So you found a nice board from the AS-IS room with all 4 edges finished (
ie
. a cabinet door) for a price you can't pass up and want to turn it into a coffee or side table, but don't want to spend a lot of money or have to do a lot of engineering. Well, here's an easy solution for a base ... as long as medium brown suits you.
Acquire a Ramberg bedside table. Measuring roughly 18" x 14" x 16", it's big enough around to serve as a table base. More importantly, however, is that this piece is constructed with 7/8" thick sides and shelf, making it very sturdy(*) - much more so than their lower-priced coffee and side table offerings. With all 4 sides finished and a low US$19.99 price tag new, it's affordable too(**).
IKEA | home | Beds & mattresses | Beds & bedside tables | Bedside tables | RAMBERG Bedside table
Just build it up like it's supposed to be - 6 dowels + 6 screws, but omit the glass and pegs. Then use 4 small L-clips + short screws (get these from a hardware store) on the inside top edge of the Ramberg and secure the new top(***). Done.
This is pictured with a wood veneered door (15.5" x 30.5") that was purchased for a measly $0.49.
--------------------
* - To test this, I literally was jumping up and down on the shelf. Trust me, you wouldn't dare try this on a Lack table!
** - It's even more affordable if you find one in the AS-IS for under $4 because the glass was missing.
*** - Alternate methods of fastening the top, albeit less secure, would be using velcro strips or double sided foam tape.
