Author: sirwin

Our modern table legs have been used for chairs, coffee tables and even standing desks. We were asked recently what a good beginner DIY furniture project would be, so today we’re going to discuss how to make your own desk, using modern metal table legs. So you’ve decided to make a desk instead of heading to your local big box store? Congratulations! You’re on your way to having both: a custom piece of furniture for your home or office as well as the satisfaction of having built something with your own two hands.

You’ll need two sets of materials: a desktop and some legs. Most of the projects we see made with our legs use a wood desktop.  This could be as custom as crafting your own butcher block to use, or it could be as simple as picking up a vintage door. Scout around in your area for wood you can reclaim, rough cut wood you can easily refinish, or perhaps a tabletop which you already own, but which isn’t the correct height for your new DIY desk.

Once you have your wood picked out, head over to our products section and decide what legs are going to look just right supporting your desk. Many of the desks our customers make use classic hairpin table legs, but the tapered angle iron legs or flat bar bench legs might add the perfect look to your project. Measure the height you’d like to have your desk at, and place your order. One tip for those of us working at computers: make sure you measure the height your keyboard and mouse feel comfortable at, which may be different than where you want your monitors.

If you are going to refinish or add a second coat of sealant to your wood, take care of that while we create the desk legs for you and get them in the mail. By the time the legs get there, your desktop should be dry and ready for legs. We hope these tips help you get started, and if you have any questions about which legs might be best for your project, get in touch. And of course, send us a photo when you’re done! We love seeing the amazing designs our customers come up with.

When most of us think of modern furniture, we think of adjectives like: low, minimal, simple. Those are all appropriate descriptors, and sometimes the hardest part of choosing which modern coffee table is right for you is finding the right style. Furniture is no different from many consumer goods in that you can create a beautiful functional piece of furniture for a very reasonable amount of money, or you can spend a small fortune on one. Starting with a great piece of wood can help you avoid spending a fortune.

One of our favorite modern wood coffee table styles is just a simple wood top with some sturdy legs or a frame supporting the tabletop. A horizontal section of wood is one of the oldest and most classic design ideas. For those of us who love trees and wood products letting the wood remain the focus of the coffee table is a perfect balance between natural beauty and modern design. After all, the mid-century modern movement was all about taking furniture and architecture back to simple lines and simple materials.

At this point, let’s step away from the aesthetics and talk about composition. If you’re going to build a modern wood coffee table blending a wood top and metal supports, start with the tabletop. Talk to your local lumber yard and find out what wood they carry. If you’re not sure what type you’ll like, take a trip out and see if anything speaks to you. Once you have a piece you think will work, decide what type of supports you’d like. Our customers commonly use hairpin legs or bench supports, but we can build a custom frame for your piece as well…just get in touch and let us know what dimensions you’re looking for. Once you’ve ordered legs, you’ll have some time to sand and seal the wood. You can sand by hand or use an electric sander…just make sure you keep the sander moving to avoid creating patterns which might draw attention away from the wood grain. Sealing the wood is as simple as choosing a sealant and giving it two or three coats.

Once your legs or supports arrive, attach the metalwork to the finished wood with the right wood screws (1/4 to 1/2 inch less than the wood depth), and you’re done!

With the rise of Ikea and other large furniture outlets which bring affordable furniture to most markets, we’ve noticed a growing homogeneity in furniture. One easy way to break out of the big-box furniture mold is to build a piece of ‘live edge’ furniture, like a live edge coffee table.

What is ‘live edge’ furniture? Simply stated, it’s furniture which isn’t cut to conform to an artificial shape…it retains the natural shape that the tree cultivated in the wild. Here in Colorado, we have numerous wood types available to us, but we see lots of amazing designs made out of high altitude pine trees, which grow in amazing shapes and sizes.

Selecting your own piece of live edge wood from the wild would certainly guarantee a unique coffee table, but most people probably don’t have time to find the wood and obtain the proper permits. Instead, check in with your local lumber yard or tree maintenance company and find out what kind of rough cut wood is available. Even if you don’t live in a heavily wooded part of the country, there is always tree work being done and the species growing all around you can be turned into a wonderful live edge table or bench. Once you select the right piece of wood, you can sand, seal or stain the wood to your liking and order some legs to finish it off. We like the simple elegance of hairpin legs on a live edge coffee table or bench, although you can use angle iron legs or bench legs as well. Here are a few examples of live edge coffee tables made with our hairpin legs:

 Once you have legs attached to your one-of-a-kind tabletop or bench, send us a photo! We love seeing the amazing designs our customers come up with…especially when they are made from wood that retains some of it’s natural beauty and contour.

Coffee tables come in all shapes and styles, but for many houses and apartments they are the focal point of the living room, so folks want to own a coffee table that fits their tastes and decor. At Modern Legs we like simple lines and classic building materials like wood, steel and wrought iron. Today we thought we’d give a few simple suggestions for how to make a coffee table.

If you’re going after a classic wood coffee table, affordable and unique wood choices can depend a little on where you are. On the east coast customers have started with classic eastern hardwoods like oak, maple or walnut. Here in Colorado we have easy access to locust, catalpa and orchard varieties like apple, cherry and pear. On the west coast there are beautiful evergreen varieties like redwood, sequoia and several species of fir. Great cuts of wood can be found at lumber yards, from tree maintenance companies and in reclaimed wood yards from building renovations. Search for ‘reclaimed wood’ or ‘rough cut lumber’ to find sources for unique wood in your area.

When it comes to preparing the wood, you can sand, stain or clear coat your wood…it all depends on your color and protection preferences. We prefer showing off the wood by sanding and using a clear varnish, but it’s up to you. Once you have the wood selected and prepared, it’s time to choose legs. We love the simplicity of the classic hairpin leg, but some customers opt for tube steel or flat bar legs for a seamless design. We always suggest thinking about what height you want your table early in the process. If you’re replacing a table, measure the height of that table if you like that height, and are upgrading the quality of the table.

When you have your legs picked out, place an order and the process is almost done. Affix your legs to the table with wood screws and you’re done! We’ve heard from customers all over the country who have put together a one-of-a-kind table for $100 or less! Not only did they save some money, but they own a truly unique coffee table that they built. Now that you have some tips on how to make a coffee table…get out there and get creating!