DIY outdoor coffee table

Create this stylish outdoor coffee table from fence palings and finish it off with a subtle green from the Resene Woodsman range.

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Ways with wood with Mark Rayner – 54

Difficulty level: Moderate

You will need: 150mm x 25mm fence palings cut to the following lengths: Four each of 550mm, 600mm and 620mm, and a 100mm x 100mm fence post cut to four lengths measuring 320mm. 60mm treated pine screws, circular saw, sandpaper, screwdriver, set square, paintbrush, paint stirrer, pencil, Resene paint pot and tape measure. Resene mineral turpentine and Resene Woodsman Oil Stain tinted to Resene Grey Green.

To get the look: Create this stylish outdoor coffee table from fence palings and finish it off with a subtle green from the Resene Woodsman range.

Other ideas: Mark painted the background fence with Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene Rich Cream.

Step 1 how to build an outdoor coffee table

Step one
Measure and mark the fence post and the palings to the lengths as listed above. Use a set square or the back of a hand saw to ensure cutting lines are at right angles.

Step 2 how to build an outdoor coffee table

Step two
Using the pencil lines as a guide, cut the fence post and palings. If the blade of the saw won’t go through the full thickness of the post, simply make a cut on one side, turn over and make a second cut across. Smooth any rough edges with sandpaper.

Step 3 how to build an outdoor coffee table

Step three
Attach four of the 550mm lengths of fence paling to four of the lengths of fence post, as shown, to create the side walls of the coffee table. Fix with 60mm screws.

Step 4 how to build an outdoor coffee table

Step four
Attach four 600mm lengths of fence paling to create the front and back walls of the coffee table, as shown. Fix with 60mm screws. Use a set square to ensure corners are at right angles.

Step 5 how to build an outdoor coffee table

Step five
Attach the four 620mm lengths of fence paling, as shown, to create the top of the coffee table. Overlap at each edge by 10mm and fix with 60mm screws.