Rustic Industrial Side Table

Today’s post is a two-bee; on 100Things2Do I’m sharing building plans for three versions of a rustic industrial side table and on The House of Wood, I’m sharing the building plans for the rustic industrial coffee table to match!

The inspiration for both of these tables came from Restoration Hardware.

That’s $1,195 folks.

The coffee table (plans over on Jen’s blog) came in at over $3,000!

Pretty sure I can DIY a version of both (sans iron work) for less than that.

Rustic industrial side table

Cuts – Version 1

4 pieces 2″ x 3″ cut to 22 ¾” long
4 pieces 2″ x 3″ cut to 14 ½” long
3 pieces 2″ x 3″ cut to 15″ long
2 pieces 2″ x 5 ¼” cut to 19″ long (I ripped a 2″ x 6″ down to 5 ¼”)
4 pieces 2″ x 4 ¾” cut to 11 ½” long (I ripped a 2″ x 6″ down to 4 ¾”)

Cuts – Version 2

4 pieces 2″ x 3″ cut to 22 ¾” long
4 pieces 2″ x 3″ cut to 14 ½” long
2 pieces 2″ x 1 ¼” cut to 15″ long
2 pieces 2″ x 1 ¼” cut to 27″ long (angle cuts to be made later)
2 pieces 2″ x 5 ¼” cut to 19″ long (I ripped a 2″ x 6″ down to 5 ¼”)
4 pieces 2″ x 4 ¾” cut to 11 ½” long (I ripped a 2″ x 6″ down to 4 ¾”)
* read the post over at House of Wood for determining and cutting angles

Finally, the version I decide to make for our family:

Cuts – Version 3

4 pieces 2″ x 3″ cut to 22 ¾” long
4 pieces 2″ x 3″ cut to 14 ½” long
4 pieces 2″ x 3″ cut to 15″ long
2 pieces 2″ x 5 ¼” cut to 19″ long (I ripped a 2″ x 6″ down to 5 ¼”)
4 pieces 2″ x 4 ¾” cut to 11 ½” long (I ripped a 2″ x 6″ down to 4 ¾”)
¾” plywood or scrap wood cut to 17″ by 20″ (corners will be notched out later)
*if using a plywood base, you will also need ¾” veneer banding

The building plan for version 3 of the rustic industrial side table doesn’t show a lower shelf, but the ¾” plywood (or scrap wood pieced together) will make a bottom shelf. We keep blankets close by, so while I loved the look of the Restoration Hardware side table, changing things slightly was necessary for our family’s needs.

I will start by saying that my boards were originally 2″ x 4″ spruce – cheap building lumber. I ripped down my boards to get a 2 ½” width and then used a thickness planer to smooth out all the lumps and bumps. You don’t have to do this – you can buy 2″ x 3″ boards and skip the ripping and planing altogether.

Once you have all of your wood cut, drill pocket holes in the ugly side of the 14 ½” and 15″ boards.

Use wood glue and 2″ pocket screws to create rectangles with the 14 ½” and the 22 ¾” long boards – keep the pocket holes to the outside of your rectangle frame. Check for square.

I like to get my rough sanding done at this point; before everything is stuck together and space gets tight, so I polished up all the sides and evened out any less-than-perfect joints with 120 grit sandpaper.

The 15″ boards will connect the two rectangles for your rustic industrial side table.

*Version 2: your bottom 15″ boards will be 1 ¼” wide so that they line up with the sides.

From your 4 ¾” boards, choose two that have nice, clean edges. These will be the outside boards.

Drill pocket holes in the 4 ¾” boards. Line your 5 ¼” boards along the ends of the 4 ¾” boards and mark where they line up – drill pocket holes at these marks (see below)

Use wood glue and clamp your 4 ¾” boards together tightly, then attach with 2″ pocket screws. Use wood glue and 2″ pocket screws to attach the side boards to the clamped middle ones.

With the pocket holes facing upwards, place your table top on the floor and centre the base inside it. These plans allow for a 1″ overhang on all sides. Screw in place through the frame and down into the table top.

Use wood filler as needed and sand everything smooth with 120 grit and then 220 grit sandpaper.

Mark your ¾” plywood (or scrap wood) shelf to accommodate the legs and cut the notches out with a jig saw.

(I pieced two pieces of pine together to make my shelf. If you use plywood, be sure to iron ¾” veneer around the edges for a clean finish)

You just built yourself a $1,000+ rustic industrial side table! I guess it could be any style of side table at this point?

I primed the legs of my rustic industrial side table with Zinsser^® Bulls Eye 1-2-3^® Water-Base Primer, sanded it smooth when dry and then applied a matte black paint over top to mimic the look of iron.

(disclosure: I was provided with Zinsser^® Bulls Eye 1-2-3^® Water-Base Primer free to showcase it in projects where a strong primer is needed)

I wanted to replicate the Restoration Hardware finish as closely as I could so I mixed Colonial and white SamaN stains together at a ratio of 2:1.

Once the stain was dry, I applied Varathane^® Triple Thick One Coat Clear Finish in satin to the top.

(disclosure: I was provided with Varathane^® Triple Thick One Coat Clear Finish free to showcase it in projects where a durable finish is needed)

The table is pretty close to the RH colour (see above), it’s the lighting in my family room that is throwing things.

You can see how a bottom shelf comes in handy.

Rustic industrial side table without any welding or metal work and for a tiny fraction of the inspiration piece!

It’s just perfect with the coffee table I’m showcasing over on The House of Wood.

The best part, besides how easy it was to make, how gorgeous it is in my family room, how trendy…

okay, one of the best parts is that I built my rustic industrial side table for $0! It’s made entirely from the leftover wood, paint and stain from the coffee table build!

So yes, you need to make both since it won’t cost you any extra to do so.

New family room furniture for less than $130 US (for both)!

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