NotchUse your browser's Print (Ctrl/Cmd + P) and choose Save as PDF. This page works offline once you've opened it with a signal.
Simple Kids Craft Table
This simple, budget friendly project is an easy weekend build.
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Time
- 3.3–6.3 hours
- Cost
- $$
Cut list
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front Skirt | 2 | 3/4" × 2" × 54" | — | ☐ |
| Side Skirt | 2 | 3/4" × 2" × 10" | — | ☐ |
| Mid Spans | 3 | 3/4" × 2" × 13" | — | ☐ |
| Desktop | 1 | 3/4" × 15" × 60" | — | ☐ |
| Leg Halves | 8 | 1" × 3" × 19" | — | ☐ |
Materials
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Pine, 2x4 96" | 2 board | ☐ |
| Laminated Pine Project Board, 3/4" Thick 16" x 60" | 1 board | ☐ |
| Pine, 1x3 96" | 2 board | ☐ |
| 1 1/4" Kreg Pocket Hole Screws | 28 each | ☐ |
| Wood Glue | 1 each | ☐ |
| Stain | 1 each | ☐ |
| Polyurethane (Satin Finish) | 1 each | ☐ |
| Paint | 1 each | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools
- Drill / Driver
- Miter Saw
- Pocket Hole Jig
- Random Orbit Sander
- Router
- Router Table
- Table Saw
- Bar / Pipe Clamps — optional
- Tape Measure — optional
Instructions
1. Cut, Drill Pocket Holes & Router
Cut the wood pieces according to the diagram and drill 3/4" pocket holes to accommodate 1 1/4" pocket hole screws. Router edges indicated on the digram if desired. This just softens the edges to avoid hard corners on children's furniture.
2. Glueup Legs
I wanted to create legs that matched the width of the spans/skirt around the table. Glue the faces of the the 19 1/2" 2x4's together and clamp overnight.
3. Trim Legs to Size
Trim the legs using your table saw by removing 1/2" from each side of the 3 1/2" width. Then trim 1/4" from each side of the 3" width.
4. Join Legs to Face Spans
Join the legs to the face spans using wood glue and four 1 1/4" pocket hole screws on each set in the diagram.
5. Join Legs to Side Spans
Join the two pieces from step 4 using wood glue and 1 1/4" pocket hole screws.
6. Add Mid Spans
Add supporting spans in the middle using four 1 1/4" pocket hole screws on each. The boards will be 13 3/4" apart as shown on the diagram.
7. Attach Top
Attach top from the under-side along the outer perimeter and each mid-span using 1 1/4 Pocket hole screws being very careful not to over-drill the screws so they don't poke through the table top.
8. Sand, Paint, Stain & Seal
- Sand using 80 grit, followed by 120 and finish with 220 grit sandpaper.
- Paint the base of the table and stain the tabletop in your desired color. The color we used is called Golden Oak.
- Seal with two coats of satin polyurethane. If your toddler outgrows this, you can just create new legs to suit any height. Make it a taller desk, an entry table, a sofa table, a bench...the possibilities are endless!
