The How To Steps and video for a beautiful Poplar DIY Geometric Wood Table Top.
Last month I shared the how-to steps for a DIY Cedar Mosaic Tabletop. I loved that one so much that I just had to give our old kitchen table a DIY Geometric Wood Table Top in Poplar.
Cedar and Poplar are both available in Lowes and Home Depot, so easy to find. And, the both have great variations in color and grain, which totally adds beauty to the design.
If you love a good geometric wood art project too, check out this scrap wood art project tutorial or this pretty DIY Cedar Chevron Wall Art on my blog. Or head over to YouTube where I’ve put all my Geometric art and table videos in this DIY Wood Geometric Art Playlist.
Now let me show you that beautiful, whitewashed DIY Geometric Wood Table Top. π
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DIY Geometric Wood Table Top Steps
Watch this video to see the exact steps I used to make this DIY Geometric Wood Tabletop. All of the steps are shown in the video. Scroll down for the written steps and tips.
Here’s What You’ll Need
- 1/4″ x 2″ Poplar Craft Boards
- A Miter Saw and a Power Sander with 120 and 180 grit sandpaper
- Titebond 2 Wood Glue or similar
- Flush Trim Router Bit
- General Finishes Flat Out Flat
- White Chalk Paint mixed with water
4 DIY Tips for this Geometric Wood Project
Tip One
I recommend that you use a plywood or MDF board as the base for your table top, even if you have to make it.
I have had this table for 8 years, so I know it doesn’t have wood movement issues. And, it’s a veneered plywood or MDF. Most table tops screw off of the legs. So, you can always use the legs on your table and replace it with a new top.
Tip Two
Make sure to use enough glue. You want a lot really. I have gotten so used to gluing the pieces that I can tell by looking that the glue I put on will spread across the entire bottom of the piece. But, I realize you can’t tell that I’m doing that in the video.
So, make sure to use enough glue to cover across the bottom of the board. You might want to spread it across the board with something like this wood glue roller.
Tip Three
Designing the layout for your DIY Geometric Wood Table Top is half the fun. Make sure you plan the layout in sections before you make the cuts. I like to lay the boards on top to help me picture whether or not I like the design.
I try to avoid making small, awkward looking cuts by changing the direction on pieces before a row can end on a small piece. You can find 4 Tips for How to Safely Cut Small Wood Pieces on a Miter Saw in another post.
Tip Four
The final tip is to use epoxy resin over the wood and wood filler. The epoxy is another way to keep the wood and wood filler from shifting during expansion and contraction of the wood. One of the wood fillers I used for a similar project raised slightly above the wood, in a couple of spots.
I didn’t use epoxy resin on that table. I think pouring a layer of epoxy resin over the entire surface after using wood filler and sanding the table top smooth and clean would prevent most, if not all of that movement.
This DIY Geometric Wood Table Top has been in my kitchen for months now without any wood movement or wood filler issues. I’m sure the epoxy I used on it has something to do with that. π
More Pictures of this DIY Geometric Wood Table Top
You can see more of this DIY Mosaic Wood Table with build steps and tips in a previous post.
Just the Glue Up on the Tabletop
Since I love watching glue up videos, I also put together this 3-minute look at the glue up on this DIY Geometric wood table top design.
Looking for more of my DIY Furniture Makeover videos? You can see them here, on my YouTube channel. π
You might also like this DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art project. It’s one of my favorites.
Or, another Cedar wood project that I’m all heart-eyes about. This DIY Outdoor Sofa from 2×4 and Cedar is beautiful!
This DIY Round Kitchen Table PedestalΒ with it’s DIY Round Plywood Table Top is a beautiful looking woodworking project.
And, this DIY Table Over Washer and Dryer – Laundry Table is one of my favorites.
Check out this beautiful DIY Outdoor Corner Bench Build too. I love the geometric back on this one.
Feeling inspired? Now that you’ve seen this DIY Geometric Wood Table Top tutorial, you can do it too. Let me know if you have questions. Don’t forget to sign up for the Abbotts At Home email newsletter to get DIY, Remodeling, and Crafty ideas in your inbox.
DIY Geometric Wood Table Top
Tools
- Miter Saw
- Wood Glue
- Brad Nailer
- Power Sander
Instructions
DIY Geometric Wood Table Top Steps
Watch this video to see the exact steps I used to make this DIY Geometric Wood Tabletop. You can see the exact steps to make your own geometric table top in this video. All of the steps are shown in the video with written steps and tips along the bottom of the video.
4 DIY Tips for this Geometric Wood Project
Tip One
- I recommend that you use a plywood or MDF board as the base for your table top, even if you have to make it. I have had this table for 8 years, so I know it doesn’t have wood movement issues. And, it’s a veneered plywood or MDF. Most table tops screw off of the legs. So, you can always use the legs on your table and replace it with a new top.
Tip Two
- Make sure to use enough glue. You want a lot really. I have gotten so used to gluing the pieces that I can tell by looking that the glue I put on will spread across the entire bottom of the piece. But, I realize you can’t tell that I’m doing that in the video.
- So, make sure to use enough glue to cover across the bottom of the board. You might want to spread it across the board with something like this wood glue roller.
Tip Three
- Designing the layout for your DIY Geometric Wood Table Top is half the fun. Make sure you plan the layout in sections before you make the cuts. I like to lay the boards on top to help me picture whether or not I like the design. I try to avoid making small, awkward looking cuts by changing the direction on pieces before a row can end on a small piece.
Tip Four
- The final tip is to use epoxy resin over the wood and wood filler. The epoxy is another way to keep the wood and wood filler from shifting during expansion and contraction of the wood. One of the wood fillers I used for a similar project raised slightly above the wood, in a couple of spots.
- I didn’t use epoxy resin on that table. I think pouring a layer of epoxy resin over the entire surface after using wood filler and sanding the table top smooth and clean would prevent most, if not all of that movement.
- This DIY Geometric Wood Table Top has been in my kitchen for months now without any wood movement or wood filler issues. I’m sure the epoxy I used on it has something to do with that.
I use a small rounding over bit on a router to give a tiny shadow line on each piece. That may not work on a table top but it works great on mosaic wall art. You donβt have to worry about filling cracks.
I love that look too. I usually just grab my sander and round off the corners on my wall art. But, I love the crisp, perfect look of a rounded or chamfered edge from a router. π
What an incredible project! It’s kind of like quilting, with different Material, tools, and processes. Your persistence with the fillers is admirable. There are times when a project goes wrong and I just end up with a UFO – Un-Finished Object. Great video and finished result! π
Thanks so much, Jeanne. This one was definitely a labor of love. And, I know what you mean about UFO projects. I have 3 in my garage at all times. LOL
Your table is beautiful, you did a great job. Pinned
Thanks so much, Anita. I’m very excited about how this one turned out. π
Wow what a beautiful design. Very creative!
Thanks, Amy! I love this project. π
This table is stunning! I watched the whole video, I was so intrigued! All the work was defiinitly worth it!
Yay! Thanks so much, Pamela. That’s made my night. π
Wow – this looks absolutely gorgeous! Added it to my woodworking board on Pinterest in the hope that I will get some time this year to make something like it – or at least some wall art (love that too)!
Thanks so much, Jayne!!
WOW! Stunning work
Thank you, Diane. That’s so nice. π