Console table charging station for behind my sofa: DIY Build project!
How to build a simple console table for behind your sofa, with plugin added for easy phone charging! I am probably a lot like most people right now where I admittedly spend a certain amount of time on my phone, on the couch, after work, every day. So I’m currently limping along a 3 year old Motorola whose battery life leaves a lot to be desired. So, inevitably, I have to run upstairs, get my phone charger and plug it in wherever I’m sitting which usually means having to move the sofa or an end table out so I can reach an outlet. I’ve been thinking a console table would be the ticket to make for easier charging but also to create a little area for display as well so I got to work!
I have a VERY odd living room that has four different entrances (one 72″ outside door) and a big “inside” stained glass window on the back wall that actually looks into one of my extra bedrooms. It has not been an easy room to arrange or to decorate.
That big window means that the little console table would be in front of it if I made it the width of the sofa. I batted this idea around for nearly a year trying to decide whether or not to go the entire width of the sofa or to stop the table at the window.
I ended up going the entire width of the sofa. With that decision made I had one great thing going for me when it came to this little table, it wasn’t going to be seen in any way so I could keep it very basic construction.
The width of my sofa is 72 inches so I made the table 70 inches wide and 27 inches tall so it would be just a little shorter then the height of the back.
I used two rough cut 2x2s and one rough cut 4×4 for the legs and one rough cut 1×6 for the top. (I found them all out in the barn, thanks Grandpa for leaving them for me!) A few screws to put it all together and construction was done!
(I simply ran screws right down through the top into each leg, the screws sunk in well and are hardly noticeable.)
Using my jig saw and a drill I cut out a rectangle large enough to fit my power strip (check it out on Amazon here) and then I just had to secure it with two little machine screws.
6 inches certainly does not provide a very deep “shelf” however, it is a great place for small additions, books and, in a pinch, it works fine for setting a drink on too!
I stained the entire table with dark walnut stain and put two coats of poly acrylic on it just for protection.
I’m pleased with it all together and I’m glad I went ahead and splurged on that $20 power strip made specially for situations like this one. There was a part of me that really felt $20 in that case was more then I needed to spend but in the end I love that I can just use a USB cable.
I use the outlet or the USB on this little table almost every single table!
Hey guys, since this post I have changed this sofa table a little bit by adding a skirt! Check it out by cicking here!
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I’m Tarah!
It’s been a hell of a ride since I started this blog and renovated and moved into this old farm house back in 2015. I got married, divorced, lost my doggo soul mate, spent two years as a single gal, remodeled everything, threw my back out countless times and was even found by an amazing guy in my own backyard! (The story behind Storyhardt Farm.)
Around here we’re totally fearless when it comes to bettering our home. We love to refinish old furniture, re-purpose old pieces, build it from scratch and totally renovate anything that needs it! If we can do it – so can you. We’ve got some serious plans for this old farm and, for first time ever, I have a real partner!
This is gonna be so much fun!
You can also find out more about the amazing Grandma behind this blog who moved in to this old farmhouse with my Grandpa nearly 70 years ago!
Brilliant idea! especially sitting the electrics into the table top, so neat and how lovely it looks with books on behind the sofa.
Thank you Susan!
I think this is a terrific project. I actually have an old console table that has had many lives with different finishes over the years. It currently sits behind my sofa but I would never have thought of putting a charging strip in the table. I think it would be so convenient to be able to plug in my laptop there. Thanks for a great idea.
Thanks Lisa!
I love when beautiful meets practical and this project is both! It looks great the length of the couch.
Thank you Audra!
Best idea ever!!!Thank you for sharing with us this week at Celebrate Your Story and we hope you will join us again next week.
Thank you Sandra!!
Great area for display as well as charging. The flowers at the end of the sofa look like they have own table in front of the window.
Joy
Thanks Joy! ๐
What a great idea! And I’m a huge fan of USB outlets and power strips. They’re a total game changer! Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
Thanks for coming by Leslie!
Great idea and looks wonderful too!
Thank you!
Thank you!
Perfect!! I love this idea. I can always use a small table behind the couch. It is probably hard to find something that thin in the stores and who wants to pay a lot for something that is half hidden. love it! Thanks for the idea. pinned:)
Thank you Kathleen! I twas definitely one of the most useful things I EVER made for us!
What a cool idea! I’ve never seen a DIY like this one, but boy oh boy, it’s just perfect for the modern home. I like how it tucks away neatly and fits seamlessly into the table. Brilliant!
Thank you!
I love this piece. Great idea and love you shared at Dishing it and Digging it Link party.
Thank you so much Vaness!
Beautiful sofa table and love the charging station. Awesome idea!
Thank you Chrstine!
What a great idea. Thanks for sharing this at the Inspiration Spotlight party Sharing
Have a great weekend Theresa, thanks for coming by!
Amazing idea. You did a wonderful job. Thanks for sharing this post.
Thank you!
This is brilliant! We are always stringing a cord across the living room because someone’s device is low on power but the couch is the most comfortable place to be working (or playing). Plus your table looks beautiful!
Thank you Rebecca! Yup this has become the charging station hub now lol from the laptop to our blue tooth speaker I can’t believe how convenient this little table turned out to be!
Okay, Tarah, a lot of your projects are amazing, but this one is just brilliant! SO smart!! And you’re very clever to point out that, since the table is mostly hidden, it doesn’t have to be a fancy build. I’ve pinned this! Thanks for linking it to the Grace at Home party at Imparting Grace–I’m featuring you this week!
Thank you so much Richella! I am so often surprised by how some of my smaller simpler projects improve our lives so much! This little table has become the charging hub in our home now from our laptop to our bluetooth speaker!
Please explain how you did the legs. I see the pic, but no explanation.
Hi there, I just screwed them on the bottom of the board, one in the middle and one near each end, one screw each. Not real pretty but it worked for our situation because you really can’t see much of it. Thanks for coming by!
Could you explain a little more about the legs. (I know nothing about woodworking) How did you screw them in without them showing on the table top?
Hi Melissa, I used black screws so, with the dark stain, you can’t see them as I put them in down past the top of the table. Just one screw per leg down through the top of the table into the top of the legs ๐
BRILLIANT!!!!!
Thank you Laura!
We just installed bamboo flooring in our living room and when our 12 year old Grandson would sit/flop on the couch it would slide back against the windows. Also getting to the wall outlet was a pain. When I saw this I knew it was the solution. We added 2×6 feet to both ends to fit between the wall and the couch legs. No more sliding. So glad I found this, Thank You.
Thank you Trish, we can’t believe how much ours gets used!
Looks Great! Ive been wanting to do this for a while but I am having issues finding the right power strip where did you get this one?
Hi Michelle, the link for the power strip is in the post, its from Amazon and it took me FOREVER to find it!
What a great idea! I need one for the living room and one for the family room. This table will solve so many problems. Now on to Amazon for the power strip. LOL
Hi Jean, I still can’t believe how often I use this little table, I honestly feel like everyone deserves and needs one in their lives lol!
Hello, I LOVE, LOVE the sofa table you made and I am going to do this for my LR sofa!! Also I am going to save a box from Costco and cover it with some pretty material (although not needed, because I am going to keep it under the table to keep some hidden treasures–like extra $ for those times I can’t get to the bank and need some $!! LOL)
Thanks Mary, this table turned into one of my very favorite easy little projects! I charge my phone here, my camera here and my laptop here all the time, its so convenient!
I’m making this this coming weekend. I love the added storage and display space as well as the convenient charging port. The BIG big for me is it will solve a problem. The heat vent is on the floor behind my sofa, and with kids, me, everyone and anything the sofa is constantly pushed back over the vent. I end up pulling it back at least 3x or more a day. Problem solved! With great design and storage bonuses. Thank you!!!
Barbara, that’s just awesome! What a great solution for you. I just love how well it works for me, honestly I use it every day and I love having a place for photos and things too!
Just what I needed to see! Sometimes you donโt need the blogger who has every tool in the shed and makes store quality items. Sometimes you just need a nice looking solution to a problem.
Thanks Celeste!