DIY Parquet Kitchen Table on a Budget

Who doesn’t need a kitchen table? Exactly — no one! It’s the central hub of our home, the place for conversations, coffee, homework, spontaneous ideas, and of course, good food. This special spot deserves something personal. So just build the kitchen table yourself — affordable, with heart, and exactly to your taste. A bit of kitchen table romance, a bit of DIY — and in the end, a true one-of-a-kind.

First things first: the dimensions. In my case — due to limited space — the table is 85 cm wide, 145 cm long, and 75 cm high. Important for choosing chairs: Make sure the chairs have no armrests, otherwise it will get cramped. Yes, such chairs have become rare, but they still exist.

As a base, I chose an HDF board — sturdier than MDF and smoother than OSB. You can have the board cut to size directly at the hardware store. Tip: Leave about 1 cm extra on all sides so you can cut precisely later. For the visible surface, I decided on parquet. Sounds unusual — but what withstands more than a floor that’s walked on daily? Plus, real wood just looks elegant and is surprisingly affordable as parquet flooring. Whether you choose herringbone, country plank, light or dark — it’s up to you. Just make sure it’s real wood and that the parquet is suitable for your desired installation type (check the packaging).

For gluing, I used parquet glue — which is more flexible than regular wood glue and better suited for temperature changes. Tip: First lay out the parquet pattern on the HDF board so it slightly overhangs all sides. Then apply glue with a spatula and stick the planks down. Let it dry well (according to the package instructions). Afterwards, cut to the final size. Ideal for this: circular saw or plunge saw with guide rail. When sawing, place the nice side up so any splinters appear only on the underside.

To prevent the sides from looking ugly and open (otherwise you can see the cut edge of the parquet and the HDF board), I used solid oak baseboards — the most expensive material on my table, but worth it! I cut them at a mitre (Japanese hand saw!) and fixed them with glue + two small nails per side. Unfortunately, I didn’t have long clamps — but you barely see the nails, so I left them in. As a little finish, I decided to seal the joints between the parquet pieces with antique wax. This not only creates a harmonious overall look but also protects against dirt and moisture penetration.

Here you have free choice. I chose hairpin legs — simple, modern, sturdy, and inexpensive, for example, found on eBay.

This is how my dining table came about for about €200 — individual, solid, durable, and a real eye-catcher. Have fun building it yourself!