Furniture

Rustic DIY Buffet

Create an elegant rustic styled buffet for your dining room with this easy tutorial.

Difficulty: Intermediate
Time: 4.3–8 hours
Cost: $$$

About this build

Create an elegant rustic styled buffet for your dining room with this easy tutorial. Or use this plan to create the perfect entry console table, or kitchen island! The sky is the limit…

Tools

Essential

Drill / Driver
Jigsaw
Pocket Hole Jig
Random Orbit Sander

Optional / nice to have

Bar / Pipe Clamps
Tape Measure

Materials

Item	Qty
Board, 2x4 96"	2 board
Board, 1x3 96"	2 board
Plywood, 3/4" x 20" Stain Grade Panel 72"	2 board
Board, 4x4 Deck or Bannister Posts	6 board
2-1/2" Kreg Screws	20 each
1" Kreg Screws	20 each
1-1/4" Kreg Screws	20 each
Paint or Stain	1 each

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.

Cut list

Part	Qty	T × W × L
Post Legs	6	4" × 4" × 35"
Top Supports	4	2" × 4" × 31 1/4"
Top Supports	2	2" × 4" × 13 1/2"
Bottom Supports	4	1" × 3" × 31 1/4"
Bottom Supports	2	1" × 3" × 13 1/2"

What to buy

Buy 7 boards at 8 ft.

4" × 4"

3 boards

35"35"
35"35"
35"35"

2" × 4"

2 boards

31 1/4"31 1/4"31 1/4"
31 1/4"13 1/2"13 1/2"

1" × 3"

2 boards

31 1/4"31 1/4"31 1/4"
31 1/4"13 1/2"13 1/2"

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 →

Start building →

Instructions

1Cut The Finial Top
These colonial style posts have a ball finial on top which will need to be cut off. The remaining piece will become the foot of your buffet table.
2Cut The Legs To Size
Once the finial ball top has been trimmed off, measure from top to bottom and cut the legs to 35 inches in height. (34" for a counter top height, or choose 30" for console table height)
3Cut 2x4's & 1x3's
Using the provided cut list, cut each of your 2"x4" and 1"x3" boards to size. Then using a Kreg jig, drill pocket holes into either end, and some shallow pocket holes into one side, as shown.
4Lay Out 2x4's
Double check all your cuts by positioning the post legs and 2"x4" boards on the buffet top. If everything was cut properly, it should all fit with less than a 1/4" overhang on the tabletop (or should be flush). Recess the 2"x4" boards by 1" on all sides so that they are somewhat more centered with the legs.
5Attach Legs & Top Half
If everything measures properly and is perfectly centered on the buffet top, you may begin screwing the pieces together via the pocket holes. Assemble the entire top half on level ground.
6Cut Bottom Shelf
The second 6 foot plank (the one not being used as the buffet table top), will need cutouts where the legs will be. Place the leftover pieces of your post on the four corners and trace, then use the 1"x3" boards to determine where the middle post sits, and trace.
7Cut Bottom Shelf #2
Using a jig saw, cut out the traced pieces. Tip: It helps to add an extra 1/4" of wiggle room for when you have to install the bottom shelf.
8Add 1x3 Bottom Supports
- Now that first half of your buffet has been assembled, it is time to add the bottom supports and shelf.
- Measure and mark 1" in, and 6" down on each leg post. This is your indicator of where the 1"x3" boards should be attached. Be sure that the two bottom supports are level to each other. Only attach the long 1"x3" pieces, the two short side pieces will be attached later.
9Attach Bottom Shelf
Slide the bottom shelf under the bottom supports you just added, and turn the entire unit on it's side. This makes attaching the bottom shelf easier. The shelf should overhang the 1"x3" supports, and be attached via the pocket holes at the bottom.
10Attach Side Supports
Now you can add the short 1"X3" pieces to the sides and screw into the bottom shelf.
11Paint or Stain
Take this bad boy outside, sand, and paint or stain it to the color of choice! Don't forget to seal it with a good polyurethane, and allow it to dry the appropriate length of time before using.