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This is the plain, honest version of a console table: a 2x6 top and bottom shelf, joined to four angled 2x4 legs entirely with pocket screws hidden on the underside.
The 5° leg splay is the only detail that isn't a straight cut — it's what gives a simple butt-jointed leg table a farmhouse silhouette instead of looking like a shop bench. Every cleat and leg shares the same 5° angle, so once your saw is set, the rest of the cuts go quickly.
Built for a hallway or behind a sofa — narrow enough not to block traffic, long enough to actually hold something.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Pine or cedar, 2x4, 8 ftLegs and top cleats. | 2 each |
| Pine or cedar, 2x6, 12 ftTop and bottom shelf. | 1 each |
| Pocket hole screws, 1-1/4" | 20 each |
| Self-tapping star bit screws, 2-1/2" | 20 each |
| Sandpaper, assorted grit | 1 each |
| Wood stain | 8 oz |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Top2x6 | 2 | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 48" |
| Bottom shelf2x6 | 1 | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 43" |
| Legs2x45° bevel on both ends, parallel to each other. | 4 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 27 1/8" |
| Top cleats, long2x45° angle both ends, NOT parallel. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 10 1/2" |
| Top cleats, medium2x45° angle both ends, NOT parallel. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 8 3/8" |
| Top cleats, short2x45° angle both ends, NOT parallel. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 4 3/8" |
Buy 4 boards at 8 ft.
2 boards
2 boards
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Cut the two 2x6 top boards to 48" and the bottom shelf board to 43". These are the only straight, non-angled cuts in the whole build.
Set your saw to 5° and cut all four legs to 27-1/8" with the bevel on both ends, keeping the ends parallel to each other. Don't touch the angle setting again until every leg is done — consistency here is what makes the splay look intentional instead of sloppy.
Cut the six top cleats at 5°, but this time with the ends NOT parallel — each cleat is a short trapezoid, not a parallelogram. Check one against the layout before cutting the rest.
Drill pocket holes in the legs and cleats and assemble each leg to its cleats, keeping every joint hidden on the inside face.
Screw the cleats to the underside of the tabletop boards so no fasteners show on top, then attach the leg assemblies to the cleats. Clamp and screw the bottom shelf in place from underneath last.
Sand with a medium grit, working out any glue squeeze-out and mill marks, then apply wood stain.
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