ALL IN A DAY’S WORK
By this time tomorrow, you could have a DIY sideboard in your dining room.
By this time tomorrow, you could have a DIY sideboard in your dining room.
DIY culture is soaring to new heights of popularity these days, especially as DIYs often save people a lot of money. In their book, One-Day DIY: Modern Farmhouse Furniture, professional house flippers and Youtubers, JP Strate and Liz Spillman inspire readers with a stunning stack of furniture DIYs you can do in a single day. Their DIY sideboard tutorial is just what you need to add a little extra storage and refinement to your farmhouse.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
• Lumber (standard pine)
• 1 x 12, 8' (2.4 m) long (x 2)
• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Safety glasses
• Miter saw
• Drill
• 1 ½" (3.8-cm) trim-head screws
• Screwdriver or impact driver
• Wood filler (to match the stain color)
• Sanding block or sander
• Dropcloth
• Rubber gloves
• Rag
• Stain
• Brush
• Polyurethane
• 4 (16" [40.6-cm]) hairpin legs with included screws
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
1. Grab the tape measure and pencil, and mark off the cuts of lumber you'll need for this project as described below. Make sure to put on the safety glasses and use the miter saw to make the necessary cuts. If you don't have a miter saw, many larger home improvement stores will cut the pieces for you. Cut the 1 x 12s into three 48" (1.2-m)-long pieces and three 10 ½" (26.7-cm) pieces.
2. Place the three 10 ½" (26.7-cm) pieces on edge with 45 ¾" (1.2 m) of space between them. Take a 48" (1.2-m) piece and place it on edge along the top side of the 10 ½" (26.7-cm) pieces.
Predrill two holes about 10" (25 cm) apart through the 48" (1.2-m) piece into each 10 ½" (26.7-cm) piece (six holes total). Secure the pieces together with a trim-head screw in each predrilled hole. 4. Place another 48" (1.2-m) piece across the top of the framework. Predrill five evenly spaced holes along the backside of this piece into the edge of the 48" (1.2-m) piece underneath as well as one into the front edge of each 10 ½" (26.7-cm) piece (eight holes total). Secure the top piece with trim-head screws in each predrilled hole. 5. Flip the framework over and repeat Step 4 with the third 48"
(1.2-m) piece.
6. Grab the wood filler and, using your fingertip, cover all of the exposed screw holes. Once the filler dries, use the sanding block or sander to smooth out any rough spots and remove any excess wood filler.
7. Roll out the dropcloth and put on the rubber gloves. Dip the rag into the stain and apply it to the framework. Once the stain dries, use the brush to apply a coat of polyurethane. Let it dry for the time suggested on the can. Once it is completely dry, you can dispose of the dropcloth or save it for another project.
8. Now place the four hairpin legs, one in each corner of the underside of the sideboard. With a pencil, mark where the screw holes will go. Remove the hairpin legs and predrill holes about ½" (1.3 cm) deep where you made the pencil marks. Don’t drill too deep; you don’t want to drill through the other side. Put the hairpin legs back onto the sideboard and attach them with the included screws.
9. Flip the sideboard onto its legs and you’re all done. This piece will go great next to the dining room table, so it’s easy to grab extra glasses, dishes, food—whatever you might need to add to the table.