How to Make a Rustic Wood Table

Antique Wood

Create a rustic table for your kitchen or dining room from old barn wood or a vintage door. You can find old wood panels for an authentic rustic table at your local architectural salvage yard, thrift stores or antique auctions. You could also make a new table and distress it so that it looks rustic, but old wood has a patina that's difficult to duplicate.

Things You'll Need

• Saw
• Four 6-by-1 foot old wood boards, 2 inches thick
• Two 3-by-1 foot wood boards
• Drill
• Small drill bit
• Screw driver
• Wood screws
• 8 old wood boards, 8 by 30 inches
• 8 "L" brackets

Instructions

1. Measure the dimensions for your table so you know how much old barn wood to buy. The dimensions included here are for a table measuring 6 by 4 feet. Adjust the dimensions to fit your space. The 3-foot boards are for joining the top boards together underneath and do not need to be rustic, as they will not be seen.

2. Lay the 6-foot panels face down, side by side. Place the two 3-foot boards horizontally across the 6-foot boards, about 18 inches from each end. Measure and mark the brace boards for the attachment screws. Each brace board should have 2 screws for each of the 6-foot boards it touches. Space the screws side by side, 4 inches apart.

3. Drill pilot holes for the screws through the 3-foot brace board and into the rustic boards. Insert the screws to attach the brace to the rustic boards.

4. Build the 4 rustic table legs with the 8-inch old boards. Join two boards together with the "L" brackets, one close to the top of the leg and one close to the bottom. Place the brackets on the boards, mark the spots for the screws, drill pilot holes and insert the screws.

5. Join the table legs to the table top with wood screws inserted through the top of the legs and into each end of the 3-foot brace. Remember to drill pilot holes before you insert the screws. Stand your rustic table upright and enjoy.

Tips & Warnings

• Remove any splinters or rough parts of the table with medium grade sandpaper. You can also protect the table with a coat of polyurethane.

• Wear gloves when handling old wood.

Resources

• Examples of Rustic Furniture