DIY

Simple DIY Outdoor Side Table Plans

about-zoe-pine-and-poplar-diy

Hi, I'm Zoe

My mission is to teach you to confidently build magazine-worthy DIYs. I used to be terrified of power tools, which is why I'm a firm believer that ANYONE can DIY.

Search the Blog

Join Thousands of Others Getting Weekly DIY Tips and Tutorials

by
August 6, 2020
Zoe Hunt

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I earn a teeny-tiny commission, but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Click here to read our full disclosure.

small colorful DIY side table with concrete top

We built this easy outdoor side table as part of a quick back patio refresh we did at my mom’s house. Her patio was dark and uninviting, so we took it upon ourselves to give her a colorful transformation. 

In just one day, we turned her blah backyard space into a mini-tropical oasis. And every tropical oasis needs a place to hold your drinks! 

See the full back patio update here. It’s hard to believe that it’s the same space and that it took less than a day to complete. 

What type of wood should you use on outdoor furniture?

Before we dive into the DIY outdoor side table plans, I want to take a quick second to talk about what type of wood is best for exterior furniture. 

Cedar, teak, and white oak are all great wood choices for outdoor furniture. 

Treated pine is technically another option, but we don’t recommend using it because it’s often not in great condition and you need to take extra precautions due to all of the chemicals it’s treated with. 

Want to DIY buy don\'t know where to start? Click here to grab your free guide!

We ended up using select pine, which is not a recommended wood type for outdoors. We chose it because it’s pretty inexpensive and readily available. 

It should last a few years since we’re using an exterior finish, but the chances of it lasting 15 years or a lifetime are slim-to-none.

That’s okay though. This is a quick and cheap table (it only costs around $30 to make), so it doesn’t need to last forever. 

In a few years, we’ll probably want to replace it anyway with the latest and greatest design anyway. 

If you’re worried about durability, follow these plans with one of the recommended wood types. 

Alright, let’s start DIYing! 

Tools

New to DIY? Check out our post on beginner woodworking tools to determine which tools to get!

How to Make an Outdoor Side Table 

New to DIY? Download our free 5 Steps to Getting Start with DIY guide!

how to build a side table text overlay on image of colorful DIY side table

Step 1: Cut your 2x2s 

Cut 12 – 9.5″ and 4 – 14″ pieces. The 14″ pieces will be your legs.

setting jig on miter saw

Since you need so many pieces of the same size, I’d recommend setting up a jig to quickly and accurately cut your wood.

Step 2: Drill pocket holes 

Pocket holes are the foundation of most DIY furniture. Become a pocket hole pro in less than an hour in Pocket Holes: Explained.

Drill pocket holes on your boards as shown below. 

pocket holes placement for diy outdoor side table

Note: when assembling, the top board will be rotated so that the pocket holes are on the outside side, like the top board in the bottom square. I had it facing the wrong direction in the photo. 

To prevent the screws from hitting each other in the legs, you’ll want to position the pocket holes on 2 of the sides to be closer to the edge of the board, as pictured. 

Step 3: Assemble the bottom 

You’ll want to position your first slat approximately 5/8″ from the edge of the board.

Use glue and 2.5″ outdoor Kreg screws to attach the slats to the sides. 

Continue attaching your slats, leaving .75″ between each one. We used a 1×2 on its side to get consistent spacing between the slats. 

bottom slats of side table

Step 4: Connect the legs around the top 

Use glue and pocket holes to secure a 9.5″ 2×2 between each of the legs. Face the pocket holes up so that they will be covered by the concrete paver. 

Make sure that the boards you’re adding sit flush with the top of the legs. We’ll want an even surface to attach the concrete paver to at the end. 

base of diy side table

Step 5: Secure the bottom to the legs 

Mark your legs at 3.5″ from the bottom. You’ll place the bottom of the bottom you made in step 3 at this mark. 

This step is the trickiest part is you don’t have a small drill. I found it really difficult to get my drill at the right angle because the back of it kept hitting the legs. 

You’ll want your pocket holes facing down so that you won’t see them when the table is standing upright. 

bottom of side table

Use glue and pocket holes to attach the bottom to the legs. 

Then use glue and pocket holes to attach the remaining two sides to the legs. 

Step 6: Add wood filler

To create a seamless look, I like to add wood filler between all of the seams of my boards, even if they look perfectly flush.

adding wood filler

Once it dries, I quickly sand it off using 120 or 150 grit sandpaper. 

Step 7: Sand + Paint 

For details on exactly how we finished our table with a super smooth finish, check out this post

Step 8: Attach the concrete paver to the wood 

Add a bead of construction adhesive around the top of the base. 

Position the concrete paver on top of the wood base so that there is 1.75″ overhang on every side. Let dry. 

make this side table pointing to image of colorful side table next to lounge chair outside

There you have it! Now you know how to build a simple, outdoor side table in no time. 

If you want to give your outdoor furniture a budget-friendly update, check out this post to learn a quick way to make your furniture feel brand new. 

Looking for more outdoor DIYs? Check out these tutorials:

Add a comment
+ show Comments
- Hide Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Join the List

Our mission: give you the resources to build magazine-worthy furniture.

First up? Sharing the 5 key steps to getting started with DIY.

 Get  the best DIY tutorials, project inspiration, and  DIY tips sent straight to your inbox weekly.

Get My Getting Started with DIY Guide as a free gift!

Find your next project

Premium, printable plans

3D renderings, detailed shopping lists, cut lists displayed two ways (both in chart form and visually), AND a bonus SketchUp file. Printable plans don't get better than this.

See the plans
diy with confidence

Our Courses

Whether you're just getting started or you're a seasoned DIYer who's ready to unlock the full potential of DIY, our courses are here to help.

SEE OUR COURSES

Instagram

Join us for project tutorials, behind-the-scenes, and quick DIY tips and tricks.

@pineandpoplardiy
5 Days of DIY Deals! See what's on sale today -->
SEE TODAY'S DEAL
close-image
Thanks for shopping small! Check out our DIY Deals -->
SEE THE DEALS
close-image