{$100} DIY Wood Plank Table

The warmer temperatures are definately affecting me.  First it was the landscaping.  And now I have found myself all gung-ho trying to get our deck summer ready.

I haven't had much luck by way of outdoor furniture sets.  Don't get me wrong, the prefab sets are great, but I have yet to come across one that I really care for or that will fit my entire family.

I finally had enough of searching and decided to try my hand at making my own.  Sca.ry.!!!

I knew I wanted the table to be wood.  And with my limited {nonexistant really} carpenty skills it had to be something simple.  I settled on a basic plank top table.  Picture...picnic table but with more style.

I started out with two, wooden sawhorses.

These are readily available at most home improvement stores.

I cut down a 1x8x8 in to two, 48 inch pieces...or two, 1x8x4's.

I used these two pieces to extend the width of the sawhorse tops so that my table could be wider.

After I attached the boards to the sawhorse tops, I started attaching the planks for the table top. 

I started with the middle one first, then worked outwards. 

{It might be worth noting that I dry fit all of my planks together before screwing them down.  Most boards, let me rephrase, no boards aren't perfectly straight.  So, it takes a little finagling to get them all to fit just right...sort of like one ginormous puzzle.  It is also important to point out that even though the store says the boards are eight inches wide, they are really more like seven- something to think about when you are deciding what size width you want your table and also when cutting down your boards for the sawhorse tops...take it from me I learned the hard way.}

I ended up using eight planks of wood total...one that I cut in two, and the other seven for the table top.

I spent just under $40 for the two sawhorses {$18.50 each} and about $55 for eight wood planks {$6.69 each.}

For a much needed pop of color I bought this awesome outdoor rug. 

I love it!  I love the colors, I love the pattern and I love that it is made out of recycled water bottles...just doin' my part to save the earth...stylishly, of course.

I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to finally have an outside gathering spot for the family.  Last night, after I finished screwing on the last board, all the kiddies came outside to sit down and test the table out.  We ended up eating our dinner around the table and chatted and laughed til it started getting dark.  I am hopeful this table new spot will provide the setting for many more lighthearted family dinners and late night family conversations. 

Awesome, wood plank dining table...$95.

Making memories with the fam around said dinner table...priceless.