The Best DIY Plans Store offers this innovative DIY plan from their husband-and-wife team of renovators to create a rustic wooden coffee table featuring an inbuilt cooler table with plastic weather-resistant TerrabBox planters.
Cut four 15-3/4-inch long storage bay lid boards. Glue and nail them together with their tenons facing inward, and chamfering one edge of each board.
Frame
Frame of a cooler table serves two purposes - supporting and decorating its contents - in one DIY project: supporting and beautifying its rustic style. A weekend project, this DIY activity makes a great way to liven up patio or backyard seating areas, providing guests with beverages or keeping food and tools organized.
An easy and budget-friendly way to create a rustic cooler table is to turn an old picnic table upside down and enclose it in wood - this rustic piece can look great on any backyard deck or patio, plus most materials can be found at local hardware stores or home improvement centers.
This design requires a large plastic ice chest, wooden boards, metal screws, wood glue and a Kreg jig. First cut out outside table base planks according to size; place them on top of the table and attach them inside of base assemblies with 2" pocket hole screws. Next, cut three 13-1/2" by 1" lid support cleats from metal that should sit directly over side ridges that meet with body of cooler.
As soon as your cleats are in place, you can begin adding other frame pieces. When screwing the slats in place use a level to ensure they're level before screwing them in place. Once all four sides have been completed dry fit your cooler in its frame to make sure everything fits as intended.
Another creative idea for creating a cooler table is to adapt an existing outdoor dining or coffee table and incorporate its existing cooler. A great example is The Creative Pallet's free plan reusing an old picnic table, rain gutter and materials from other projects to craft this special outdoor table.
If you have an older outdoor table, you can transform its middle board with gutter pieces to make this DIY built-in cooler. Our free plans provide plenty of photos as well as all of the cutting and tool details required for this fun summer project.
Lid
Assembling and un-assembling coolers can be an exhausting and time-consuming endeavor for those with mobility issues. Luckily, this table with built-in cooler is the ideal solution to this problem! This project can easily be accomplished and makes a wonderful addition to your patio! This DIY project is easy and enjoyable.
As part of this project, you must construct a rustic frame to hold your cooler. To do so, measure the diameter of your bucket. Add five inches (the distance between legs plus two inches). Trace a circle using this figure onto plywood board - this will serve as your guide when cutting out frame and lid components.
Once your plywood circle has been cut out, attach six slats using wood glue and pre-drilled holes, before screwing them to its legs for a stable base for your cooler.
Now it is time to build the lid for your cooler table. First, ensure it fits the size of your cooler; using a box as a template should do the trick nicely. Next up will be creating the frame; two 25-1/4" by 2" front/back pieces as well as two side pieces 13-1/2" by 2". When complete you must glue three lid support cleats along its outer edge using wood glue - these steps should get your lid constructed!
Once your lid frame is complete, assembling it requires some assembly steps. Begin by attaching a piano hinge to the underside of your lid and then connect the other half to a 2-1/2-inch wide cedar strip with screws attached at either end; secure this to the backside before adding your center cleats using wood glue and super glue.
To complete your lid, mortise both ends and midpoints of each long frame piece before cutting a 1'' PVC male threaded adapter and 1/2'' PVC nut to fit inside mortises in each long frame piece. After gluing these parts to your lid, trim and install cedar panels using sealant into their respective rabbets.
Shelves
As soon as you're ready to add shelves to your DIY cooler table, begin by cutting four 15-3/4'' long storage bay lid boards with 15-3/4" lengths and use a trim router to chamfer their edges before installing them with glue and 1-1/4" screws. Next, cut five 13 1/2" lid battens that will sit atop corners in each bay using glue and brad nails attached tabs on them for easier placement.
Lowe's offers a free plan for building a DIY cooler table using a round trash can as the ice bucket. The plan is easy to follow and uses pressure-treated lumber as well as common kiln-dried wood for its frame and shelf boxes. There's even a video showing you how it's done - though its pace may make it hard for some viewers.
Another unique DIY cooler table design uses a piece of rain gutter as its cooler base. While this design may appear difficult, the plan for its construction is clear and well-written with clear directions for its assembly. Unfortunately, no video tutorial exists online to explain the process better - however YouTube provides one such tutorial which makes understanding its process simpler.
DIY cooler tables made out of pallets are another affordable and simple project to tackle at home, easily available at home centers. This rustic design can be stained or painted for outdoor decor compatibility; although assembling may take more time and effort.
Once your main table frame and ice box have been assembled, the next step should be adding shelves. Use 1x6s and 1x2s to construct shelves which provide a stable surface for barware and garnishes - be sure to leave about half an inch between each shelf and its lid so it opens/closes smoothly!
Interested in creating a larger table with storage for beverages and food? Consider this DIY cooler table project as it provides plenty of room to store all of your beverages and snacks while the insulated lid keeps everything secure from spilling out. Furthermore, its large window lets you enjoy outdoor living without returning inside for refreshment every time you need something from inside!
Hardware
If you have some extra time on your hands, why not create this cool DIY cooler table to bring more excitement and joy into your outdoor space? This project is easy and only requires minimal tools - plus materials you already have at home are perfect. Just remember to use durable components such as 1x4 slats and trims so your final product stands the test of time!
Once your plan is in place, start by cutting your slats to length using a circular saw and ensure that they are evenly-spaced and tightly secured. Waterproof glue should also be used to keep them secure; this will extend their lifespan and help prevent water leakage issues from developing.
Next, attach the slats to the frame. Once installed, ensure that they are flush with both top and bottom edges of the frame, and sand and smooth the edges so they are free from scratches or dents. Finally, finish them off by finishing them with waterproof stain or paint for an attractive and long-term appearance.
If you want to enhance the functionality of your cooler table, adding a storage bay in the middle may help make it more useful. It will allow you to keep snacks and supplies easily accessible when not using the table; additionally, this space could even double up as a planter to add some greenery into your yard!
Building your own DIY cooler table from gutter can be a fun weekend project and makes an eye-catching statement about who loves entertaining guests. Perfect for backyard barbecues and pool parties alike, its removable ice bucket makes clean-up much simpler - another unique DIY cooler table idea worth trying!