How to Build a Modern Sliding Sofa Side Table

DIY Sofa C-Table with iPad Storage

4/24/2019

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With purchase of a new grown up sofa for Steph came the need for a little side table. A Google and Pinterest search ensued until she realized she had already seen the perfect C-table sliding sofa table. The side table her friend, Daniel, had made would be the perfect choice.

Materials needed for the c-base table including 2x2s.

This project uses simple tools and materials. You'll need select pine 2" x 2" boards, lots of wood glue, stain, and a few tools.

Materials/Tools:

2 in. x 2 in. x 6 ft. Select Pine Board (Home Depot)
1/2 in. x 3 in. x 3 ft. Poplar Board (Home Depot)
Gorilla 4 fl. oz. Wood Glue (Home Depot)
FrogTape Multi-Surface 1.88 in. x 60 yds. Painter's Tape with PaintBlock (Home Depot)
Tack Cloth (Home Depot)
Diablo 5 in. 80-Grit SandNet Disc with Free Application Pad (Home Depot)
Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner (Home Depot)
1 qt. Dark Walnut Classic Wood Interior Stain (Home Depot)
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 10 in. Dual Bevel Sliding Miter Saw (Home Depot)
DEWALT Trigger Clamp w/3.75 in. Throat Depth (Home Depot)
RIDGID 18-Volt Cordless 5 in. Random Orbit Sander (Home Depot)
RYOBI 18-Volt ONE+ Cordless Brushless 3 in. x 18 in. Belt Sander (Home Depot)

Cut the 2x2s with a miter box and hand saw or miter saw.

We used a miter saw to make the cuts, but you can use whatever you have. A hand saw and miter box would work as well.

Dry fitting the sliding sofa table pieces.

After all the cuts are made, dry fit the boards. Once satisfied with the fit and look of the boards, you can start to glue. We tried to put the nicer looking faces of the boards on the side we would eventually stain.

Using Gorilla wood glue to secure the c table pieces.

Glue up the pieces and clamp until dry.

Cleaning up the Gorilla wood glue with baby wipes.

Tip: clean up the excess glue before it dries. Do both sides. We are using baby wipes which are handy for messy jobs like this.

Sanding the c-base table parts before assembly.

This is why you clean up that glue before it dries--you have to do way more sanding if you don't! I sanded, starting with 80 grit paper working up to 220 grit.

Assembling the modern tv tray sofa table.

Time for assembly. We added a little glue and used a rubber mallet to persuade the pieces into place.

We had to have a little purple pop of color! We used Frog Tape which did an excellent job of preventing the paint from seeping under the tape.

Staining the pieces for the iPad or tablet shelf.

Once we had totally finished the project, Steph decided to add more functionality to the table with the addition of a shelf to hold an iPad. She uses the iPad as a TV remote. Fancy!

The sofa table is perfect for her new sofa. It hold just the essentials, phone, tea, and iPad!

Mac sometimes wants her human on the floor. The side table can double as a floor desk.

Bonus, the side table can be used like a little floor desk or even breakfast in bed!

Here's a close look at the iPad shelf. The tablet simply slides out and then in for safe storage.

With a few 2 x 2’s you can build this c table sofa end table with iPad or tablet storage. This modern c-base sofa side table can be used as a TV tray, side table, or used in bed or floor as a small horizontal desk. The table slides easily under and over t

Please note: This is not a sponsored post.

FYI: We are not professionals, and we don't claim to be. This is what we found worked for our project. Yours may need a little different approach. Safety first!

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