DIY Living Room Furniture Ideas

What style couch is best for your space? Which coffee table shape will facilitate optimal flow? Here at Hometalk you'll find slideshows and videos to help you furnish your living room. Check out our best, newest, and most popular living room furniture projects, or participate in our discussion boards. We can help you find your inspiration!

11 Budget-Friendly DIY Coffee Tables

How to Choose a Coffee Table

Determine your needs: Buy your coffee table based on what it is to be used for. Is it for decorative purposes or will it be a stand-in dining table for meals?
Measure correctly: Use the height of your couch as a guide to choose the correct height of your coffee table. The table should be of equal height or lower.
Shop smart: Choose the material for a table according to your needs. If you have kids or a dog, it’s best to avoid glass.
Be unconventional: Think outside the box. Sometimes alternative options such as ottomans and wooden chests make ideal coffee table alternatives.
Take your time: As this is a feature item, search for the perfect table online, visit yard sales, and even look in antique shops for a bargain.

More Living Room Ideas

Top Projects for Living Room Furniture

Check out our top living room furniture projects to find your inspiration.

Citristrip & Saran Wrap to Remove Finishes

This antique coffee table was given to me by my neighbor. When I refinish a piece and want to re-stain the top I either use my sander or use this Citristrip/Saran Wrap trick. I use the CS/SW trick when there are layers and layers of paint or delicate creases & details. The Citristrip gets in the crevices and does the job. The Saran Wrap is Citristrip's side kick! It keeps the heat in and makes the Citristrip work more effectively.

Stephanie Coon/Rehab to Fab

11 Budget-Friendly DIY Coffee Tables

Let’s be real. When it comes to the living room, it’s all about the coffee table these days. It’s the place where we set our hot chocolate on those cold days, kick up our feet while watching television, or where our kids set up their coloring books and board games.

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17 Awesome DIY TV Stands

Update any room with a new TV stand! Check out these 17 awesome DIY TV stands and get inspired to create your own.

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How to Reupholster a Chair in 5 Easy Steps

Discover how to reupholster a chair! Just because a chair’s fabric is outdated or even ripped or torn in some places doesn’t mean it’s meant for the curb. As long as the chair itself is still in great condition - has great bones - as they say, you can DIY-reupholster a chair into a custom piece of furniture that will soon become your favorite.

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Book Shelf Turned Bar Cart

This project was inspired by Emma Jeffery at Fiskars. Read more here. My husband has wanted a bar cart for quite some time, so I decided to repurpose some on hand furniture for the job. A book shelf is a pretty common household item and has perfect shelf space for holding bar cart items! With an old bookshelf, some copper pipes, a set of wheels, and some lumber you will be set with a bar cart for any swanky house party. This piece can also be customized in size and color to fit the space you have! We want to help you DIY, so some of the materials in this post are linked to sellers. Just so you know, Hometalk may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.

Amanda C, Hometalk Team

Coffee Table Made From Leftover Fence Boards

I am a DIY addict!!! There, I said it!!! The only problem I can find with that statement though, is that I'm always craving change in my decor and always looking for the 'better piece' of furniture I could make. With that said, I have had 3 formal living room coffee tables in our new house and we've only been here one year. I couldn't seem to find the right fit.

Madison McGahan

Faux Azul Copper Table Top Tutorial

This was great fun. More of an experiment in how messing I can get. After researching many pictures of copper patina. I came up with the theory that there was so many differences in copper that I couldn't possibly go wrong. So here goes. No fear and the start on my new year. It's all about the fun .

Sharleen Wolfe

DIY Library Wall - Billy Built-in Bookcases

I have been researching this project and planning it for a while now. As we moved the guest room we were left with an empty room that was supposed to be our home office. Our books have been in boxes since we moved in 3 years ago so I decided to just go for it and do it. And I DID IT! 100% by myself. And I am so proud. :)

Maria

Amazing $5 Table ReVamp Using Wrapping Paper and Mod Podge

I found this cute coffee table for just $5 at our local thrift shop. After nearly a year of changing its placement in the house, I finally decided to jazz it up.

Katie Reed

Citristrip & Saran Wrap to Remove Finishes

Stephanie Coon/Rehab to Fab

11 Budget-Friendly DIY Coffee Tables

Best Of Hometalk

17 Awesome DIY TV Stands

Update any room with a new TV stand! Check out these 17 awesome DIY TV stands and get inspired to create your own.

Best Of Hometalk

How to Reupholster a Chair in 5 Easy Steps

Best Of Hometalk

Book Shelf Turned Bar Cart

Amanda C, Hometalk Team

Coffee Table Made From Leftover Fence Boards

Madison McGahan

Faux Azul Copper Table Top Tutorial

Sharleen Wolfe

DIY Library Wall - Billy Built-in Bookcases

Maria

Amazing $5 Table ReVamp Using Wrapping Paper and Mod Podge

I found this cute coffee table for just $5 at our local thrift shop. After nearly a year of changing its placement in the house, I finally decided to jazz it up.

Katie Reed

Living Room Furniture Videos

Enjoy our collection of DIY video tutorials on living room furniture ideas.

Repurposed Ladder Into Shelf

I had this old ladder sitting around and thought I would repurpose it somehow. Now ladders can be used for loads of things, but I thought I would make a back-of-the-door storage unit this time around. This shelf is quick and easy and makes for a great catch all! Adding a bit of hardware cloth to the ladder makes this shelf a quick and easy project, too!We want to help you DIY, so some of the materials in this post are linked to sellers. Just so you know, Hometalk may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.

Amanda C, Hometalk Team

Picture Frame Coffee Table

My picture frame coffee table has always been a staple in my living room as it is such a wonderful conversation piece and adds so much character to my home. This video and simple instructions will have you creating your conversation piece in no time! If you would like to see more of my home DIY projects check out my YouTube channel at http://www.athomewithnikki.com Thanks. NikkiSHOP YOUR FRAMESLook for frames that you think best fits your design style. Make sure to get different size frames for a unique look. Stay away from oval shaped frames, straight sided frames are best for this project. Get an abundance of frames, this is key! Remember that you can always return the frames that you do not use.

Nikki Boyd

Faux Stained Glass Cabinet Technique

Grab some Elmer's glue and craft paint for this one of a kind cabinet update!Check out the video for more how-to's!

Abbie M

Grab a Shower Curtain for This Gorgeous Table Flip!

I had an old table that needed a little love - it needed a coat of paint, but I decided not to stop there! Check out the video for more how-to's!

Abbie M

Hometalkers' Favorite DIY Living Room Furniture Projects

The best projects for living room furniture. Prepare to be inspired.

DIY City Patio

My downtown condo has a long, narrow patio off of my bedroom that was NEVER used. I wanted to add a lounge and eating area to make it more useful, but many outdoor sectionals were $1500-$3000 from big box stores. I didn't want to spend more than $600 to furnish the entire space.

Ariel Noel

She Was Beaten but Came Back More Beautiful Than Ever

This beautiful oak table came to me from a friend who had it with 9 children in the family. They had really loved her to the bone. What her makeover did to her is spitacular!

Amy Craig-Tongi

Easy Quick Fix for a Battered Couch

Trying to fend off the inevitable purchase, an old couch with good bones gets a little help.

Glenda Purvis

Chiaroscuro Calla Lilly Coffee Table

Damaged abused coffee table given a new home and a classier look. I found a coffee table on a garage sale site and I knew it would be perfect for an idea I had been thinking about.

Mary Alice

Turn a Tomato Cage Into a Plant Stand

After doing a lot of reading lately on the benefits of house plants in your home, I've been determined to find a way to display them. I love this idea for a plant stand because not only is it extremely budget-friendly and easy to make, but it is seriously trendy and matched the modern decor of my home. If something screams geometric, than I'm all over it! Give this easy planter a try for yourself and start breathing in all of that fresh air from your new house plants.

Julien K., Hometalk Team

Faux Metal Coffee Table

If you love industrial style and want to do a DIY project, but don't know how to weld and solder, then this type of project is perfect for you! Maybe building isn't your thing? You could take a coffee table and wrap the top with the stainless steel film (make sure the tabletop you're wrapping is squared off because getting the film to lay flat on rounded corners would be really difficult).

Sara

DIY City Patio

Ariel Noel

She Was Beaten but Came Back More Beautiful Than Ever

This beautiful oak table came to me from a friend who had it with 9 children in the family. They had really loved her to the bone. What her makeover did to her is spitacular!

Amy Craig-Tongi

Easy Quick Fix for a Battered Couch

Trying to fend off the inevitable purchase, an old couch with good bones gets a little help.

Glenda Purvis

Chiaroscuro Calla Lilly Coffee Table

Damaged abused coffee table given a new home and a classier look. I found a coffee table on a garage sale site and I knew it would be perfect for an idea I had been thinking about.

Mary Alice

Turn a Tomato Cage Into a Plant Stand

Julien K., Hometalk Team

Faux Metal Coffee Table

Sara

Popular Living Room Furniture Discussions

See what's trending on our living room furniture discussion boards. Jump in!

Can I put conventional fabric or upholstered furniture in here?

/> Kathy Eichacker

I have a 4 season room with expensive rattan and cushion furniture

Can I put conventional fabric or upholstered furniture in here?

View discussion

How do I make transitional furniture work in a modern living room?

/> Alexis

i e got new modern living room furniture but then chose transitional type coffee/end/tv console. The sofa table I’m looking at has mirrored accents.... How do I pull all of these pieces together?

View discussion

How do I find the post about the coffee table painted w/ Unicorn Spit?

/> Yvonne Mcewen

How do I find the coffee table that was redone with with Unicorn Spit ?

View discussion

Vintage Antique Walnut Magazine Holder

/> Connie Windes

I'm wondering if this is a good buy. They want $69.00 for it. It is sturdy, and does need refinishing. It is Walnut. Is this a good buy?

View discussion

New Living Room Furniture Projects

New DIY living room furniture ideas for your home. Check out what's trending.

Upcycled Dresser Drawers

I found this buffet that i turned into a TV STand I had to take the drawers out for all of our cable boxes, game consoles, and dvd players to fit. They laid in my garage forever, until it hit me. These would be perfect for books!

Stacey @addisonmeadowslane

The Turning Point--DIY Corner Shelves

My office redo has got me all like "what am I doing with my life?!" Seriously, do you ever get to that point where you can't figure one tiny thing out and suddenly you start irrationally questioning all your life choices? For example: I can't figure out if I like these shelves here. And I don't know where to hang our diplomas. Now I'm not sure it was a good idea to buy those jeans three months ago. Or make macaroni and cheese for supper last night. It was probably a terrible idea to wash my car last week. I shouldn't have trashed that milk jug a year ago. Why didn't I buy more wrapping paper when it was on sale after Christmas? THIS IS CRAZY!!! This office redo is not going as planned. Read more about it in the blog post... I'll get back to this madness right after I show you how I built these shelves. Let me first say-I LOVE these shelves. I'm just not sure I hung them in the best place in the room. I'll get back to that...

Woodshop Diaries

Easy DIY Book Rails

In our daughter's small bedroom, space is at a premium. We try hard to make the most of the space and keep the floor as open as possible to help the room feel a little bigger and give her more area to play. On one wall of her room, there is a very shallow nook I wasn't sure what to do with but wanted to make it an efficient use of space. After some thought, I decided building some custom book storage would be the perfect solution.