Adding a Skirt to my Sofa Table Charging Station

Teaming up with Chas in our DIY blog hop this month with projects for our living rooms! (Make sure and check out all of the living room projects following this post and feel free to join in!) The sofa table/charging station I built years ago remains one of my most used pieces of furniture. Seriously, I charge my laptop, my blue tooth ear bud and my phone here practically daily. It is the handiest, easiest, most life changing build I’ve ever made! However, with my new sofa the way I built my little table was no longer going to work exactly. It would no longer be sandwiched so now it had to not only stand on its own but also not look quite so dang ugly because EVERYONE is going to see it!

I moved the table from the back wall (where it used to be behind my old sofa) to beside my new one, creating the hall that leads back to my workshop, extra bedroom, doggo spot and main floor bathroom.

But it needed some work before it was ever going to be right in this situation.

First, I had to add some support to its legs because though it WOULD balance and stand on its own it would never last if someone bumped it. (And considering this is the highway to my main floor bathroom that just wasn’t going to work.)

I went through a lot of thinking and ideas on how to make a nicer base but the simplest idea turned out to be the best.

I checked my workshop and happened to have a piece of barn wood lying around that ended up being the perfect length. I basically just made a TV tray lol by adding the piece of wood to the side of the center leg of my sofa table and then pushing it completely under the couch.

No more stability issues! Meaning: I am no longer diving to catch my lamp every time I bump into this table which is practically daily at this point because I am, admittedly, a bit clumsy.

I still had the glaring problem of major ugly though. I did NOT build this table to be seen.

I headed to Amazon and picked out a neutral tablecloth that had a fringe along the edge.

(I am aware how weird it sounds that I purchased a tablecloth instead of just buying fabric – I looked at shower curtains on Amazon as well. The choices are unlimited, they have finished edges and inexpensive price tags and they also have the added benefit of being stain resistant and durable! The perfect solution for someone who does not sew!)

I cut the tablecloth completely in half the long way and then found the exact center of my table.

One staple on either end then one in the middle and then one in the middle of each middle etc. until I had all the pleats I wanted. Such a simple solution! Its the same way I made my guest bedroom bed skirt and several of my closet doors.

I knew it would be pretty glaring as the first thing you see when you walk into the living room so I went neutral with the fabric. I like the choice I made and think the little tassels are kind of cute.

The fabric itself has the feel of drop cloth so even though I washed it and steamed it I could NOT get all the wrinkles out of it and I don’t own an iron so… Fortunately I like that it has a bit of a “rumpled” look.

I think I achieved what I was trying to do here: I covered up the ugly! I also think it sets the tone of a comfy and practical space but also is still kind of pretty!

Updated Side Table from Chas at Chas’ Crazy Creations!

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THIS WEEK’S DIY BLOG HOP: LIVING ROOM PROJECTS!

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