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Coffee Table with Inset Top Storage

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coffee table with hidden storage
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Difficulty
Intermediate
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This beautiful coffee table has a secret!  The top panels remove, with lots of storage inside.  We love it as a play table (legos anyone?) or a workcenter for your laptop, or just a place to store board games, extra blankets, or magazines.  

This coffee table is easy to build - you'll just need a few tools and some off the shelf lumber.  Step by step plans with diagrams by Ana-White.com

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No Pocket Hole Plans
coffee table opened up revealing hidden storage

coffee table with hidden toy storage

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Coffee Table with Inset Top Storage

Dimensions
dimensions for coffee table
Dimensions are shown above.

Preparation

Shopping List

1/2 Sheet of 3/4″ MDF or Hardwood Plywood cut into strips 15 7/8″ wide x 48″ long

2 – 1×3

3 – 1×2

1 – 1×6 – 12 foot long

2″ screws (self tapping wood screws)

1 1/4″ screws (self tapping wood screws)

wood glue and filler and finishing supplies

Cut List

2 – 1×6 @ 48″

3 – 1×6 @ 14-3/8″

2 – 3/4″ MDF or Plywood @ 15-7/8″ x 48″

2 – 3/4″ MDF or Plywood @ 15-7/8″ x 24″ (top inserts)

4 – 1×2 @ 17-1/4″

4 – 1×3 @ 17-1/4″

2 – 1×2 @ 44-1/2″

2 – 1×2 @ 12-7/8″

2 – 1×2 @ 48″

2 – 1×3 @ 18-7/8

Tools
Tape Measure
Speed Square
Pencil
Safety Glasses
Hearing Protection
Kreg Jig
Drill
Circular Saw
Brad Nailer
Power Sander
Level
Drill Bit Set

Instructions

Step 1

Build the Box for the wooden train table - Mark the sides of the box and predrill holes. Attach the ends and center to the box as shown above. Use 2″ screws and glue or 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws and glue.

Step 2

Bottom of Box - Now just screw the bottom of the wooden train table compartment to the sides and dividers as shown above. 

Step 3

End Legs - Now just screw the end legs on with 1-1/4" screws. I turned the whole thing upside down to do this and screwed the legs from inside to hide.   Also, I tapered the legs with a circular saw, but that’s purely decorative.

Step 4

Front and Back Legs Now screw the front and back legs to the box and the side legs with 1 1/4″ screws and glue. I tapered these too as shown above.  You could also use nails and glue to hide any holes.  Nail holes are much easier to hide than screw holes.

Step 5

Step 6

Optional False Drawers To make the coffee table look like it has drawers, just set your circular saw blade to 1/8″ and make cuts as shown above. Hold off on the knobs until you are done with the table. Make the cuts on both sides, on opposite sides.

Step 7

Top Supports Now just screw these on flush to the top with 1 1/4″ screws and glue

Step 8

Top Sides Now simply screw the top sides to the top as shown above.

Step 9

Top Ends Now simply screw the top ends on as shown above. If you have a Kreg Jig™, you can also screw the end to the sides for added support.

Step 10

Tops Check the fit of the top inserts and sand as needed to insure that the inserts fit properly. If needed, drill a hole in the inserts to use as a handle to pull inserts up with.

Step 11

And here are those mods for the other version. Don’t taper the legs and just add a middle legs, and trim out the bottom of the box and shelves. It’s really simple.

Step 12

I won’t say much more than I’ve been at this one for three days with a hair dryer . . . but the color is dark walnut. I used Elmer’s wood filler and it took the stain quite well. Thanks for reading! I hope you take a second to let me know if you like this design, so I can continue to post more plans that are similar. Mom to mom, this is a must make.

Project Type
Living Room Tables and Accent Table Plans
Coffee Tables
Toy box Plans
Kids Tables and Chairs
Room
Kids and Toys
living room
Storage Solutions
Style
Children's and Kid's Room Furniture and Toy Plans
Cottage Style Furniture Plans
Farmhouse Furniture

Comments

angd73 (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 03:42

This is awesome!!! We have two boys and lots of legos were coming in this year at Christmas. The thought had entered the back of my mind about getting the table, but I kept thinking "hmmmm??? we'll see..." SOOOOO glad I waited. We are adding to our pre-christmas building list AGAIN lol. Thanks ANA:)

Mari (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 03:51

Love it! And for the record, you may be waiting a long time for your daughter to outgrow Lincoln Logs and Legos. Mine is 11 1/2 and still hasn't outgrown them.

Stephanie (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 03:58

Thank you so much! I just got a "new to me" Dewalt 12" miter saw and I do believe this table has made it to the top of my Ana White project list!! I'm not savvy enough to modify plans but I'd love to see end tables to match!

christie davenport (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 04:00

I love it! Every time I step in my kids room, I step on a lego ( which doesn't feel good). This is a perfect solution!

Kristianna (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 04:14

This is lovely. But I also felt a little sad... don't spend too much time waiting for her to outgrow a phase. She will, and you will miss it when it's gone. Cherish what you have when you have it -- which I think you *got* with this.

Love the train table idea, too!

DJ Conger (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 04:19

Thank you Thank you Thank you. This is totally amazing. I'm asking my husband to work on this with me after the holidays. Just what our house needs with three crazy kids.

lyndyjo (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 04:24

It's beautiful! Plus it doesn't just have to be for kids' stuff. You could stick your laptop in the storage compartments or magazines or any other grown up toys as well. Though at my house, it would definitely be kid stuff with 6 of them running around.

Tonia (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 04:25

I really love this idea, but what I need it for is my own craft storage!! I crochet and need a place to keep works in progress. It would also work as better-than-I-have-now storage for mosaic glass tiles. Many thanks!

Heather S (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 04:26

I MUST have it. Now. My tiny 120 yr old house has NO closets or storage space. And my 2 year old has acquired more junk than I have. So many projects, so little time (and money, lol) Oh, what to build first!

Heather S (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 04:29

Oh! I forgot, what stain did you use? I want the exact finish, it's perfect with my secondhand furniture and the woodwork here!

mcoffeesnob (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 04:30

Oh GIRL! This must be my FAVORITE one yet!! I've been searching for the perfect coffee table and was just about to creat one myself. Now I can use your pattern and save SO much time!! Thank you!

momsmess (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 04:31

My kids are all teenagers, so I am thinking of building this with a checker/chess board on one side, maybe a built in cribbage board, plus it will be a great place to stash an extra blanket or hide clutter when unexpected company shows up!
Love this!

Amanda Cowart (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 04:48

I would also love, love a upholstered ottoman coffee table! I have been waiting for months to have a break from nursing school so I can start building. Today is my lucky day and I can't wait to start!

Tina @ Squirre… (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 04:48

I *heart* this! I can't wait to show it to my husband! What a fab idea. I love the idea of ottoman storage too. We have a slipcovered ottoman now, and it's so big and useless in our family room. I always think to myself, wish I could lift that cushion up and put away the blankets.

Mandy (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 04:51

Blah, blah, blah... coffee table... awesome. But WOW! I love your living room! The beams! The view! We visited Alaska one summer, and it was beautiful, but I think I might be able to handle the winters if I could sit on that couch and look out those windows. And that's saying a lot for a Texas girl who hates the cold!

CuriousKal (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 04:57

This is FANTASTIC, but would LOVE to see something similar but in a circular design, so that you end up with a round table. Possible????

Emily (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 05:01

Wow! We currently have a coffee table from IKEA with lots of little storage baskets underneath - it has been fantastic for the "baby toys" stage, but as we're moving on to legos and lincoln logs we may need to make a change. Your design is so appealing - beautiful and functional!

tara (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 05:04

Anyone know where to get the giant lego plates?
Great plan. I need to get working on my project list. It just gets bigger and bigger.

Kathy (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 05:05

I LOOOOVE this, but also love the idea of a larger square table that could be a train table. My son is just getting to the age that he's loving his train tracks, and I feel horrible that space constraints in our living/play room don't allow us to set up the train table we have in storage. Now, if the plan could be for a table that sits up just a little higher...that we could possibly pull our kids toddler chairs up to for eating snacks and homeschooling work, as well---I would do cartwheels! (and I just had a baby three weeks ago, so that's a tough feat right now!)

Amanda (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 05:20

Ana, you're truly amazing. I check your site everyday just to see what you've come up with next. Thank you. I love this though my kids are long past the Lego stage. But I can see my embroidery, crochet project, magazine collection in this cute little table. I love your house also. Those windows are amazing with an absolute gorgeous view. My idea of snow. :o) Thank you for all you do.

Lisa (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 05:22

OH! MY! GOSH!!! I am so super excited about this! This will be the next big project we undertake! We literally have THOUSANDS of legos... it would be nice to have somewhere for my boys to play with them! thank you thank you thank you!!!

Sheela (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 05:26

This is fantastic! Truly brilliant Ana! It looks beautiful, but is so completely functional! I really love it. I recently built your storage coffee table and it turned out great. I love the functionality of that as well - I need to post pictures, especially since it's an eggplant purple color!

Sam (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 05:35

Ana, I can't thank you enough for this design. My son has received nothing but legos for every birthday, christmas, etc. since he was five (he turns eight on Christmas Eve)...so we're bursting at the seems with little bricks! Beyond your amazing ideas, I want to say thank you for maintaining such a candid blog. In a world of 24-hour talking heads, it's refreshing to read something so honest. Also, as a stay-at-home mom, it's always great to hear that I'm not the only one tired of stepping on toys. Blessing this holiday season.

Nancy (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 05:52

This is beautiful! And ever so functional. I would love something that resembled the Markor line from IKEA. And the stain color you used is absolutely PERFECTION!

Mandy (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 05:53

Love it! Can't wait to see the variations. I also would love to see more coffee tables. That is our next project!

Nichole (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 06:01

Love the design, Ana! You can't go wrong with pretty and practical. I can think of several places I'd like a table like this. In the basement to hold the boys' video games, in the family room to hold blankets or board games, or in the living room to hold books and magazines. Endless possibilities.

Erin (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 06:09

Just beautiful Ana. This will definitely be my next project (I'm just finishing the kitchen for my little girl now). She loves legos, but I agree with you, I want the toys hidden! Thanks for all your plans, they are amazing!

AmyLynn (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 06:12

I just have one word: Genius!!! While we don't have kids running around our house (except the nieces and nephews and they have their own room) we do have three fur kids who we have definitely played the substitution game with. Their toys are everywhere - and we wouldn't have it any other way. But they only play with one or two at a time and this would look much nicer than the $1 easter basket sitting by the couch that now holds the toys they aren't playing with! But how fabulous would this be sitting next to our door using it as a bench to sit on and put boots on? And inside, the hats, mittens, gloves and scarves that plague us this time of year? Or in the summer it can hold my garden shoes and gloves?

Also thought I would let you know that you are one of my husband's favorite people for the simple fact that this year for Christmas he has permission to get me tools. Not that he didn't before, but this year he has permission :) I also finally spent the $50 blue gift card I won from the Tweet party. Every time I would go in, I would look around and say "I have to get something that would make Ana proud." The lucky winner? A Kreg Jig!!!! Thank you!

Wow that was a long comment. Sorry. Thanks for all you do!

kerry davis (not verified)

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 06:38

My husband is wondering what happened to me. I'm in the garage using his tools, and now for Christmas I want a Kreg Jig! All I talk about is Ana!!!