DIY Square Dining Table

We have built so many dining tables over the last 10 years but one thing that we get so many requests for is a DIY Square Dining Table! We drove to Houston, TX to crash our sisters new house and one of her requests was a square dining table for her kitchen! This table seats 8 people and it’s built with mostly framing lumber! So, let’s build it! Just click the box below to watch this DIY Square Dining Table tutorial!

How fun was that?! As always, we’ve got the free printable plans for you to build it and you can follow along in the step-by-step build below!

CLICK HERE TO JUMP TO THE FREE PRINTABLE PLANS

Supplies

• 13 – 2x6x8
• 7 – 2x4x8
• 7 – Sticks of Trim
• 1 – 3/4″x48″x96″ Hardwood Plywood
• 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws
• 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws
• 1 1/4″ brad nails
• 2″ brad nails
• 2 1/2″ wood screws
• wood glue

Tools

• Miter Saw
• Drill
• Kreg Jig
• 18 gauge nailer
• Table Saw (optional)
• Sander

Building the Table Top

Note: We ripped the round edges off of all of the 2x boards. This made the 2×6 boards 5″ wide and the 2×4 boards 3″ wide. This is not a necessary step but if you choose to not rip your boards be sure to adjust the plans accordingly.

Step 1: Attach the Planks

The first step of building is to build the table top! We cut the planks to size and used our Kreg Jig to drill 1 1/2″ pocket holes down one edge of all but one of the boards and at the ends of each board.

• You can find our favorite Kreg Jig model HERE!

We attached them together with 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws.

Step 2: Attaching the Breadboards

We measured and cut the breadboards to size. Then, we attached them the ends of the table top planks with 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws.

Building the Bases

Step 1: The Bottom Base

We cut the base plywood to size and drilled 3/4″ pocket holes around the edges. Cut the base frame pieces to size and attach them to the plywood with 1 1/2″ pocket hole screws and wood glue. The top of the plywood should be flush with the top of the frame pieces.

Here is the bottom base, upside down, with all of the frame pieces attached.

We cut the bottom support pieces to size and drill 1 1/2″ pocket holes at the ends of each board. Then, we attached them to the bottom of the bottom base with 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws and wood glue.

We cut the casing to size and attached it to the base frame with 1 1/4″ brad nails and wood glue.

Step 2: Second Base

We cut the second base plywood to size and drilled 3/4″ pocket holes along the edges. Then, we cut the frame pieces to size, drilled 3/4″ pocket holes on the front edges and attached them to the plywood with 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws and wood glue.

Once the base was complete, we centered it on top of the first base and attached it to the plywood with 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws and wood glue.

We cut the trim to size and attached it to the second base frame with 1 1/4″ brad nails and wood glue.

Step 3: Third Base

We cut the third base plywood to size and drilled 3/4″ pocket holes around the edges. Then, we cut the frame pieces to size, drilled 3/4″ pocket holes along one edge of each board and attached them to the plywood with 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws and wood glue.

After building the third base, we centered it on the pedestal and attached it to the second base plywood with 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws and wood glue.

We cut the trim pieces to size and attached them to the third base frame with 1 1/4″ brad nails and wood glue.

Assembling the Trunk

Step 1: Building the Trunk

We cut the trunk pieces to size. Then, we ripped the edges at a 45° angle with our table saw (you can use a miter saw too). Once the edges were ripped, we attached the pieces together with 1 1/4″ brad nails and wood glue.

Next, we centered the trunk on the third base and attached it to the plywood with 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws and wood glue.

Step 2: Attaching the Trim

Time for trim. We cut the first row of trim to size and attached it with 1 1/4″ brad nails and wood glue.

Then, we cut the second trim row to size and attached it to the trunk with 2″ brad nails and wood glue.

Next, we cut the third row of trim to size and attached it to the second row of trim with 1 1/4″ brad nails.

We followed up with the fourth and fifth rows of trim, attaching them the same way, with 1 1/4″ brad nails and wood glue. You can get creative with the trim and stack however you like to create the design you want!

Attaching the Table Top

Step 1: Attaching the Top Supports

Once the entire base was assembled we moved on to the table top! We cut the top support arms to size and drilled 1 1/2″ pocket holes on the square ends of each board. Then, we centered them on the trunk and attached them with 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws and wood glue.

Once the supports were attached, we centered the table top over the supports and attached it to the arm supports with 2 1/2″ wood screws, from the bottom of the supports and into the table top.

Now, just fill your nail holes, sand it down and give it a finish!

• You can find the stain that we used here!
• You can find the poly that we used here!
• You can find the paint that we used here!

You can get creative with the stain, paint and trim to really make this DIY square dining table your own! Don’t forget to share your builds with us on social media and use #shanty2chic so we can share them too!

Happy Building!