How to Create Your Own Modern Coffee Table Models

Scale the coffee table designs down to quarter scale. In other words, 1/4 inch will equal 1 inch. Draw the quarter scale design on a separate piece of paper. Measure the drawing with a ruler, and write down the actual measurements. For instance, if your coffee tabletop will be 36 inches long, and you draw that in quarter scale, the drawing of the tabletop in actual inches will be 9. Measure this way for every major part of the coffee table. Be sure to include length, width and depth of each part.

If there are any curved elements to your modern coffee table design, create a quarter scale rectangle or square that corresponds to the measurement of the curved element. This creates a reference to create the curve in. Then use a compass or french curve to lay out the appropriate curve within that rectangle or square.

Plane your model material to the dimensions you wrote down from the scale drawing. If you use a power planer, be sure to plane a larger piece than needed for safety sake, since running small pieces through a planer is unsafe. A safe alternative is to use a hand plane instead of a power planer when dealing with small parts.

Lay out the measurements of each part on the freshly planed wood. Cut out each part using a band saw or fine-toothed handsaw. For a more polished look, clean up the saw marks with a scraper or sandpaper.

Apply a small amount of the finish you intend to use on each part. This will give you a good idea of what the full-scale table will look like. Attach the small parts of the modern coffee table model to each other with hot glue or fast-setting instant glue.