Easy Round DIY Fluted Coffee Table (How to build)

Round, fluted coffee tables or reeded trim furniture in general is so on trend right now. From wall paneling with fluted details to accent tables, I’ve been loving the look and wanted to make my own DIY round coffee table. There are so many DIY coffee table ideas out there but I’m sharing the best easy DIY tutorial which doesn’t even require pocket holes! You read that right, no pocket hole screws involved for table legs or anything at all. Let’s do this!

Why make your own DIY coffee table

A few weeks ago, I was searching for a round coffee table for my living room. The fluted trend is going nowhere and I fell in love with this fluted coffee table design by Asplund Furniture. They are a Swedish design house with the most stunning furniture line. Of course that beautiful round coffee table was wayy out of my budget (~$2700) so I did what any DIY-er would have done. I decided to run to Home Depot and make my own with wooden dowels! Making your own coffee table can save you so much money and it’s a great way to get into new projects like furniture making.

If you’re new here, you might want to start off with a simpler DIY like my $10 Art Ledge! Or how about a $30 wood desktop? If vintage decor and antiques are more your thing then this DIY stool makeover will be perfect for you!

Round Coffee Table Tutorial

Before I jump into any new project, I like to research the heck out of it by reading and watching all that has already been done and learn from their processes. I saw some amazing different styles of round DIY coffee tables which I’m linking here, here, and here. From a design standpoint see what works with the rest of your living room furniture and the flow of the room. And now: happy building friends!

Material & Tools for Fluted Coffee Table

• 2 Round wood boards 36″ (I found mine pre-cut at home depot but you can cut the round top using 1″ plywood project panel with a jigsaw. To get a perfect circle use a piece of string tied to small nail in the center of your plywood and tie a pencil to the end of the string to make a large circle)
• 1/2″ Round Dowels (I ended up using 42)
• Titebond Wood Glue
• 2X4 Common Board (1 8′ board is more than enough)
• 2.5″ Wood Screws
• 1″ flathead screws
• 1/2″ screws
• Figure 8 Fasteners 12 Gauge
• 5/8″ Forstner Drill Bit
• Wood Conditioner
• Stain (I used Early American)
• Polycrylic
• Sandpaper
• Miter Saw (or any Chop Saw or circular saw will work)
• Long Level
• Power Drill

How to Build Table

Step 1

The first step is to create the inner support structure or wood frame that will hold the top side and bottom of the table together. Cut 4, 11″ pieces of 2x4s and 4, 12″ pieces of 2x4s. These cuts will determine the height of the table. For a modern coffee table look, I kept the height at 14″ from the bottom of the table top.

Step 2

Attach them together to make two rectangles frames like shown below. Use the 2.5″ wood screws and drill to secure (2 screws for each joint). Make sure the surface area you’re building on is flat and level so the frames are nice and square at a ninety degree angle. Some people like to build frames with a pocket hole jig for a cleaner look but since these will be hidden in the coffee table base, I didn’t find a kreg jig necessary. Some people like to use glue for joining any piece of wood for extra adhesion but I personally didn’t use any.

Step 3

Use the forstner bit to make countersink holes in each of the two frames. 2 on each side. This is where the Figure 8 fasteners will get screwed in. The idea is to have them flush against the surface of the rounded top.

Step 4

Once all Figure 8 fasteners have been screwed in mark out the position with a pencil mark where your frames will go on one of the round boards. If your wood rounds have a right side, make sure you have the top upside down. Now screw the frame into the board with 1/2″ screws as shown in the picture above

Step 5

And now for the most important step! Rest the top circle on the frame and to make sure its centered go around with a long level to make sure it’s level from all sides. Now repeat screwing in the figure 8 fasteners into the center of the top board using 1/2″ screws.

Step 6

Now that the structure of the entire table is complete we are ready to measure and cut the dowels! If you followed my measurements for the inside structure your  wooden dowels should be cut at 11 2/8″ The best way to measure is using a straight edged ruler resting against a square or level to make sure the ruler is straight. Cut a few dowels at a time using your saw and watch my IG stories for a neat little trick to make it go faster! Make sure there isn’t any wiggle room between the top and the bottom round pieces.

Step 7

Once your dowels are cut, use wood glue on the top of the dowels and bottom to secure to the table. You don’t need plenty of wood glue here, just a little bit will do the trick. The glue won’t dry until 20 minutes or so which gives you plenty of time to work with positioning. MAKE SURE to wipe down excess glue from the outside edges any dried up glue will not absorb the stain (I ended up covering those marks with Solid Deck Stain in Early American). Repeat until you complete the table. If you last dowel doesnt fit sand it down until it does OR use a thinner dowel for your last piece. Mine fit perfectly in fact I had to hammer it in just a little to ensure the perfect fit.

Step 8

Sand, condition, stain, and seal using Polycrylic! Use a 220 grit rough sandpaper to gently sand the tabletop. For complete staining instructions watch IG highlights for tips and tricks! I didn’t even need to use wood filler because the glue filled in the gaps.

Your DIY Round Fluted Coffee Table is now complete and ready for styling in your living space! This project took me a total of 10 hours approximately and was one of the most rewarding DIYs I have ever done! The total cost was just about $300 for this DIY and it’s such a glow up from the old coffee table we had. Family game nights are even more special on one of my favorite pieces of furniture in the house.

FAQs about DIY Round Coffee Table

What size should a round coffee table top be?

The size of a round coffee table depends on your living room size and furniture. If you have a large sectional sofa you could get away with a 40″ coffee table as well. The smallest I’d go for with a 3-seater sofa is 28″ for the table top. Anything smaller ends up looking like an accent table.

What shape tray should I put on a round table top?

A rectangle shaped tray looks best on a round coffee table to complement the curves. However, you could put a round wicker tray as well and stack some books on it to add some straight lines to the overall look. I currently don’t have a tray on my table. I’ve styled my coffee table with a large stone bowl, some large books stacked next to it and a small vase to add an interesting shape. I like simpler arrangements so this works for me.

What if I want to buy a similar new round coffee table instead of making it?

You can absolutely buy a similar round coffee table instead of making it! Not everyone has the time or patience for a DIY project and I have rounded up some top coffee tables you can buy to get the same look.

Are there free plans for making a round DIY coffee table?

Absolutely! There are so many free printable plans available on the internet for other round option coffee tables! Here are some of my favorite ones:

• Shanty2Chic DIY coffee table
• Finding Silver Pennies Coffee table plans
• With SaraLe Fluted Marble coffee table

If you liked this project, you may want to try these easy DIY ideas as well

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