March 4, 2015 by Drafts and Crafts
Having a long, narrow living room makes it difficult to have end tables next to the couch, my solution is this DIY couch arm table. Find the simple steps below!
{Materials Needed}
- 2”x6” lumber (aprox 1.5 feet)
- Wood Screws (2.5”)
- Paint or Wood Stain
{Tools Needed}
- Wood Saw
- Drill
- Tape Measure
- Carpenters Square
- Sandpaper (180 Grit or Medium)
Step 1) Measure the arm of the sofa to see what length to cut your wood. My sofa arm was 6” thick and I had about 5” to the cushions.
Step 2) Mark the wood for the cuts. I decided that the two side pieces should be 4”, and the top piece would be 6” + the thickness of the two side pieces, so 6+1.5+1.5=9”.
To get the best cuts, use a carpenters square to make sure your lines are straight.
Step 3) Cut the wood. Be careful! I used a table saw, but a miter saw or handsaw will also work. Just be careful! Remember that the saw blade actually removes a small amount of wood, so as you measure make a note if you need to cut to the left, right, or directly on your mark.
After you cut, I would advise ‘test fitting’ the piece to the sofa before you continue.
Step 4) Sand the wood smooth. Make sure that there are no rough edges or corners that will scrape you or your sofa. This step creates a lot of dust, so you might want to do it outside!
Step 5) Mark and drill the holes for the screws. Measure the thickness of your side pieces (mine were 1.5”) and mark the top piece exactly at half of the thickness so your screws are centered. Pre drill the holes for the holes so you don’t split the wood. Once your holes are drilled, the screws will go in much easier. Make sure to drill the screws in enough that the ‘sink’ a little into the wood.
Step 6) Paint (or stain). I used a waterproof deck stain because I liked the color, it matches our DIY Rustic Coffee Table. To get a weathered look, rub the stain on in a thin coat with a paper towel or cotton cloth. Don’t add to much or you won’t be able to see the wood grain. If you rub on too much you may be able to rub a little off. Let the paint dry for 12 hours before placing it on your couch.
We have been enjoying our new arm table for about a week now. I think it is safe to say we are loving it!! My husband is no longer placing his morning cup of joe on the couch, which means I no longer have anxiety! If you are like us and do not have room for an end table to go right next your couch, I recommend this DIY. I saw this creation on Etsy around Christmas time and I have wanted to make it ever since. On Etsy some folks are selling them for 50-75 bucks.. this cost us around 20 dollars to make. Tip: there is a section at Home Depot called the Cull section, where you can find all different types of scrap wood. Good Luck!!
Keep in touch,
Dani & Jason
