The 2nd project in my small space DIY series is a graphic sofa drink perch. (See the 1st project, Gilded Bedside Sconces, here!) As I’ve mentioned before, we recently moved into a 628 square foot apartment in our ideal Downtown Minneapolis neighborhood. Though it’s smaller than our previous 750 sf apartment, it’s space-planned incredibly well, so it doesn’t feel too small or unmanageable–a true testament to great design! We’ve also paired down our furniture layout and have been rethinking what it means to be a living room, bedroom, etc. Do you have to have two freestanding end tables with a table lamp on each flanking your sofa?
Our conclusion was ‘Not if there really isn’t space!,’ so inspired by my friend Briony’s wild idea that she casually mentioned when she was over at our place a few weeks ago (Thank you, Briony!), I created a table surface that wraps our sofa arm, thus taking up not even a fraction of our precious square footage.
Remember the Hickory Chop Board I made earlier this year? Well I’ve been holding onto the left over boards ever since, so I was excited to finally put those bad boys to use! I made the table in a weekend, and the best part? Since I used leftover materials, it didn’t cost a thing! Happy weekend everybody–see you Monday!
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Materials List:
- 1×8 Hardwood board such as hickory or walnut
- 12″ Circular saw
- Sandpaper
- Gorilla glue
- T-square
- Pencil
- Painter’s tape
- White spray paint
- Clear sealer
Step 1. Use circular saw to cut your board into three pieces (Or if you don’t have a saw, ask the hardware store to cut your board for you). The width and height of your sofa’s arm will dictate the size of the cuts. Our sofa arms are 8″ wide and 24″ tall, so the board sizes I used were:
- Top: 9.5″ board with 45 degree angle cuts on each end
- Side: 8″ board with a 45 degree cut on one end only
- Side: 4″ board with a 45 degree cut on one end only
Step 2. Sand all faces of the boards until smooth.
Step 3. Use Gorilla Glue to attach the angled edge on the 8″ board to one of the angle edges on the 9.5″ board. Then attach the angled edge on the 4″ board to the other angled edge on the 9.5″ board. Allow glue to dry overnight.
Note: Gorilla Glue expands as it dries, so make sure to wipe off any excess before you leave to dry.
Step 4. Apply horizontal bands of painter’s tape every 3/4″. Make sure to really press the tape down to prevent any bleeding.
Step 5. Lay down a drop cloth or something to protect your work surface (or the grass!). Spray paint the entire piece, top and underneath. I applied two coats. Allow to dry.
Step 6. Peel off painter’s tape and spray with clear sealer. Allow to dry, and voila…perch away!
