How to Build Your Own Wall Mount Table

Wall-mounted tables are most prevalent in restaurants with booth seating. The table seems to just hover in the air. A wall-mounted table is a simple and effective way to add an eating surface or food-preparation surface area to even the smallest spaces. But wall-mounted tables aren't just for small spaces. This project can be completed in about a day, including the table fabrication and installation. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Tabletop

1

Have the lumber store cut the half-sheet of plywood, 4 feet by 3 feet. The rest of the cuts you will have to make are simple and can be done with a hand saw.

2

Measure and cut two pieces of the 1-by-3 board 49 1/2 inches long and two pieces 37 1/2 inches long. These four pieces will be used to cover the edge of the plywood tabletop, so you will want to miter cut the ends similar to the corners on a picture frame so that they fit together nicely at the corners of the table top.

3

Use the medium-grit sandpaper to smooth all of the edges of the 1-by-3 boards after you cut them. Be careful not to over-sand the edges. You want the boards to fit together at all of the joints.

4

Using wood glue and 4d finish nails, attach the 1-by-3 boards to the edge of the plywood tabletop to create an apron all the way around the piece of plywood. This serves two functions: It covers the edge of the plywood for durability and it strengthens the table top.

5

Using fine-grit sand paper, sand the entire tabletop surface and the surrounding wood edges. You can carefully round over the wood board edges using medium- and fine-grit sandpaper to get a soft-rounds tabletop edge.

6

Measure and cut the 3- by 3-inch oak post 29 1/4 inches long. Thoroughly sand the post with medium- and then fine-grit sandpaper.

7

Place the tabletop piece face down on a flat surface and measure to locate a point 6 inches in from one of the short sides and then exactly in the center of the two long sides. This point is where the oak post will be mounted to act as the leg of the table. Mounting the leg several inches in from the edge will keep you from hitting your knees on it constantly, but this is a personal choice so you can place it right at the edge of the table if it works for your space.

8

Using the "L" brackets, attach the oak post to the bottom side of the table top where you previously determined the center location. Use short No. 6 wood screws 3/4 inches long so that they do not poke through the tabletop. Attach the "L" brackets first to the tabletop and then to the oak post.

9

Apply a coat of semi-gloss polyurethane to the tabletop, edges and the oak post. Allow it to dry overnight, lightly sand and then apply a second coat. This will create a water-resistant surface that can be easily wiped and cleaned.

Wall Mounting

10

Measure and mark a line 30 inches from the floor where you intend to mount your new table. Use a 4-foot level to mark the line to ensure that it is level. This line indicates where the tabletop should be.

11

Locate at least two wall studs in the area that you want to mount your table. You need to establish a strong connection between the wall and your new table.

12

Using 3-inch-long lag screws attach the table to the wall through the 1-by-3 apron board and into the wall studs. Attach the table at least two locations. You can apply construction adhesive between the edge of the table and wall to create a stiffer mounting method but it is not required.

13

Apply a thin bead of clear silicon caulking at the edge where the table top meets the wall to keep food particles from gathering between the wall and the table. Use your fingertip to create a concave, rounded look to the silicon caulk.

14

Use "L" brackets and wood screws to attach the oak post to the floor to ensure that it is not accidentally kicked out of place.