Build your own modern table base pedestal for a round or square table! This is a free project plan with step by step diagrams, instructional video and shopping and cut lists. It's easy to customize to use as a coffee table base or change the size for a different base. Pairs well with 48", 54" and 60" round tabletops. Free plans from Ana-White.com
Why I Build this Modern Pedestal for a Round or Square Tabletop
I have been dreaming of building this base for a long time - it is so beautiful and with the solid design, minimizes the overall business of a room, as chair legs are hidden.
I had a 60" round dining table top that I built a few years ago, and thought this would be the perfect chance to upgrade the base, give it an overall new look, and try out a new plan design.
Here's the dining table without chairs, I am using it paired with my easy to building dining banquette that I built last year.
Here's the dining table paired with chairs
Can you see how this base doesn't look busy with chairs? I love that about this dining table base!
How I Built this Modern Pedestal Dining Table Base - Video Tutorial
This is actually a pretty substantial project and quite heavy. I wanted it to feel solid, not like a hollow core door, so I built it using 3/4" plywood. You could also use pine project panels if matching a pine or softwood tabletop.
Here's a video showing how I built this dining table base.
Building a Round Dining Table Top with Basic Tools
We also built the round dining table top a few years ago. It has held up very well and we are happy with it. Here's the tutorial on building a round dining table top with video.
Free Plans to Build this Modern Pedestal Base
Pin for Later
Preparation
- 1 - 48", 54" or 60" round tabletop, 1-1/2" thickness (free tutorial here)
- 1 sheet of 3/4" plywood in matching wood veneer
- 10 feet of 1x4 boards, square edge, matching wood species
- 1-1/4" brad nails
- 1-1/4" pocket hole screws
- wood glue
- mending plates if tabletop is 1-1/2" thick
- 4 - 3/4" plywood @ 16" wide x 28-1/2"
- 4 - 3/4" plywood @ 15-1/4" wide x 28-1/2"
- 4 - 1x4 @ 28-1/2"
- plywood scraps to reinforce, 2" wide
Instructions
Step 1
Rip the plywood into two strips 16" wide and one strip 15-1/4" wide.
Then cut the strips into 8 pieces, all 28-1/2" long.
You'll need a fourth piece that is 15-1/4" wide, so rip one of the 16" wide pieces down.
Step 2
Drill 3/4" pocket holes along one edge of the 15-1/4" wide pieces as shown.
Build four leg sets as shown, joining one of the 15-1/4" wide pieces to one of the 16" wide pieces.
Step 3
Join the four leg sets together with the 1x4s on the ends with 1-1/4" brad nails and glue.
Step 4
Reinforce the joints with scrap 3/4" plywood pieces and 1-1/4" brad nails and glue.
Step 5
Add mending plates to the top to attach the tabletop.
For a tabletop that is only 3/4" thick at attachment points, pieces of scrap 3/4" plywood can be used instead of the mending plates.
Step 6
Round Dining Table Top Tutorial
Here is the tutorial for building a round top as shown in this plan and video.
Step 7
Banquette Plans as Shown in Photos
Here is my plans for the banquette that is shown in the photos and video.
Sand the project well with 120 grit sandpaper. Then sand with a fine grit sandpaper. Remove all sanding residue.
I used a polyurethane to seal the top.
