Transform An Old Glass-Paned Window Into A Rustic Coffee Table That Has Storage With A DIY

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It can be very satisfying to build your own furniture. It saves you money, and many projects can be completed with only a few basic DIY skills. Over on YouTube, the Vintage Revivals Home and Garden Decor channel shows us how to turn an old glass-paned window into a rustic coffee table with a storage shelf underneath. The construction is ideal for novice builders.

The materials required are an old window panel and some 1-by-8-by-6-foot fence panels (or similar boards that you can cut down). You could cut the boards with a hand saw, but a miter saw is faster and more accurate and is one of the tools worth investing in to start woodworking at home. It will allow you to stack-cut the boards so they are exactly the same length. The ones shown are cut to 19 inches, but you could make the table taller or shorter if you wish.

You will also need a drill/driver and a circular saw, both of which are among the must-have power tools for homeowners and are invaluable for all kinds of jobs around the house and yard. Finally, grab some wood glue, screws, wood filler, and your preferred paint color for finishing.

First, the fence boards are cut to 19 inches long, and then cut in half lengthways — this is where the circular saw comes in. These tools have a guide bar so you can easily set a precise width of cut. Just clamp each board to a bench so the cut line overhangs a little, and run the saw along.

The table legs are formed by gluing and screwing two cut board pieces together at a right angle. Don't be tempted to use nails, as these don't provide the same joint strength. Pre-drill the holes to avoid splitting the wood, and use a countersink drill bit so the screw heads can be sunk just below the surface, then hidden with filler after the assembly is finished. The Ezarc Countersink Drill Bit Set available on Amazon is a combo that makes doing this quick and easy. Once the legs are assembled, attach them to each corner of the window pane, again using glue and screws.

Next, two shelf supports are fitted and screwed in place from one leg to another for the under-the-table storage. A set of 2-by-4s are used as spacers, but any scrap that gives you a suitable height would do. Another piece of fence panel, or something a little thicker, will do just fine for the support frame. Projects like this can be great for using up odd pieces you have lying around, or you might want to check out the secret to getting scrap wood for free.

The last step in the construction is to screw the shelf boards to the support frame, which are cut to length on the miter saw. Ideally, each board should be the same width so the even pieces neatly fit across to form the shelf. If they're too wide, trim them with the circular saw. As well as being useful, adding the storage shelf makes the whole structure more rigid. 

To finish the coffee table, cover the screw heads and any of the imperfections in the boards with wood filler and sand before adding a coat of whitewash. The resulting rustic, distressed look is popular, but you may wish to spend a little more time with filler, sandpaper, and paint to create something more refined. You can also add top rails between the legs around the window pane. These aren't needed for strength but do give the table a cleaner look. It's just a question of cutting boards down to size and screwing them in place.

A note about safety: When you buy a glass coffee table at the store, it normally has a laminated or tempered top. Both of these are much tougher than ordinary window glass. If you drop something on the rustic coffee table described here, the panes could shatter. As a safety precaution, consider covering them with self-adhesive security film, like NIDOJP Clear Window Security Film (sometimes used for patio doors). It may not stop the glass from breaking, but it should keep the shards from going all over the place and being a danger to kids and pets.