When I glanced at our old dining table the other day, I couldn’t help but sigh. We’ve had it for years, and sure, the hidden extensions were handy, but the look? It just felt tired and out of place in our home now. On top of that, it wasn’t even fully solid wood — mostly veneer. I realized I was ready for something new.
I had my eye on the West Elm Emmerson dining table. I loved its rustic feel mixed with modern lines. But when I saw the price — $1300, not even counting tax or shipping — I knew it just wasn’t going to happen.
So, I started thinking: could we actually make one ourselves?
Building a Stylish Table Without Breaking the Bank
I’m not someone who builds furniture regularly. I have some basic DIY experience, but nothing fancy. Still, I began browsing online for ideas. After a bit of searching, I stumbled across a design on Decor and the Dog. Their table was meant for outdoor use, but I could see how it might work as an indoor piece too.
My husband and I decided to go for it. We got a new miter saw, picked up a kreg jig, and dove into the project. In the end, we managed to create a solid wood dining table that cost us only about $150.
What We Used and What We Changed
We used pine for the whole table. For the stain, I mixed Rust-Oleum Weathered Gray with Minwax Provincial, and the result was a soft, weathered look — just what I was hoping for.
But we didn’t follow the tutorial exactly. Here’s what we changed:
- The original plan called for pressure-treated wood since it was meant for outside. For indoor use, we skipped that.
- Their table was a massive 96 inches long, which would have overwhelmed our dining room. We shortened ours to 85 inches — still big enough for eight people.
- The tutorial used 6×6 posts for the legs, but we couldn’t find untreated ones nearby. So, we used three 4×4 posts per leg, and honestly, they fit our smaller table better anyway.
- We added a horizontal 2×4 beam underneath to capture the Emmerson table’s signature look.
Was It Hard?
It definitely wasn’t a quick project. The sanding alone was a workout, especially with just an old belt sander. But the tutorial was easy to follow, even for someone like me who’s still learning.
Looking back, all the work was worth it. We saved over $1150 compared to buying the store version, and now we have a beautiful rustic dining table we’re proud to gather around — especially when family comes over for the holidays.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been eyeing a West Elm-style dining table but can’t stomach the price, maybe try making one yourself. You don’t need to be a woodworking expert — just patient, willing to learn, and ready to put in some effort.
Want to see how the dining room turned out? Check out the full makeover for some DIY inspiration!
If you’re interested, I can even put together a shopping list or share the tools we used to help you get started.
