Building Hard-Working Work Tables

I feel so accomplished after building 2 work tables for my creative space over the weekend. Both builds went pretty smoothly with only one hiccup that is entirely my own fault.

Work Tables Working Harder: Sewing Desk

• A slightly lower height than desk height (27″) to make sewing more comfortable.
• A giant surface to work on (30″ x 80″). I plan to use this table for sewing, but also for painting. I used a hollow core door because it’s huge and cheap. It’s also lightweight and fit in my car easily.
• The base was installed at the back of the table to allow my chair to be pushed in all the way.
• This happened on accident, but it perfectly fits my IKEA Helmer drawer unit.

While watching Fixer Upper on Netflix, I saw a dining table that I couldn’t get out of my head. This is a variation of that table. The legs are made of 4 x 4’s with a 2 x 4 support brace.

The table top is attached to the legs with L brackets that I painted over.

I love how much room I have to make messes, I mean create.

Work Tables Working Harder: Cutting Table

• Since this table is a cutting table, I made it a lot higher. It sits at about 38″ high, which allows me to cut fabric without bending over.
• It sits on casters (which you can’t see because I was trying to photograph around my dog.) This allows me to move the table around easily.
• There’s a shelf on the bottom for fabric storage.
• Hooks are on the sides to hang scissors and other supplies.

The base is made of 2 x 4’s and the shelf and top are made from 3/4″ plywood. This is where I made a mistake. I was trying to shop by myself without any help. Instead of the 3′ x 4′ top that I wanted, I settle for a 2′ x 4′ piece of plywood for the top and I’m really regretting that decision. I think the top will be replaced with a larger piece of wood.

I painted it a happy teal with a white top that provides a great place for photographing stuff. Besides the size snafu, I’m really happy with my new work tables. Sometimes simple builds are just so satisfying.