inches wide by 36 inches long.
Cut two pieces of plywood 22.5 inches high and 18 inches wide. These will be the side pieces.
Step Two:
Mark a top and bottom to each side piece. Mark the center of the top
Measure six inches from each side of the center mark and place a mark on the board. Draw a line ½ inches from the edge of the board from the edge of the board to the mark.
This will produce an edge 12 inches long, ½ inch in height and six inches long on each side.
Cut out the ½- inch waste. Place the table top over the side pieces and ensure the slot is tight, but not so tight the table is hard to disassemble.
Step Three:
Mark the center on each side of the table top piece.
On each long side of the table top, place a mark ½” wide and 12 inches long 6 inches from the ends of the table. This cutout will allow the side pieces to be inserted.
On the bottom of the table pieces, measure 4 inches up from the bottom and center. Mark this spot for drilling the ¾” hole for the trestle bar.
Drill and test the dowel in the hole. If too tight, widen the hole so the dowel moves in and out easily.
Step Four:
Cut ten inches off the end of the dowel.
Assemble the table and insert the dowel.
Cut the ½” dowel into two pieces.
Mark a place on the dowel next to the side of the table. Take the table apart and drill through the dowel. Re-assemble the table and insert the dowels. You may need to tap with a hammer a little.
Step Five:
Apply edge tape to all unfinished edges, sand and finish the table as desired.
As child grows, add taller sides. This table will serve well for years to come as a desk, nightstand, computer desk, crafts desk and much more.
Depending on local prices, this project doesn’t cost more than $50 when using top grade products. Of course, if using non-furniture grade plywood, wood filler and paint, the cost would be considerably less. Laminating with linoleum or tiling the table with leftover tiles also reduces the cost while increasing the value of the table.
Notes to consider:
• Instead of using more sheets of wood for trestle strips, use dowels for trestle bars
• Use pre-finished melamine sheets for table- less finishing required
• A 1-by-4 board may be used for the trestle bar- adjust the pattern accordingly.
• These days, recycled or reclaimed fence or “barn” wood is perfectly acceptable to make the boards for this table. Be careful not to use wood that contains arsenic or harmful chemicals. Wood used from old pallets should be bare wood or sealed in several coats of paint.
• Cut decorative edges into the sides without reducing the top or bottom widths.
Source: The author of this article has over 40 years of experience in diverse forms of crafting, designing, and building furniture, outdoor projects and more.
Reference:
- http:www.homedepot.com
- http:www.lowes.com
