Barn Door Table, Simple Base for Our Deck!

I hate tables with legs out on the corners and I hate tables that are so short I can’t cross my legs when I’m sitting at them. Tables with legs at the corners literally trap anyone whose sitting at them and if you can’t sit comfortably (a lot of people cross their legs) what is even the point?

I had just enough 2x4s leftover from the little house remodel and I used 3″ outdoor decking screws with a star bit and my Dewalt impact driver for the construction. I took my measurements, cut all of my timber in the basement on my mitre saw and then assembled it on my deck.

2 2x4s at 50″ (the long sides of the rectangle)

2 2x4s at 28″ (the short sides of the rectangle)

4 2x4s at 28″ (the legs) 2 2x4s at 41″ (the feet)

2 2x4s at 50″ (the center supports that run along the feet)

Step 1: Building the Legs

With the rectangle built I put the legs on the inside of the corners using several deck screws for each one then flipped it “right-side-up” before putting the barn door on top of it. I centered the rectangle the same distance around the barn door and I screwed down through the door into the rectangle – very sturdy. At this point I think some people would have called it done but I HATE wobbly tables.

I made the feet the width of the table and went ahead and mitered the top of each side so it wouldn’t interfere with chairs as much etc. Using a tape measure I compared the top distance between the legs and made sure it was exactly the same along the bottom when I added the feet – this squared up the table and totally eliminated all wobbliness. I put the feet on the inside of the legs and then grabbed my last two boards to create the center support. The support boards just landed on top of the feet (also on the inside of the legs) and ran from leg to leg along the length of the table on either side. Another batch of screws and this base was all but done.

Step 2: Stain and Polyacrylic

First I tackled the barn door table top by sanding it down with medium grit sand paper and my Dewalt Orbital sander. I tried to leave as much patina as I could but, honestly, the door was rather nasty. From there I made a mix of 50/50 water and vinegar and scrubbed the whole top down. The vinegar darkened the bare wood that I revealed in sanding and created a little more cohesiveness. Then I did a coat of Minwax dark walnut stain on the base by brushing it on and then wiping it off after about twenty minutes.

All done except the top needed a little protection which I added by putting on a heavy coat of poly acrylic. When we use it now I throw a clear plastic table cloth on top of it – it helps make the top a little more level for plates etc.

Step 3: The Finished Product

I was worried after I added the last support boards across the bottom that people would find them annoying but everyone has agreed they like them because it makes a great foot rest and, otherwise, they’re “deep” enough into the center of the table that no one seems to notice or bump them with their feet.