How to Build a Coffee Table With a Checkerboard

Antique Checkerboard Table

A coffee table is a low table that is commonly placed in front of a couch or sofa. Used to hold books, magazines and art objects, as well as coffee, its form is usually long and narrow. A coffee table with a checkerboard is simply a standard coffee table with a checkerboard represented on its surface. The table serves as a ready-made site for playing checkers, chess or any other game that uses a similar board. A coffee table with a checkerboard can be made of almost any material, and in nearly any style. Here are some guidelines.

Things You'll Need

• Four wooden 2 x 4s 16 inches long 1-inch thick wooden board 4 x 2 feet Nails or wood screws Wood putty Sandpaper Red paint Black paint Clear varnish

Instructions

1. Attach an upright 2 x 4 near one corner of the wooden board. Attach the three other 2 x 4s in similar positions near the other three corners of the board.

2. Turn over the table and fill the nail holes with wood putty. Use sandpaper to smooth out the putty. Sand any other rough spots on the table.

3. Use a pencil to draw a square in the center of the coffee table. The square should be 16 inches on each side.

4. Draw a line every 2 inches from any two opposite sides of the square. You should end up with a total of eight columns inside the square of your coffee table.

5. Draw another set of lines in exactly the same way between the other two sides of the square. These lines will cross the existing lines. You should end up with a total of 64 small squares inside the main square.

6. Starting from one of the corners, paint every other square black. Paint all the other squares red.

7. Apply a clear varnish to your entire table. This will help protect both the wood and the checkerboard design.

Tips & Warnings

• You can paint your checkerboard coffee table in any color that shows off your checkerboard. Experiment with different shapes and styles. Try cylindrical or fluted legs, or possibly a top that is rounded at the ends.

• Place the legs of your checkerboard coffee table so that the weight of the top is distributed evenly. Move the legs further inward if necessary.

Resources

• Home Depot for lumber, hardware and other building and decor supplies
• Totally Furniture coffee table with checkerboard
• Overtsock.com checkerboard coffee table and other coffee tables