Make a Coffee Table Out of a Tree Stump

Utilizing beautiful, natural objects in the home has many benefits. It creates an inviting space and, more often than not, the crafts or pieces of furniture you can make out of these objects will be more durable (and more special to you) than pieces you could buy in a store.

One great example? You could make a sturdy coffee table out of a tree stump. Doing so will take a pretty large slab cut out of a trunk for the top of the table—look for a more oval-shaped trunk if that’s what you’d prefer your table to look like. Smaller round trunks will make a good base for the coffee table, plus could be used for the tops of matching end tables.

If you or someone you know has property with any downed trees, that might be a good opportunity to hunt for the perfect stump out of which to cut your slab. If you go this route, your table will be unique and uniquely inexpensive. Plus, think of all the energy and materials being saved because you are using found objects to make something most of us have in our homes.

You could stain your tree trunk coffee table, or you could simply leave it a natural color and seal it. For more detailed instructions on creating your table, see Rustic Home Décor: Tree Stump Table.

If you’re looking for a similar project but on a smaller scale, you could use pieces of wood from large branches or small trunks to create a cutting board or a centerpiece. Check out Homegrow, Homemade Cutting Board for the instructions.

Photo by Scott Kriner

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Laura M.

6:27PM PST on Feb 20, 2012

Cool!

send a green star

Debbie C.

12:51AM PST on Feb 17, 2012

What a neat idea!!
My sister-in-law lost 2 trees in their front yard. She sets out potted plants on the stumps and it really looks cool.

Mody A.

8:19PM PST on Feb 15, 2012

be happy
http://liferaises.com

Kate B.

9:40AM PST on Feb 15, 2012

My Mom made a clock, trivets, coasters, and cutting boards

Andy O.

12:18PM PST on Feb 2, 2012

Awesome!

Ana P M.

11:01AM PST on Feb 1, 2012

I've had a coffee table made of a tree trunk that a friend gave me for many years and I love it...It has outlived my other furniture 3 times already...Everytime I look at it, I remember where it came from and it brings me comfort to know that the tree has had a good life in my living room just as a decoration to be looked at and admired....Stop chopping down these beauties!

Lindsey W.

8:50AM PST on Feb 1, 2012

I would love this as a coffee table, thanks.

Shadowwolf W.

3:25PM PST on Jan 31, 2012

Thanks.

Winn A.

12:32PM PST on Jan 30, 2012

Thanks but I'd rather use a tree stump as part of a garden setting. Just a thought.

Ernie M.

9:17AM PST on Jan 30, 2012

Ther are many problems associated with making a table top in this fashion. first is drying the wood. when entire center chunks of wood are cut like this they have what is called checking where the wood splits and sometimes break in half from drying too fast. it also takes a larde tree to make a table top of any size. this can be done by cutting not straight across a trunk but at an angle from 30-45 degrees making your top almost twice the size of the stump. The top in the picture is quite rough which could hinder the way objects set on the table. there is also the need to design the right base for your top. There have been many nice tables made in this fashion however it is not an easy task to make one corectly that will last. I do like the Idea of using reclaimed wood. which is what I do with the majority of the furnature I make.