Making Your Own Furniture On A Budget
Nowadays money is tight for most people and the cost of living seems to be going up and up, so this is a great way to cut costs and also add a unique item of furniture to your home.
Making your own furniture can be easy and a lot cheaper than buying from a store. It can also become a great hobby which may even make you a bit of money too. I made this mosaic side table which cost next to nothing to create. I used scrap wood from my local D.I.Y store and I used broken tiles which I got from a local tile store. My local D.I.Y Store offers a selection of off-cut and broken tiles for free.
Materials Used
- Any scrap wood
- Scrap tiles
- Grout
- Wood glue
- Sand paper
- Saw
- Screws
- Electric screwdriver
- Walnut varnish
- Paintbrush
How I Made My Table
I started by cutting out two identical pieces of wood for the feet of the table. Then a solid circular piece of wood for the top, and an identical circular piece with the center cut out (for the mosaic tiles).
Next using a sheet of sand paper, I smoothed all the edges down. Then I cut two slots in the legs to allow them to slot into place, and screwed the solid circular piece of wood to the legs.
Then I glued the last circular piece of wood on top. I placed the tiles into the center to make a nice picture and glued them into place using grout. Once this was dry, I wiped the remaining grout from the mosaic and finished off the table by varnishing the wood with a rich walnut gloss.
I had chosen a round top table with a central leg, as this seemed to be the easiest option at the time, however you may find that a square table with two solid side legs suits your room better instead. Be creative and plan what you want to make. Don't be afraid to mix materials as this will often give a better effect.
The mosaic picture I created with the broken tiles is a ship at sea with the sun shining, but again, be as creative as you like. make it personal to you and keep it simple!
Using different shades of the same color will give a great finish without the need to make a picture, for example: shades of green will go great in a conservatory, and reds and browns give a warm feel making it perfect for a front room.
Do you mostly create or buy?
The only thing I would like to add to this table is a circular piece of glass for the top. This would help to keep the mosaic in good condition and add a smoother finish. However It has proven difficult to find a piece of glass to fit.
Apart from my time, this project really did cost me only a few pounds and any guests who come to visit, always compliment the table.