After finishing the two end sections of our three-piece DIY console table, I moved on to the middle unit. That center piece is going to sit hidden between the other two units and be sandwiched between the back of the sectional and the wall. Because of that, I could have simply built a basic platform to support the long tabletop that will span all three sections. Instead, we decided to make the middle unit functional with hidden storage. The idea is simple: a 41″ long box with an opening in the top and a shelf that serves as the bottom of the storage area. Rather than building full wooden sides for the box, we saved weight and money by planning to staple fabric around the interior frame to form the hidden storage bin. That way it’s a sturdy wooden frame with a solid bottom and fabric sides that keep things out of sight.
For materials I used a number of 1 x 4 boards and one 1 x 12 board, with most pieces rough-cut at Home Depot and final cuts made at home with my miter saw. I began by cutting four 24″ tall legs. A quick reminder from experience: cutting a 48″ board in half doesn’t always yield two perfectly identical 24″ pieces because of the blade width. One board ended up closer to 23 7/8″, but I worked around that by aligning the top rail with the true 24″ leg so the finished frame would be level.
Next I attached a long top rail to connect two legs and used the same Kreg jig joinery I’d used on the end pieces of the console. That top rail set the height for the entire unit. I then connected the two leg assemblies with shorter boards that form the supports for the bottom shelf.
To create the lower shelf and save on materials, I laid two 1 x 4s flat across the supports and then centered the 1 x 12 on top of them to create a solid shelf surface. The 1 x 12 filled the remaining width and gave a sturdy base for storing items inside the hidden bin.
For the top I used leftover 1 x 12 boards from the end pieces. I mounted two top boards on either side of the frame, intentionally leaving a center opening in the tabletop where the storage access will be. The opening gives a clean slot in the center while the surrounding reclaimed pallet countertop will sit across all three units to visually tie everything together.
The center unit isn’t the prettiest by itself, but once we staple fabric around the sides to enclose the storage and drop in a few baskets for organization, it will be both functional and unobtrusive. Ultimately the long reclaimed pallet countertop that spans all three consoles will mask imperfections and provide a cohesive rustic look. That countertop will include a removable center section so the top-entry storage remains accessible.
We’ll document the rustic countertop build and how we make the top removable when we tackle it, with lots of photos and a detailed plan once we decide on the exact approach. For now, we moved the unfinished pieces into the room even though they still need staining and the final countertop. The change was surprisingly impactful: the relationship between the sectional and the media cabinet felt cozier, and bringing the seating 17″ closer to the TV improved viewing comfort for reading subtitles and weather info.
We also expect the look to improve when we replace the awkward floor lamp at the sofa end with two chunky table lamps flanking the long console. Those lamps will add height and balance around our large frame grid on the wall, tying the console, wall, and sofa together. My partner is already on the hunt for lamps, so that transformation should happen soon.
One complication: the floor in that room is slightly uneven. We noticed this during our first walk-through of the house, and the inspector confirmed it’s just settling and not a structural concern. Because the console system will span almost 12 feet, a little unevenness was to be expected. Most of the alignment was fine, but one spot needed adjustment where the pieces didn’t line up perfectly.
To level everything I installed adjustable glides on several corners. These function like appliance feet that can be spun to fine-tune height. Installation was straightforward: drill a hole in the bottom to fit the plastic guide, then screw the threaded foot into place. I started with a small pilot hole and worked up to the larger diameter so the wood wouldn’t split. I also widened the opening slightly at the top so the guide’s lip could sit flush.
After fitting these adjustable feet on the corners that needed lifting and adding felt pads where only minor adjustments were required, the entire three-piece unit finally became level. It felt like a big win to get everything sitting perfectly flat across the room’s imperfect floor.
One happy accident: the center piece leaves access to the wall outlet behind the unit, which will be handy when we add table lamps to the console. Because the baseboard prevents the console from sitting perfectly flush with the wall, there’s a small gap—enough for cord access but small enough that we plan to staple fabric around the interior so remotes and small toys don’t fall down the crack.
We still need to stain the units, build and install the reclaimed pallet countertop, and attach the fabric sides, but for now I’m enjoying the satisfaction of a level, functional center piece that adds hidden storage and helps bring the room together.