How to Convert a Footboard to a Coffee Table

Recycling and repurposing a well-made wood footboard into a coffee table is a win-win proposition. The decorative details of a rectangular twin footboard transform easily into the flat top of a coffee table. With the addition of mounting brackets and four prefabricated legs, you have a project that proudly exclaims, "I did that."

Wood footboard, twin-size
4 leg brackets, screw-on
4 wood legs, screw-on
Saw
Sandpaper, fine-grit
Wood stain
Rags
Paste wax
Drill with screwdriver bit

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the footboard's legs by either unscrewing or cutting them off with a saw, depending on how the footboard was originally constructed.
- 2
  Sand the cut end with fine-grit sandpaper. If there are any rough or splintered areas on the footboard, sand smooth with the sandpaper.
- 3
  Stain the bare wood and sanded areas of the footboard and the new legs to match the original finish. Rub the wood stain on with a rag, allow to sit for two to five minutes and wipe off the excess. Repeat until you are satisfied with the depth of the color. Allow to dry completely according to the manufacturer's directions.
- 4
  Rub paste wax over the entire table and the legs until they acquire a satin finish.
- 5
  Lay the footboard flat, bottom side up. Predrill the holes, then screw the leg mounting plates to each corner, 1 inch in from the sides.
- 6
  Screw the legs into the mounting brackets. Turn the table over and place in front of the sofa.

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