How to Build Your Own Art Table

An art table is a piece of furniture that acts as a work surface for creative projects. Ideally, an art table has attached areas for the storage of art supplies and tools. Unlike a desk or a dining room table, an art table gives you the complete freedom to make a mess and experiment with a host of supplies, colors and materials. Since the average art table ends up splattered with paint, glue and other mediums, you need not spend a lot of money on a store-bought table. Rather you can make one yourself that's the perfect size for kids or adults. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Visit a home supply store and purchase a piece of plywood that has your preferred dimensions for the surface of your table. For example, a piece of board that is 4 feet by 27 inches would be ideal for most art tables.

2

Sand your two small stepladders if you're making an art table for kids or sand your sawhorses if you're making an art table for adults. Use 100-grit sandpaper and sand their entire surface area, including all parts. Run a feather duster over the stepladders or sawhorses when done.

3

Dip your nylon brush in latex primer and coat the board and your two small stepladders or full-size sawhorses with a single coat of primer. Allow them two hours to dry.

4

Rinse off your brush and dip it into latex paint of a festive color. Coat the piece of plywood and the two stepladders or sawhorses with your paint color. Allow them to dry and add a second coat if you desire.

5

Space the two stepladders or sawhorses 3 feet apart from each other. Adjust them so they are exactly parallel and even. Gently place your board on top of them. Adjust the board and stepladders or sawhorses if necessary, making sure all are even and straight.

6

Hammer the board to its structural supports. Use three nails on each side to firmly secure the board to the stepladders or sawhorses.

7

Add small decorative boxes on each step of the stepladders for storage of tools or supplies. If you used sawhorses, add larger decorative boxes that can easily extend over the bottom horizontal wooden bars of the sawhorses. Ideally, select decorative boxes with lids.