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A slim sofa-side table from one 2x4, a 1x8, and a short 1x12 — two ladder legs, two shelves, one top, and a screw pattern that's the actual engineering.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legs | 4 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 23 1/4" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Rungs Three per leg set — top, shelf height, and low. | 6 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 7 1/2" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Shelves | 2 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 24" | 1x8 | ☐ |
| Top Overhangs the base evenly all around. | 1 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 26 3/4" | 1x12 | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| 2x4, 12 ft Legs and rungs. Pick a straight, dry one — it's most of the visible structure. | 1 each | ☐ |
| 1x8, 4 ft The two shelves. | 1 each | ☐ |
| 1x12, 30" The top. | 1 each | ☐ |
| Self-tapping wood screws, 2-1/2", star drive Leg set assembly. | 24 each | ☐ |
| Self-tapping wood screws, 2", star drive Shelves and top — in triangles, not lines. | 20 each | ☐ |
| Stain or paint | 16 oz | ☐ |
Overall cost: $. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Speed Square, Tape Measure. Materials: 2x4, 12 ft, Self-tapping wood screws, 2-1/2", star drive
Screw three 7-1/2" rungs between each pair of legs with the 2-1/2" screws, two per joint — a little ladder. Put one rung flush at the top (it carries the top), one at your shelf height, one low.
Build the second set ON TOP of the first so the rung positions match exactly; mismatched rungs mean sloped shelves, and a 24"-wide table hides nothing.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 1x8, 4 ft, Self-tapping wood screws, 2", star drive
Stand the leg sets up and screw the two 1x8 shelves onto the middle and lower rungs with the 2" screws, three per joint, arranged in a TRIANGLE rather than a row.
This is the structural move of the whole table: a row of screws is a hinge, a triangle is a brace. The shelves are what stop side-to-side wobble, which is also why the lower shelf isn't optional.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Random Orbit Sander, Tape Measure. Materials: 1x12, 30", Self-tapping wood screws, 2", star drive, Stain or paint
Center the 1x12 on the top rungs — even overhang at both ends, even on both sides — and screw it down from below through the top rungs, or from above with the screws countersunk and filled.
Sand thoroughly (edges especially), then stain or paint. Slide it against the sofa arm and put a lamp on it like it's been there for years.