Small Square Modern Farmhouse Table

square farm table
Difficulty
Beginner Projects
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Simple to build square modern farm table. No pocket holes required.  Seats just four, perfect for adding that rustic modern edge to your dining space.  Free plans by ANA-WHITE.com

Rectangle modern farm table plans and matching modern farm bench plans are also available.

The modern farm table continues to be one of the most built plans that I have designed.  I believe the reason for it's success is that it's simple, easy to build, stylish, and it's difficult to find a solid wood table in a modern design.  So many of us have built this table. One of our readers, Tami, built the table and modified it to square.  I was so inspired by Tami's photo, that I just had to offer the plans to everyone else.

I choose to scale down the aprons and legs to 2x4s instead of 2x6s because the table is so much smaller.  This table is a perfect small space table.  Try shortening the legs to 18" for a coffee table too.

 

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Small Square Modern Farmhouse Table

Dimensions
square farm table dimensions
35" x 36" x 30" - standard table height

Preparation

Shopping List
  • 3 – 2×4, stud length or 8′ length
  • 2 – 1×6, 8′ length
  • 2 – 2×2, 8′ length
  • 12 – 3″ screws
  • 40 – 2 3/4″ self tapping screws (recommend torq head screws)
  • 36 - 2" self tapping screws (recommend torq heads)
Common Materials
120 grit sandpaper
primer
wood conditioner
paint
paint brush
Cut List
  • 4 – 2×2 @ 33″ (supports) - measure and cut to fit after laying out 1x6 tabletop boards
  • 6 – 1×6 @ 31-3/4″ (Tabletop Boards)
  • 2 – 2×4 @ 31-3/4″ (Side Aprons)
  • 2 – 2×4 @ 29″ (Apron on Leg Sides) - measure and cut to fit
  • 4 – 2×4 @ 30″ (Legs)
Tools
Tape Measure
Speed Square
Pencil
Safety Glasses
Hearing Protection
Drill
Circular Saw
Power Sander
Level
Drill Bit Set

Instructions

Step 1

Tabletop If you have a Kreg Jig™, you can join all your boards together first. Otherwise, lay your 1×6 boards on a flat surface, measure the width and cut 2x2s to match. Glue and screw the 2x2 under supports to the bottom using the shorter screws. Check for square and keep outside edges flush.

Step 2

Measure and cut the side aprons from 2x4s.  Attach so the side aprons are flush on the top and ends, but will overextend the 2x2s on the bottom.  This is fine. Use the longer screws.

Step 3

Legs - Attach the legs with the longer screws, using a square to make sure the legs are square to the table when you attach.  Attach to the apron with two screws.  Then attach from the inside with more screws through the 2x2 supports.

Step 4

Leg Side Arons = Finally, glue and screw the legs side aprons on with the longer screws.

Comments

Cheryl in Canada (not verified)

Tue, 09/21/2010 - 11:57

You are a mind-reader, Ana! I wanted to build a square modern farm table and was inspecting the original modern farm table plans yesterday, but had doubts as to my ability to modify a plan, being a complete beginner and all. Yay!!! THANK YOU!

tamiknits (not verified)

Tue, 09/21/2010 - 16:01

oh my gosh! That is my table! WOW! I am so super excited to see it here! I think maybe too many exclamation points? Will be blogging my build at my blog, but haven't got around to it yet, this is the motivation I needed I guess!

I am so excited, seriously, excited, wow!

jennhoff (not verified)

Tue, 09/21/2010 - 16:09

Hi, Ana! I have to say I keep giggling at the sidebar with the different plans on it. It shortens the titles so one reads, "I built my bed. You can t..." Haha, I really needed a good laugh today! I can and I will! :)
This plan, like so many others, is beautiful. Well done!

loveJP (not verified)

Wed, 09/22/2010 - 06:58

I love the square table!!! Ana how would I modify the plan if I wanted the table to seat 8, instead of 4 as shown above??

Woodpeckerpecker

Sat, 10/08/2011 - 15:16

I recently built this table when I moved into my new country home. This fits our small family perfectly, and we have the option of jumping up and down on it and smashing open geodes on it without worrying about it ever breaking. This table is tough!

christinaeileena (not verified)

Wed, 09/22/2010 - 15:18

Ana, I love the bigger version. If I wanted to make it taller to be one of those "high top" tables, is it more complicated than just making the legs longer?

DanielsWifey (not verified)

Thu, 09/23/2010 - 07:14

Ana I'm looking to make a very similar design only for a toy room play table... How would you suggest modifying this table for kids to sit at and something that's a little longer vice a square?

triciarodrigue (not verified)

Sat, 09/25/2010 - 14:01

This is awesome. I have a whole construction site down the street with tons of 2 X4, 2X6, 2X2 scraps (not kidding a TON of free scraps). I was looking at what to build with them as the owner said I can help myself. Thank-you!

Katie (not verified)

Mon, 10/04/2010 - 10:00

Hi Ana, we were thinking of building the larger version of this table, but my husband wants to build it with a harder wood than Pine or Whitewood, but we are having a hard time finding hardwoods that are 2x6's. What are your thoughts about this? Should we just make it with the soft woods knowing that eventually we will have to remake it or replace it with another table?

Thanks!

Katie (not verified)

Mon, 10/04/2010 - 10:03

Also, with the modified plan, are we now using 4" screws for the joists since the joists are 2x4's instead of 2x2's? Or is there something else that should be done?

Gina (not verified)

Wed, 11/03/2010 - 17:17

Hi Ana, I just spent a couple hours building this, and wanted to share that all of the boars running parallel to the joists (and the joists themselves, actually) are a quarter inch too long. I had everything cut per the cut list, and had to spend a coupled minutes re-cutting those 6 boards.

Jennifer Perry (not verified)

Tue, 11/16/2010 - 10:43

I keep looking at all these tables hoping that I could magically figure out how to convert one into something with leaves or something expandable. I have a small house, but I host Thanksgiving. Normally there's 3 of us and we eat at the breakfast bar every night. But now there's going to be 4 of us and while I think we can scrape by this last Thanksgiving.. next year won't work.

Could you possibly suggest a conversion of a small table which seats 4 to a big table which seats 8 or more? Is this feasible?

drerup (not verified)

Sat, 11/20/2010 - 15:19

How about a pedestal farmhouse table? We have an L-shaped storage bench and the table we have now with four legs makes it uncomfortable to have a seat. I found this picture online that was pretty close to what I was thinking, but any helpful plans or ideas for any pedestal table will work.. Thank you!
http://www.gardenside.com/images/P/5343-L.jpg

Chelle (not verified)

Tue, 12/07/2010 - 04:57

This is probably going to be my next project but I am wondering if anyone has made chairs to go with it and what you chose. Thanks!

Paula (not verified)

Wed, 12/29/2010 - 15:04

Hi, I want to make this table this week but noticed Gina said in the comments that the cut list had parts that were too long - Ana, have you fixed this, or has anyone else noticed this same problem? I've never made anything before!

Rachel (not verified)

Mon, 01/03/2011 - 18:06

I'm getting ready to build this table but I wanted to go ahead and start looking for chairs. What size (height) chairs go well with this table?

GregSJ (not verified)

Sat, 01/08/2011 - 16:26

My 2x6 where actually 5 and 5/8ths rather than 5 and half . As a result the aprons joints needed to be 33 and 6/8ths inches and the apron needed to be 29 7/8ths inches.
All the other cuts were correct

Christine (not verified)

Wed, 01/12/2011 - 13:05

Ana, similar to christinaeileena's question, if I want to build the smaller (4 seater) table but tall enough for barstools, will I need to build in extra support?

Bethanie (not verified)

Thu, 04/28/2011 - 06:17

Hi Ana - I built a cabinet, and I did not know about how wood expands in the humid summer, contracts in the dry winter. I built the cabinet in the winter, and the doors would not close in the summer, and the planks buckled in the summer. I'm worried about the table losing its integrity after a few years of expansion and contraction. How does this table deal with the changes?

Guest (not verified)

Sun, 10/02/2011 - 13:14

Ana, I want to make this table, but the small is too small and the one you showed dimensions for the 8 seat table is too big. I'm wanting to build this table around 54"x54". What do you suggest I do for boards and measurements? Thank you!

Kat M (not verified)

Fri, 01/20/2012 - 09:52

I LOVE the plan for the 8 seater. It is exactly what I've been looking for...minus the $1,400 price tag. Thank you!!! My husband wants to build this table out of oak. Is there a reason that people are using pine instead? We need a sturdy table that will stand up to beating from our kiddos and we don't mind that it will be heavier with oak.

melreid@btinte…

Thu, 11/21/2019 - 13:42

Hi, I love this but can’t seem to view the reply on how to make an 8 seater. Please can you share it with me?

claydowling

Fri, 01/20/2012 - 11:13

Oak is a magnificent wood for tables. There are downsides that you need to be aware of though.

The first is that oak is expensive compared to construction grade pine. This design calls for material 1 3/4" thick, also known as 8/4 (hardwood is sold by the quarter inch, and one inch is lost to surfacing to make it smooth). You'd have to find a hardwood dealer, because that isn't sold at a home center, and you pay a premium for 8/4 material. A 2x4 at current market prices in my area would cost about $12, and a quick estimate suggests about $115 just for lumber. You'd also greatly increase labor because the surface of the wood is rough at those prices, so you'd need to joint and plane the lumber, which requires either hand planes and a good aerobic regimen, or expensive power tools.

The second is that you need to work it differently than pine. It's harder, and it's also very fond of splitting. If you try to nail or screw into it without predrilling you'll split out the wood or snap off the screw in the hole.

For durability, pine is actually pretty good. If you go to a proper lumber yard rather than a home center, you can likely ask for southern yellow pine. It's considerably harder than white pine for about the same price. It has a stronger grain pattern, but it holds up to abuse. I built my workbench out of it, and the stuff is tough. It will show scratches, gouges and saw cuts, but less than other woods. It also finishes up nicely.

Kat M (not verified)

Sat, 01/21/2012 - 08:55

Thank you so much Clay! That information helps greatly. My husband and I are beginners and from the information you've given, it just seems like it would be easier to go with pine. We are going to check out the local lumber yards for the southern yellow pine. I've never heard of it and we would have just gone to the local home center to get supplies. Thank you very very much.

Rach Pie (not verified)

Mon, 07/30/2012 - 21:15

Hi Ana, I am currently working on this table...would it just be terrible to make the legs 36" instead of 30"? i have some chairs that i want to fit under it

Emily L. Boston (not verified)

Fri, 11/09/2012 - 10:21

So, I LOVE this table, however, I am planning on making one much larger...
MUCH larger... it will be and 8ft square, for a huge family dining table.

I have taken the given plans and expanded them to my needs, the only change being that I have planned for the legs to be two 2x4's each so they are a little heavier looking. Everything else adjusted to scale.

Just looking for advice/opinions... Does anyone think I will need an extra set of legs anywhere? or a center support?

I have support joists under the table at about a foot apart.
Also, with the plans, are there any screws going in the top of the table? It kind of looks like there aren't...

THANK YOU!
-Emily

In reply to by Emily L. Boston (not verified)

claydowling

Mon, 11/19/2012 - 19:33

The joists are a good idea. A set of central support legs for those joists isn't a terrible idea.

You might want to think about logistics though. How will you get things into the center of the table? What will happen if something gets slid there unintentionally? My own arm reach is only about two and a half feet, and I'm unusually long in the arm (34/35 sleeves on my shirts).

If you can figure out how to make the 8x8 table work though, make a brag post, because this will be really cool.

Vict

Wed, 09/30/2015 - 01:34

Love the table! I can't find where you put

the supplies needed for the larger 58" table... Can you show me? Can't wait to work on this tomorrow! 

 

tbk601

Thu, 06/02/2016 - 14:27

LOVE Love Love this table and I have reclaimed wood ready to go.  I cannot however find the plans for the 58"x58" version.  Please let me know if they are still available.  Thanks so much!!!

melreid@btinte…

Thu, 11/21/2019 - 13:45

Hi, I love this but can’t seem to view the reply on how to make an 8 seater. Please can you share it with me?

MPine

Thu, 01/19/2017 - 20:00

I'm new to the DIY world - is it easy to change the dimensions? I would like to make this table 24x38x30. Thanks!