14 Clever and Creative DIY Concrete Coffee Tables (With Pictures)
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Ed Malaker
- Last updated:
If you have extra concrete lying around, there are plenty of projects that you can use it for, but one of the best and most fun, especially for beginners, is the coffee table. There are many designs and ways to customize it to reflect your personality. Keep reading as we list several coffee tables that you can build with concrete.
The 14 Clever and Creative DIY Concrete Coffee Tables
1. DIY Concrete Coffee Table
| Materials: | Chicken wire, plywood, concrete |
| Tools: | Drill, trowel, hammer |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
The DIY Concrete Coffee Table is an easy-to-build project that doesn’t take long to complete. You only need to assemble a simple wooden box, then surround it with chicken wire to hold the concrete. You can paint it many different colors, and it’s suitable for indoor or outdoor use.
2. Round Concrete Table Top
| Materials: | Concrete, metal base, screws |
| Tools: | Level, router, shovel |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
The Round Concrete Table Top is an easy-to-build project that won’t take long to complete. The hardest part is pouring the tabletop, which is quite large and heavy. The instructions for this project are clear and easy to understand, and you only need a few ingredients. The finished product is durable, and you can use it indoors or outside.
3. DIY Concrete Alternative Round Table Top
| Materials: | Thin-set mortar, wood glue, grout sealer |
| Tools: | Sanding block, steel wool, sandpaper |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
This plan by ML shows you how to make what looks like a concrete table while using alternative materials. If you did use concrete, the table would weigh close to 1,000 pounds, which is a bit extreme! It’s not hard to build, but there are many tools and parts.
4. DIY Concrete Outdoor Coffee Table
| Materials: | Concrete, plywood, sandpaper |
| Tools: | Drill, power drill, orbital sander |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
The DIY Concrete Outdoor Coffee Table is a moderately difficult project that results in an attractive and durable outdoor table. It only requires a few materials, and much of the project involves building the wood frame on which the concrete table sits. The builder uses large tools in the video, but you can use hand tools if you have to.
5. The Honest Home Concrete Coffee Table
| Materials: | Pressure-treated pine, galvanized screws, thin-set mortar |
| Tools: | Drill, miter saw, sponge, |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
The Honest Home Concrete Coffee Table is a moderately difficult project that involves coating pressurized plywood in a thin sheet of concrete for an attractive appearance and a durable table suitable for indoors or out.
6. Square Patio Coffee Table
| Materials: | Plywood, concrete, wood glue |
| Tools: | Drill, sandpaper |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
The Square Patio Coffee Table is a moderately difficult project that you can create even if you are a beginner as long as you move slowly and patiently. It only requires plywood, wood glue, concrete, and a few other ingredients, so it isn’t expensive.
7. Concrete Coffee Table Top
| Materials: | Plywood, concrete, wood glue, wood putty |
| Tools: | Putty knife, mixer, orbital sander |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
The Concrete Coffee Table Top is a project that results in an octagon-shaped tabletop, but you can easily modify it to create any shape. You can also finish it in many different colors and build a frame to fit it or build it to suit a frame that you already have.
8. Zubot Outdoor Concrete Coffee Table
| Materials: | Concrete, plywood, sandpaper |
| Tools: | Drill, paint roller, orbital sander |
| Difficulty: | Advanced |
The Zubot Outdoor Concrete Coffee Table is an advanced project that results in an attractive table that extends to the floor. Most of the work that this project involves is building the wooden base that holds the tabletop, but the author lays out all the steps, so they are easy to follow. Although it takes a great deal of work, it’s not expensive to build.
9. Urban Decay Coffee Table
| Materials: | Plywood, concrete |
| Tools: | Table saw, level |
| Difficulty: | Advanced |
The Urban Decay Coffee Table is a fantastic project that involves giving your concrete coffee table a severely deteriorated or post-apocalyptic appearance that will have all your friends and neighbors talking. The video walks you through each step, so it is easy to follow but still provides a good learning experience.
10. Coffee Table With Live Edge Inlay
| Materials: | Wood piece, concrete |
| Tools: | Handsaw, level, drill |
| Difficulty: | Advanced |
11. DIY Kintsugi Table
| Materials: | Air-drying clay, concrete mix, bowl or bucket, trowel, wooden dowel, measuring cups, stick for mixing (optional), rubber gloves (optional) |
| Tools: | Mixing bowl and spoon or electric mixer, Kintsugi kit |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
If you are looking for a modern coffee table, consider the DIY Kintsugi table. The trick here is filling in the natural cracks with Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing with gold.
This Japanese art embraces imperfections in clay pots, vases, statues, and other ceramics. Now, you can use this artful practice on this table.
The contrast of gold and concrete creates an elegant and sophisticated look. Plus, it’s a great conversation starter.
Feel free to expand on your table’s imperfections to increase the use of Kintsugi or stick to something closer to the instructions. If you want a higher gold-to-concrete ratio, you’ll want to widen the crevices in the concrete. Whatever you decide on, this table is sure to be a showstopper.
12. Tile-top concrete Coffee Table
| Materials: | 1/2 yard concrete mix, pallets, 4 x 4 lumber, plywood, tile, concrete colorant (optional), casters (optional) |
| Tools: | Stainless steel screws, cordless drill, circular saw, shovel, measuring tape, level, trowel |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
This unique tile-top coffee table is similar to the first one on our list but with a tile top. You can use any type of tile you like—mosaic, ceramic, or even glass. Just be sure to seal the tile properly, so it doesn’t get stained by the concrete.
One of the nice things about this project is the range of creativity you are afforded. There are virtually limitless designs of tile to choose from, so you can make a table that’s completely unique.
What’s more, the pallet base is extremely affordable—many home improvement stores have piles of them in the back that they’re willing to sell for pennies on the dollar.
For around $50, you can craft a coffee table that looks like it came from a high-end furniture store!
Since this tile-top concrete table is perfect for both indoor and outdoor use, feel free to install casters on the bottom for easy movement.
13. Concrete Coffee Table Hack
| Materials: | Prefabricated table, concrete mix (based on table size) |
| Tools: | Trowel, mixer, bucket |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
Not everyone is handy with power tools and carpentry. Does that describe you? No problem! This clever hack is an easy way to make your own unique DIY concrete coffee table but without the DIY!
The instructions call for an IKEA table, but you’re welcome to use whatever you like. That cheap $5 coffee table that you picked up at a yard sale last year will work perfectly. If you’re like most people, you hauled that cheap table home thinking you wanted it but later decided you hated it.
Now’s the perfect opportunity to turn it into a work of art. Similar to our second entry, you’re only giving the appearance of a concrete slab when in reality, you’re just coating the tabletop in a thin layer of concrete.
The table is already built, so all you have to do is mix concrete and spread it out. It doesn’t get much easier than that!
14. Cast Concrete Coffee Table
| Materials: | Concrete mix, 2 x 4, plywood, stain |
| Tools: | Planer, mixer, level, tape measure, trowel, putty knives, belt sander |
| Difficulty Level: | Professional |
Last on our list is a DIY concrete coffee table project best reserved for the experts out there. That’s not to say beginners can’t do it, but there’s definitely some skill needed to complete this one.
Moreover, it helps if you have access to heavy-duty tools and equipment, as you’ll need to plane wood, sand, shape, and stain.
You get several one-of-a-kind designs to choose from, so you’re welcome to build the coffee of your dreams based on your skill level and dedication. Be sure to check the dimensions of the design you wish to use before buying supplies, as it will dictate how much lumber and concrete you need.
Yes, this is a tough one. But the end result is a unique DIY coffee table unlike most other designs out there today.
DIY Concrete Coffee Table Tips
You want to get the best results when making a concrete coffee table, so here are some tips to help you along the way.
- Choose the right concrete mix. There are different types of concrete mixes available, and you need to choose one that is suitable for your project. If you’re not sure which mix to use, ask for help at your local hardware store.
- Prepare the surface where you will be pouring the concrete. The surface should be clean and level so that the concrete can set evenly.
- Mix the concrete according to the instructions on the package. Be sure to add the right amount of water so that the concrete is not too thick or too thin.Pour the concrete into the mold and spread it evenly. Then, use a trowel to smooth out the surface.
- Let the concrete set for at least 24 hours before removing it from the mold.
- Once the concrete is set, you can sand down any rough edges and then paint or stain the table to your liking.
- Enjoy your new concrete coffee table!
The Coffee Table With Live Edge Inlay is an advanced project that helps you create an attractive table with a wood inlay. The plan is easy to follow, and you can complete it with a bit of patience if you have prior experience with woodwork.
Summary
Many options are available if you want to create a concrete coffee table. Many of these projects are easier if you have experience with woodworking, but most have clear and easy-to-follow instructions that make things easier. For the best results, we recommend starting with one of the beginner projects before moving on to the advanced ones.
Featured Image Credit: Tom Strala bartok table (Image Credit: Tom Strala, Wikimedia Commons, CC 4.0 International)
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