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DIY Hexagon End Table [Free Plans!]

This DIY hexagon end table is easy to make and looks amazing in a modern living room. Get the free woodworking plans and start building!

DIY hexagon end table

Hexagons are the new modern shape in home decor, and they're popping up everywhere! But trendy usually means pricey, and I never want to spend a ton of money on a passing fad.

Instead, I built this DIY side table with a hexagon top! The base is a classic X shape, and the top can be switched out for a circle or square if I want to change the look in the future.

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Inspiration struck when I unearthed a stack of 2 x 12 end cuts from a shelving project I did for a friend. I've struggled to find a good use for these big chunks of wood in the past, but this time the light bulb finally turned on! By edge joining two pieces together, I could create a small table top.

Pieces of 2x2 boards left over from my outdoor storage bench and stuffed animal zoo would become the legs and base. I even discovered four L angle brackets that I didn't use on my bi-fold door blanket box that would work perfectly for joining everything together. I love when I can make a project for free!

Materials Needed

Don't forget your safety gear when woodworking! Here are my recommendations for safety glasses and ear protection. No excuses!

Instructions for DIY Hexagon End Table

Cut List

  • 2 - 2x2’s @ 15”
  • 4 - 2x2’s @ 6 ¾”
  • 4 - 2x2’s @ 22”
  • 2 - 2x12’s @ 19 1/16” 

Make a Paper Hexagon Template

Start by creating a paper template for your hexagon top. Flashback to geometry class! A hexagon is six equal sides set at a 120° angle to each other, right? (Don't worry, I had to Google it too!) I wanted each side to be 11" long so each half would fit on a 2 x 12 board.

I recommend drawing out the shape on a piece of paper first. Then cut it out and trace it onto the wood. You can fold the paper in half to check that your hexagon is symmetrical before you start cutting!

Draw your first 11" side, then position the line in the center of your protractor on the end of the line. Mark the point for 120°.

protractor and pencil

Draw an 11" long line connecting the end through that point. Then line up the protractor center with the end of that line, and mark the next 120° angle. Repeat until you get back to the beginning.

Cut out your paper hexagon template, and mark the center line through two parallel sides. Cut along this line to create two identical templates.

Cut the hexagon top

Using a table saw or circular saw, trim ¼" off of one long edge of the 2 x 12 board. This will give you a nice, smooth edge to join together later.

Cut two 19 1/16" pieces, choosing spots on the board where the smooth edge is free from any knots or imperfections, and the grain lines are similar.

Position half a hexagon template on each section of board with the long edge lined up with the smooth cut edge. Trace around the template.

hexagon paper template on wooden board

Set your miter saw angle to 30°. With the short end of the board against the fence, cut along your traced line. Flip the board over and repeat for the other side. Save the cut off angled pieces for clamping later on.

wood board on miter saw

Sometimes, even with careful measuring, the two sides aren't perfectly identical. If this happens, just stack both pieces together, set them on end and sand down the taller piece until they're even.

sanding edges of hexagon boards with a sander

With a sharp center edge and similar grain lines, the seam almost disappears!

two half hexagon shaped boards matched together

Flip the pieces over and drill pocket holes along the center line of one of the hexagon halves. The wood glue should be strong enough to hold the two halves together on their own, but I figured the screws would help prevent the seam from splitting when it expands and contracts with the seasons.

wooden hexagon table top with pocket holes along one edge

Apply wood glue along the center edge of the other half.

applying wood glue to board edge with a brush

Place the cut off angles you saved from earlier on each corner of the hexagon to create a square. Clamp all the pieces together, making sure the two halves of the hexagon are perfectly even with each other down the middle. Screw together with 2 ½" pocket hole screws and leave in clamps until glue is dry.

clamps holding hexagon board halves in place

Remove the clamps and fill the seam with wood filler if there are any noticeable gaps. Sand the entire surface smooth when the wood filler is dry. I also rounded over the sharp edges with my sander for a softer look.

Paint or Stain the Hexagon Table Top

I've been on the hunt for a gray wood stain that doesn't look too blue or green, and I think I've finally found it! This General Finishes gray gel stain is just the right shade of dark gray, with just the tiniest hint of blue. You can see another example of this grey wood stain in my dining table makeover!

I applied two coats to get to this hue, and finished it off with their gel topcoat. You can see some areas of the grain where the stain didn't soak in. A pre-stain wood conditioner would have helped to even out the color.

General Finishes gray gel stain next to hexagon board

Assemble the End Table Base

Moving on to the base! If you're not a fan of hexagons, you could use this base with any shape top.

Cut the 2x2's as listed in the cut list above, and sand all the sides smooth. I used a few of the pieces from my outdoor storage bench that I cut wrong, which is why they're stained blue! A quick sanding removed the old stain, except in the pocket holes that won't be visible anyway.

blue stained 2x2 boards with pocket holes

Drill pocket holes into both ends of all the 6 ¾" and 15" pieces. Mark the center of the 15" pieces, and the center of the ends of the 6 ¾" pieces.

Match up the marks to create two X's. Screw together with 2 ½" pocket hole screws, making sure that all the pieces stay flat.

X shaped end table base

With the pocket holes of one X facing up, attach each of the legs with 2 ½" pocket hole screws.

X shaped side table base with legs attached

Then attach the other X to the top of the legs with the pocket holes facing up. Then flip the entire base over and paint or stain. If you're painting, you may want to fill the gaps with caulk for a more finished look. I gave my side table base three coats of Benjamin Moore's Simply White in semi-gloss.

X shaped side table base painted white

Attach the base to the hexagon table top

Place the hexagon table top on the base, lining up the seam between the two halves with one of the cross pieces. Attach the L angle brackets on opposing legs with ½" wood screws.

L bracket on underside of side table

You're done!


Our living room is white and gray, with bright pops of color everywhere. This DIY hexagon end table fits in perfectly! Not too shabby for a bunch of scrap wood!

DIY hexagon end table next to couch with coffee cup and planner on top
top down view of hexagon side table over colorful carpet
DIY hexagon side table on colorful carpet

Emily

Friday 13th of July 2018

What a great project! I could totally handle building a table like this :) Thank you for sharing at Merry Monday party. I'm going to feature your hexagon table at next week's party. We hope you'll come by and share another project or two!

Donna @ Modern on Monticello

Monday 25th of June 2018

Great table. I love how your made the top to be removable so you can change it out as styles change. Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty

Jann Olson

Friday 22nd of June 2018

What a great little universal table! Thanks for sharing with SYC. hugs, Jann

Dean

Monday 18th of June 2018

This is absolutely adorable. I love it!! Thank you so much for sharing with us at #MMBH! xo

Marissa | Squirrels of a Feather

Sunday 17th of June 2018

Wow, this is a really cool modern side table! I like that the top is a hexagon, but you have an X-cross at the bottom. I wonder if I could get a marble effect on the top? I could see contact paper being difficult to work around a hexagon shape. Going to puzzle over that one ;)

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