Shaker Style Kitchen Table Plans: Build Your Perfect Dining Table

Well, let me tell you, if you ever thought about buildin’ yourself a Shaker style kitchen table, I got a few words to share with ya. Now, you may think it’s too fancy or too hard, but trust me, it ain’t that complicated, not if you got a little bit of know-how and some good old-fashioned elbow grease.

Now, first things first, what’s this Shaker style, eh? It’s a way of makin’ furniture that’s been around for a long time, even before I was born. Them Shakers, they didn’t want nothin’ too fancy or flashy. They just wanted somethin’ that was useful, simple, and sturdy. If you look at a Shaker style table, you’ll notice it ain’t got no fancy carvings or big ol’ decoration. It’s plain, but in a good way. Ain’t no need to dress up something that’s already beautiful in its own right.

Now, if you wanna build you a Shaker style kitchen table, here’s what you need to know. First off, you’re gonna need some good wood. The Shakers liked to use solid wood for their furniture—none of them cheap plywood or pressed wood stuff. You want the kind of wood that’s gonna last, like maple or cherry. Them’s the good ones, nice and strong, and they get prettier with time. And you gotta make sure you measure things right, ’cause this table ain’t gonna make itself, no sir.

Start by thinkin’ about the size of your table. If you got a big kitchen, you might want somethin’ bigger, but if your space is smaller, maybe go for a smaller size. I always say, measure twice, cut once. Don’t be rushin’ through it or you’ll mess it up! Once you got your wood, you’ll need to cut the legs. Shaker tables often have legs that are simple and straight—ain’t no need for big ol’ fancy curves. You just cut ‘em to the right length, and make sure they’re all the same size, or your table’ll look funny, like a three-legged stool instead of a table!

Now, here’s where it gets a little tricky. You gotta put the legs on the tabletop. A Shaker style table ain’t got no fancy screws or nails showin’. Oh no, they keep it all hidden, just like how a good cook don’t let you see how the sausage gets made. What you want to do is use dowels or mortise and tenon joints. Sounds a little fancy, don’t it? But it ain’t so bad once you get the hang of it. Mortise and tenon joints fit together like puzzle pieces, nice and tight, so your table ain’t gonna fall apart after a few years of use.

Once you get the legs attached, you’re gonna wanna sand down the whole thing. Ain’t nobody wanna be sittin’ at a table with splinters pokin’ ’em. So, get yourself a good sandpaper, smooth out them rough spots, and give it a nice finish. Some folks like to stain their table to bring out the wood’s natural color, but you can leave it natural too if you want. The Shakers, they didn’t do too much to their wood, just kept it clean and simple.

Now, if you’re thinkin’ of makin’ a whole kitchen set, you can use the same method for makin’ chairs and other pieces too. Shaker style isn’t just about tables, no sir. It’s about keepin’ things simple and functional. You make a table, and it’ll last you a lifetime. You make a chair, and it’ll still be good when you’re sittin’ on the porch when you’re old and gray like me.

So, I reckon that’s about it. Buildin’ yourself a Shaker style table might seem like a big job, but if you take your time and use some common sense, you’ll be sittin’ at a table that looks good and holds up through all them family dinners. It ain’t all that fancy, but it’s good, solid work, and you’ll be proud of what you made. Now get to it, and happy buildin’!

Tags：[Shaker style kitchen table, DIY kitchen table, woodworking plans, simple kitchen furniture, Shaker furniture, kitchen table ideas]