Build your own DIY farmhouse side table for under $20! The farmhouse end table plans are beginner friendly so you can build your own small farmhouse furniture to use as a side table, end table, small coffee table, or bedside table.
For more farmhouse furniture plans with similar X designs, check out this farmhouse TV stand and easy double X console table.
Hello Remodelaholic friends! It’s Ananda from A Piece of Rainbow, where I blog about creative DIY projects for the home and garden. Today I am going to share with you a woodworking plan for a multi-use farmhouse side table!
$20 Farmhouse End Table
This planked X side DIY end table is so stylish and versatile. It looks great as a side table, end table, or even a small coffee table!
image courtesy of Nesting With Grace
Just look at the inspiration photo above, you will know what I mean! Brooke from Nesting with Grace styled her living room so beautifully with this end table. Thank you Brooke for sharing your gorgeous photo with us!
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The original farmhouse end table is sold at Wayfair (you can also find it here for a slightly lower price!).
Before we start building our DIY side table, remember safety first! Please follow good practices to build safely and smartly. Follow safety guidelines of each tool you are using. Always wear eye and hearing protection. Work on a clean level surface, free of clutter or debris.
How to Build a Planked X Farmhouse Side Table
Materials and tools
- printable end table plans
- 3 – 8’ 2×2 boards (actual 1.5” x 1.5”)
- 2 – 6’ 1×4 boards (actual .75” x 3.5”)
- Drill/driver (small drill recommended – only about 16″ of space between sides when assembling)
- Circular saw and a chisel
- KregJig pockethole system and 1 1/4″ screws
- Finish nailer and 1″ finish nails
- Clamps
- Wood glue
- a piece of cardboard or thin plywood (for template)
- carpenter’s square (recommended)
- table saw (optional)
- 120 grit sand paper
- Finishing tools, paint/stain
Helpful tip: read through all the steps in the woodworking plan and drill required pocket holes before beginning. Sand all cut surfaces with 120 grit sand paper.
Cost
This small farmhouse DIY side table requires only 5 boards, so you can build it for under $20 in materials using basic pine lumber.
Other lumber will cost more but is definitely worth it depending on your situation. For example, oak wood will be harder and longer lasting and also stains beautifully! Cedar or redwood lumber is naturally weather resistant and would be a great option if you’d like to use this as an outdoor DIY end table on a porch or patio.
See more furniture woodworking plans here.
Dimensions
I created the DIY end table plan following the exact dimensions of the inspiration farmhouse end table, which is 19.75” H x 19.75” W x 13” D. You can easily modify the dimensions to fit your space and needs!
Required Skill Level
The farmhouse end table plans are simple and beginner-friendly. In addition to essential safety practices and basic woodworking skills like accurate measuring and cutting, to build this side table you’ll need to know how to:
- drill pocket holes using a Kreg Jig pocket hole jig (or similar)
- create a lap joint using a circular or table saw and chisel — Don’t let this intimidate you! You can do this! (See below)
- rip a board to width using a table saw*
*The woodworking plan also includes an alternate lumber and assembly option without needing a table saw to rip any boards to width.
Working with a table saw is a great way to up your woodworking skills. We love our DIY table saw workbench!
side table lap joint X
To learn how to create a lap joint, we recommend this article article that has some great tips on how to clamp a saw guide and create lap joints using a circular saw.
How to Finish and Stain a Farmhouse End Table
If you love a farmhouse whitewashed look for your DIY side table, here’s a detailed tutorial on how to whitewash wood using 3 easy and fun techniques. And this ultimate guide to create distressed wood paint finish will be perfect for those who want a rustic chippy paint finish. Make sure to choose non-toxic paint!
You can also leave the wood natural and use an all nature wood wax to finish the table. Here is a tutorial on how to emake my favorite home-made all natural furniture wax easily! The wax will repel stains and dust, and give the wood surface a richness.
Remember, if you do not want to build a DIY end table, you can purchase it at Wayfair or you can also find it here.
Get the farmhouse end table plans here.
DIY Farmhouse End Table Builds + Reviews
If you’ve built this farmhouse side table or any of our building plans or projects, we’d love to see photos of your hard work! Submit a brag post here or email [email protected] with your photos and project description.
Craig’s Modified Farmhouse X End Table
Reader Craig B says, “I modified the height to 30” and the width and length to 13.5” and it looks great!” (Jan 2021)
We agree Craig — awesome work and thanks for sharing!
Michelle’s Two-Tone Farmhouse Side Tables
Michelle M. built a set of farmhouse side tables with a painted base and stained solid beveled-edge top — they are gorgeous, Michelle!
More farmhouse tables you can build yourself:
- Modern Farmhouse TV Console Stand
- Farmhouse Double X Console Table
- Concrete X-Brace Side Table
- Waterfall Edge Pallet Wood Outdoor Coffee Table
- Easy DIY Sawhorse Console Table
Happy building! Be sure to pin this for later and share with your DIY friends!
Published 23 Jan 2018 // Last updated 9 Apr 2020
What finish did you guys use on this? I didn’t know if it was a stain or what 🙂 and what shade.. I love it!
Just fyi, on the cut list you left out the 4 2×2’s that are used for the edges of the top and bottom pieces that are attached to the 1×4’s. The only 2×2’s you have listed are for the x sides. Hope that makes sense. Will save someone an extra trip to the store. Other than that, great little table. Mine turned out wonderful.
Your cut list has the long cross pieces 19.75″ long. On the diagram of the cross braces it has the total length as 22″. What am I missing?
The cut list is missing 4 – 2x2s at 1’10” to build the x pattern. You have 4 – 2x2s at 19-3/4” for the upright posts.
Thanks for pointing that out!
Wow. This DIY farmhouse side table is so cute. I would never have guessed it could be built so cheaply. Thanks for the design plan. I’m going to add it my honey do list!
What stain or finish did you use for this table? I love it!
I purchased these plans and I’m having trouble with the half-lap joint to create the “x”. The measurements in step 1 are not fitting together.
Hi Matthew — will you email me at [email protected] with more info? We’d love to help.