1-Hour Side Table

In addition to my love of bowls, I have an affinity to for little tables, or side tables, and it seems like I am always in search of one or five. When I sit on our chairs or couches, I like to have a spot to put my drink or my electronics or the perennial stack of papers I carry around. I guess I usually have someone sitting on my lap so I need the surface space. And on more than one occasion, my phone has fallen into the dangerous cushion crevices and if you’re wondering, the ring is significantly muffled when it gets stuffed down there making it a real challenge to find if one has completely forgotten where it could be.

We keep settling in more and more and we are to the point where the big furniture pieces are placed and now it’s time to find the pieces to complement them. Now it’s time for the side table. After looking through lots of options, I found myself drawn to clear acrylic tables and wire-legged tables. They do a table’s job but visually, they are unobtrusive and airy. Making things with acrylic is a little out of my comfort zone at the moment but I could figure out the wire-legged version.

I call this the 1-hour side table, referring to active time, the time spent actually doing something but, to be honest, I’m certain it could be done in even less time. The circle I used was a garage sale find, already stained with a weathered patina (a.k.a. dinged and imperfect). I sanded it a little and coated it with polyurethane so the children’s markers would wipe off easier. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Here’s how it’s done.

Supplies:

-hamper or waste basket (I found mine at Target)
-wooden circle – mine is 17″ in diameter
-1/2″ screws
-power drill
–P-clips
–stain & polyurethane for unfinished wood

P-clips are used for holding cords normally but they work perfectly for this project.

If the wooden circle is unfinished, make sure to at least coat it in polyurethane and, if you’re feeling brave, stain it. Once it’s dry, center the upside-down basket on the bottom side of the circle and use the p-clips to connect them  Connect it however you see fit. That’s it! Easy, right?

We like our table so much I have plans for at least two more. It would be a shame to have to share such lovely space, right? Haha!