Woman who wanted £2,000 dining table creates her own for free and it's stunning

28 January 2020 at 0:00 pm

Calsey Banks, 29, fell in love with a £2,000 table and bench
Instead of splashing out, Calsey and her partner created their own DIY version
Calsey shares tips to get the look

If you’ve ever spotted an expensive piece of furniture on a designer website and wished you could recreate the look for less, take a leaf out of Calsey Banks’ book.

The 29-year-old PA from Birmingham was lusting after a table and bench that cost £2,000, but rather than splashing out, Calsey decided to create her own with her partner Micky.

Calsey, who shares her interior style on Instagram at @at.home.with.missb, told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk: “We came up with the idea because the tables we wanted to buy were just way out of our budget.

“We thought by making our own it would cost us just a fraction of the price, and we would have something nobody else would have.

"What we used to make the table and bench was timber wood, wooden dowels, PVA glue and the table legs - it's as simple as that really. We looked on YouTube for tips and also asked family members for advice.”

Calsey began to work out exactly what she would need to do to make her very own table.

“Firstly, we decided on how big we wanted the table, then cut down each timber to size,” she explains.

“We then stuck each timber wood together using wooden dowels and PVA glue just to make it that extra secure.

"We waited for the glue to dry for a few hours and then once that was done added the legs. We then used a planer tool to level all the table so it was flush and to give it that rustic look.

"We then sanded down the timber to make sure it was all smooth. Once we were happy with the final look we added some clear varnish to give it that shine effect and protect the table from wear and tear.

"It was so simple, anyone can do it! We repeated this process on the bench also.”

Calsey was lucky enough to be gifted the table legs from The Hairpin Leg co, and had the wood lying around from a previous garden project, but says if you wanted to make the table and bench yourself, it would cost less than £200.

"My tips would be to use the right tools, take your time and don't worry about it not being perfect, because making your own dining table is all about making it unique to you so nobody else has that design - don't be scared to be creative,” Calsey adds.

"It cost us nothing to make because we had the wood lying around from our garden project and we were gifted the legs, however if somebody had to go out and buy the stuff it would cost them around £200 in materials.

"We are so happy with the finished product - it's just perfect for us and our home. We are so proud to be able to say we built our own dining table. We get so many compliments about it and have even inspired others to make their own!”

Tom Church, co-founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, comments: “We’ve all found ourselves on an expensive furniture website wishing we could afford a £2,000 sofa or a £500 armchair.

"Calsey is living proof that you can replicate popular styles in your own home for a fraction of the price. If you’re new to DIY, stick to easier projects at the beginning, watch YouTube tutorials for guidance, and search Pinterest for inspiration.”