When you are decorating on a budget, one way to save money is to make things yourself. In most homes you will find an assortment of side tables, coffee tables, dining tables, work tables, office desks and more. With a few materials you can create a custom table for every room in your home. You don’t have to be a carpenter or even hugely skilled to accomplish this. Here are some simple, low-budget ideas to consider.

• Visit your local home improvement store like Lowes or Home Depot. In the lumber section look for pre-made tabletops and an assortment of pre-made legs. It’s very simple to screw these together to quickly create a table to paint or stain in your desired finish.


• Another option from the lumber section is to buy a piece of thick 4’x 8’ plywood. Choose one with a grain that will be further enhanced once it’s stained. Cut it to your preferred dimensions and attach it to 2 sawhorses painted in the color of your choice for a utilitarian style kitchen or dining table.


• Here’s an old decorator trick that still works. To disguise an ugly table, top it with a round piece of inexpensive plywood about 1/4"-1/2" thick and cover with a tablecloth.


• Using cinderblocks, create an urban style table. Build a cubicle by stacking them like Lego blocks one on top of the other, leaving the middle open for storage.


• Recycle items to create a one-of-a-kind table. The possibilities for this are endless. Start with a piece of wood or glass in your preferred size to use as the top. Then use anything you like to create the table legs, depending on the height you want for your table. Tall metal buckets, bowling balls or cement pedestals are just a few ideas. Even 4 stacks of old books can support a coffee table. For fun, wrap each one in brown craft paper or paint the bindings in different colors.


• You can also create any kind of top with recycled items. An old wooden sled, picket gate or farm trough can all become tabletops. Be sure when creating your table that it is firmly attached to the legs for safety and stability.

Overall, building a table is not a complicated task and creating one yourself is a great way to enhance your home without busting your budget. Shop through flea markets, local home and garden shops and your own garage for ideas. Whether you want quirky or refined, primitive or modern, there’s a way to create a table that’s perfect for your needs.