DIY Dining Room Buffet Table | Console Table Tutorial

This project involved quite a bit of trial and error, but that’s because I don’t really have experience with drawers and I sort of designed this piece as I went along. Today I’ll show you how to build this DIY dining room buffet table (or console table) and share what I learned along the way.

Project Supplies:

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• Saw
• 3 – 4 ft. long 16″ wide Project Panels
• 1×4 boards
• 1×6 boards
• 2×2 boards
• Wood Glue
• Silicone Glue Brush (optional)
• Brad Nailer
• 1 1/4″ Brad Nails
• Pocket Hole Jig
• 1 1/4″ Pocket Hole Screws
• 2″ Pocket Hole Screws
• Drill/Driver
• Paint or Stain
• 2 Drawer Pulls
• 2 packages of 14″ drawer slides
• Hand Planer (optional)
• Sander
• 2 inch wood screws
• Countersinking drill bit (optional)
• Wood Filler
• Putty Knife

Step 1: Cut Your Wood

I kept 2 of my project panels “as is” (so 4′ x 16″), and cut the rest of my wood as follows:

• 4 – 2×2 boards at 25″ long
• 2 – 1×2 boards at 45″ long
• 2 – 1×2 boards at 13″ long
• 3 – 1×6 boards at 16″ long
• 2 – 1×6 boards at  22 6/8″ long (cut to fit, for the drawer fronts)
• 4 – 1×4 boards at 13 1/2″ long (drawer sides)
• 2 – 1×4 boards at 22″ long (drawer backs)
• 2 project panel pieces at 20 1/4″ x 13 3/4″ (drawer bottoms)

Step 2: Sand

I sanded everything smooth using my orbital sander.

Step 3: Build the Table

First, I chose which side I wanted to be the top of my table and flipped that upside down on the ground. (We are building upside down for now.)

I used my pocket hole jig to drill 3 holes along one side of each of my 16 inch long 1×6 boards, and attached them to my project panel using 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws. These 3 boards are the end pieces and the center dividing partition.

Next, I laid my second project panel on top and pre-drilled holes using a countersinking drill bit. Then, I attached my panel to the 1×6 end pieces and dividing partition using 2″ wood screws.

Then, I  drilled pocket holes into one end of each of my 2×2 boards and attached those to each corner of the table base using 2″ pocket hole screws. (You can add wood glue for added reinforcement if you choose.)

I attached my 1×2 pieces to the 2×2 pieces using 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws. You can also drive 2″ wood screws to attach it to the base of the table too if you want to.

Step 4: Build Your Drawers

There was a lot of trial and error with these drawers, so I’ll just skip to what worked. I attached my 13 1/2″ long 1×4 pieces to the sides of my project panel pieces using wood glue and a brad nailer with 1 1/4″ brad nails.

Then, I attached the 22″ long piece to the back. I marked 1/2″ in from each end of my 1×6 boards and lined them up, then attached them to the fronts leaving 1/2″ on each side to allow for my drawer slides. (These will be the drawer fronts.)

You could also build these drawers using pocket hole joinery if you’d prefer that over glue and nails.

Step 5: Drill Holes for Your Hardware

I marked the center point of each of my drawer fronts, then measured out from there where the holes should go by measuring my drawer pulls and marking the spots. Then I predrilled holes.

Step 6: Patch Nail Holes

I patched nail holes using wood filler and a putty knife.

Step 7: Plane or Sand your Drawer Fronts

Since my drawer fronts are the exact same size as my side pieces, once the drawer slides were attached it was a bit of a tight fit, so I used my hand planer to shave off a little bit. You could use a sander for this if you’d prefer.

Step 8: Install Drawer Slides

I attached 14″ drawer slides to my drawer boxes, and then marked how far back I needed to attach them inside the drawer slot. Then, I predrilled pilot holes and attached them.

Depending on what type of drawer slides you use, installation may vary. You can follow the instructions that come with the drawer slides which will tell you exactly how to install them properly.

Step 9: Paint or Stain

I painted my table with Behr Marquee interior latex paint color matched to Benjamin Moore’s Nightfall.

Step 10: Attach Handles and Install Drawers

I got my drawer pulls at Hobby Lobby. I installed them and then slid the drawers into place. Now just a quick disclaimer, I used super cheap framing lumber for this and the wood quality was terrible. You could definitely use better wood than I did, I was just doing this on a major budget and using what I had on hand.

Check out the YouTube video for this project here:

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Thanks for visiting!

-Erin