Easily make a nice, sturdy table out of a single sheet of plywood. This project is so simple we weren't sure if it was worth posting, but it came out great and has a sleek, modern, mid-century look that's a nice alternative to our other rustic tables.

SUPPLIES:

3/4" PureBond Plywood 4' by 8' Sheet
Available at Home Depot
Purebond uses a formaldehyde-free technology to make plywood that’s better for your family and the environment. It promotes healthy indoor air quality due to its proprietary, soy-based adhesive (instead of potentially hazardous urea formaldehyde). Traditional plywood contains a lot of glues and adhesives that can off-gas formaldehyde into your home.



Trestle Table Legs
Available at the DIY Furniture Store
I used 28" tall, heavy duty trestle legs with a beautiful mint colored powder coat finish; but almost any pre-made table or desk legs would work for this project.

If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, IKEA's Lerberg Table Legs are a cheap and durable option that has a nice, clean aesthetic.

Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish
Available at the Home Depot
Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish is a protective topcoat for use on interior wood surfaces including furniture, trim, doors and cabinets. It can be used over bare wood and both oil-based and water-based stains. Polycrylic can be recoated in only 2 hours. Minwax Polycrylic resists damage from abrasion, scuffing, chipping, water, alcohol and other common household chemicals.

TOOLS:

RYOBI 18 Volt Cordless Drill
Available at Home Depot











RYOBI 18 Volt Circular Saw (with Plywood Blade)
Available at Home Depot










RYOBI Orbital Sander
Available at Home Depot

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1: Pick Your Plywood
I selected 3/4" Purebond Birch veneer plywood, but any 3/4" thick sheet of plywood will work. There are a lot of different options and this desk could look really cool with any of them. I had one of the nice Home Depot associates cut the top and bottom of the desk for me. This saves time and also makes it much easier to get the plywood home.





STEP 2: Cut the Plywood
Use a pencil to mark the cuts. Clamp the plywood to a work table and cut the strips with a circular saw. I clamped a straight board to use as a guide for the long cuts.







STEP 3: Glue + Screw
Line up the edges of the support boards and apply a generous amount of wood glue. I used four clamps to help hold the plywood in place and used 1 1/4" screws to securely fast the 2 layers of plywood together. If you are precise when lining up the edges, you won't need to do much sanding.





STEP 4: Sand the Edges
You can use an orbital sander if you have one or do it by hand if you don’t. I started with 120 grit and finished with 220 grit paper.







STEP 5: Screw On the Legs
I used 28" tall, mint-color coated iron trestle legs, which are awesome, but feel IKEA offers cheaper alternatives too.



STEP 6: Finish the Table Top
I applied 2 coats of Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish per the manufacturer's instructions and got a nice, clear satin protective finish.

















Good luck making your own easy DIY table and please email, tweet or hashtag photos to @benuyeda, ben@homemade-modern.com or #homemademodern. For more detailed instructions, dimensioned drawings and different variations of the project, check out our soon-to-be-released book.

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