Building Your Own Table for that First Apartment

As fall progresses and the leaves begin to fall to make way for winter, you're bound to see a number of moving vans all over your town. Many people move during the fall as summer vacations are over and winter snow storms are still a time away, and a number of those people will be moving for the first time. Whether you're moving for that very first job or you're in college and are getting out of the dorms, one thing that you'll learn very quickly is that moving out costs a lot of money.

Between paying for rent and utilities as well as food, laundry and expenses that you wouldn't even imagine are involved with living on your own, you might be a little short on money in the beginning. However, you still need places to sit, eat and sleep, which might take a little creativity. While you can certainly consider purchasing a used table on Craig's List or an auction, or a cheap one at a discount furniture store, we happen to think that it's more fun and a better investment to build your own.

Get your dimensions right: The first thing you'll want to figure out is the size of the table you want. Chances are you won't have a very large dining room, if any, so you'll probably only need a table that is about 34 inches in length and width. However, it's best to get precise measurements to account for your own needs. Otherwise, you might end up with a table that won't fit in your apartment.

What kind of top do you want? When it comes to a top for your table, you'll have a number of different choices to choose from, depending on your budget and personal taste. Some of the most common materials used for the top are plywood, particleboard and traditional lumber.  The type of material you use for the top will determine if you need to do extra sanding, edging, etc.  You can also buy a table top that’s already finished and ready to go if you don’t have the time or tools to make your own.

Finding sturdy legs: While you could certainly construct your own table legs, it actually makes more sense to purchase sturdy metal table legs to provide the support needed for your table to stand. We have a variety of table legs and bases that are under $100.

By taking a little time during the weekend, you can have a table you can be proud of at a price that will make your parents proud. There's no reason that you can't have quality when you start out – you might just have to make it yourself.