Give your guests something beautiful to talk about – this showstopping table is a real conversation starter
Feature Diane Hollands Thomas
With the right table, you can make a big statement in your dining room or kitchen. A table with a herringbone top is an eye-catching choice, with its characteristic zigzag pattern that feels both irregular and uniform at the same time. Due to the labour involved in making a herringbone table, they tend to be pricey, but you can craft your own at a fraction of the cost. This project is made using pallet wood – you can often pick up pallets for free or next-to-nothing, and their rustic nature makes for a really distinctive finish.
One of the great things about making your own herringbone table – aside from economy and the pattern’s unique appeal – is that you can make it in a custom size to fit your space perfectly. It can feel daunting at first to get the layout of the herringbone slats right, but once you have a few in position it just flows, and before you know it, your table is complete.
SHOPPING LIST
✔ Four 73cm lengths of 94x94mm pine for the legs ✔ two 157cm lengths and two 71cm lengths of 70x44mm pine for the side panels ✔ four 25cm lengths of 70x44mm pine for the corner braces ✔ 70x44mm pine for the supports and cross beam
✔ two 71cm lengths of 94x44mm pine for the side struts ✔ 179x94cm sheet of 12.5mm thick MDF ✔ pine ‘trim’ to fit outer edge of table ✔ pallet wood ✔ drill and drill bits ✔ 50mm, 80mm and 100mm wood screws ✔ pocket hole jig ✔ mitre saw or handsaw and mitre block ✔ wood glue ✔ laser level (optional) ✔ paintbrush
✔ paint roller ✔ tape measure ✔ pencil
✔ circular saw ✔ wood filler ✔ electric sander ✔ sandpaper ✔ laser level (optional)
✔ finishing wax and cloth ✔ knotting solution ✔ wood primer and paint
1 Stand the table legs up on the floor. Arrange the side panels between the legs, with the 44mm side touching the floor, to make the table ‘frame’ (imagine the table is upturned at this point). Butt the side panels up against the table legs, making sure they are central. Use a pocket hole jig and 100mm screws to join the side panels and legs together.
2 Take the pine for the corner braces and use a mitre saw to cut 45-degree angles at each end. Fix in place in the corners of the table ‘frame’, using 80mm screws.
3 Measure between the two longer side panels and cut two corresponding lengths of 70x44mm pine to act as supports. Countersink ho
