Homemade Over the Bed Tables

Over the bed tables are used to provide meals and work surfaces to an individual who is in bed. These tables can be extremely expensive to purchase which makes creating your own over the bed table a cost effective solution. With less than fifty dollars you can build an over the bed table that can slide up and down the length of the bed. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Place the piece of 3/4-inch plywood that is 16 inches by 48 inches horizontally on a flat surface. This section is used as the table top for the over the bed table. Place a 2 inch by 48 inch piece of plywood along each 48 inch edge of the 16 inch by 48 inch section so the 3/4-inch edge is running along the top edge. The 2 inch by 48 inch sections of plywood are added for additional support across the table top surface.

2

Drive one 2 1/2-inch screw every 6 inches along the length of each 2 inch by 48 inch long section to attach it to the 16 inch by 48 inch piece of plywood. Use a Phillips-head drill bit and a drill to drive screws through the wood. This will join the two 2 inch by 48 inch support sections to the bottom side of the table top.

3

Place one 16 inch by 36 inch section of wood along each 16 inch end of the table top, lining the 16-inch edges up with the bottom of the 16 inch by 48 inch wood. The table top should face downward so the 2 inch by 48 inch sections of plywood are running along the top exposed side of the wood. The 16 inch by 36 inch sections of plywood are placed at each end and attached as legs for the table.

4

Drive two 2 1/2-inch screws through the 16 inch by 36 inch section of plywood to join the 2 inch by 48 inch wood sections. Drive one screw at each corner of the 16 inch edge and drive two evenly spaced screws across the center of the 16-inch edge to join the table legs to the tabletop.

5

Repeat step four at the opposite end of the table top to permanently join the legs to the table top.

6

Place one wheel at each corner of the 16 inch by 36 inch wood section along the 16 inch edge. Attach to wood using two 1-inch screws for each wheel.

7

Flip the table over and rest it on the wheels. Slide it up the bed from the end.