DIY A New Dimension With This Coffee Table Optical Illusion

While any well-made handcrafted furniture piece can impress visitors, it's rare that a DIY leaves them wondering how on Earth you even managed to build it. If you've checked out the recent infinity table trend, you know the jaw-dropping effect this décor can have. With a clever placement of opposing mirrors, we get an illuminated highlight drawing us into an impossibly endless abyss. Consumers seeking the unconventional have unsurprisingly fallen for the idea. Dozens of products make it easy to bring this trend into your living room — check out modern designs like the FUSLITE Infinity Mirror Light Table for a solution under $100, or spend a few hundred dollars on more advanced designs. Better yet, save money and get a truly exceptional look by making this optical illusion table from scratch!

With a DIY infinity table design, you have free rein to play with intriguing layouts that work with your stylistic intentions. Depending on the design, you could even leave the table open for customization during holiday décor updates or major room changes. It might seem like pure magic, but an infinity table is fairly straightforward to make. If you start with a pre-made table, then you're only a few simple conversions away from a finished product, like in this tutorial from YouTube channel The DIY Crab. Otherwise, you can build it from the ground up, crafting a conversation piece that will keep your guests talking long after they leave.

To build a basic version of this coffee table, you'll need a frame, a mirror, a light, plexiglass, and mirrored (i.e., "solar" or "privacy") film, like Niviy One Way Window Film. Fashion the frame, which can be a standard coffee table or an easy-to-build box. Following the plan from YouTuber charlieHomeMaker, using OSB or plywood panels makes it a hassle-free effort. A smaller box sits inside a larger box in this build, creating a narrow gap to hide the lighting wires. You can also make a single-walled box with plywood panels or dimensional lumber, and this can make a great DIY wood pallet furniture idea as well. If you want something even easier, follow Instagram user Neetu Jakhar's lead, and repurpose an old barrel or other container for a cheap frame ready for customization.

However you make the frame, ensure it has a solid base to hold the mirror that will sit face-up in the cavity's bottom. To save money, repurpose an old mirror and design the coffee table around it, or cut it to size. With the lower mirror installed, assemble the lit interior. You'll then size a piece of plexiglass and apply the one-way mirrored film to make the top mirror. Clean the plexiglass and spray it with soapy water before applying the film. Then, smooth the film to squeeze out the water and let it dry. Trim the excess from the edges and insert it so the mirrored side faces into the table's cavity.

The lighting setup for your infinity coffee table anchors the display's look and mood. You should carefully plan how to install it before finalizing the design. If you do the box-in-box build, the setup has loads of versatility. Grab a light strip kit with a switch and power supply. Measure the distance to the switch and power supply to plan where you will drill and cut ports and mounts on your table. You could also install a switch and supply separately with custom lengths of wire connectors for more versatility. According to the YouTube channel Super Bright LEDs, an ideal method is to connect separate strips in one run, cut them to length and connect them with solderless jump connectors, such as these Flutesan Solderless LED Strip Connectors, that can hide in the box walls.

Despite saving you effort in the long run, wired lights aren't always best for a coffee table. Running a wire can be impractical for a table floating in the room, especially if you plan to move it around. A simpler option might be a battery-powered LED strip or bulb, like the BoBoPai USB Rechargeable Light Bulb. The bulb is remote-controlled, and with no wires, it's painless to set up. Install a stylish sconce on the table's inside wall, and screw in a charged bulb. Although it will need frequent power-ups, one charge should last a while if you use the light sparingly.

After building your frame and deciding on your lighting, you can get into the fun of building your illusion. The descending ladder into the well or mineshaft, as seen in YouTuber Wiz's Woodwork's creation, is a classic approach. Commercial versions have used the brick well, as well as a space scheme with astronauts falling into the void. In most pre-made products, you'll find a simple yet timeless LED array for a look of fading lights. The great thing about DIYing this is that you can create any scene you can imagine. Add covers like wallpaper, faux-textured wall panels, or different paints for dramatic effects. Create a resin waterfall, use a bookshelf-patterned wallpaper for a vertical library, or install floral and leafy arrangements you can change out with the seasons.

An exterior matching the interior infinity design brings this illusion together. If you go with the well or mineshaft motif, a DIY fake brick pattern or weathered wood look is an apt exterior. Faux brick or stone vinyl siding and textured peel-and-stick tiles make it easy to pull off authentic textures. Flexing your creativity to come up with a one-of-a-kind creation is another great option. Offering an inspiring example, YouTuber Scarrie Halloween shows how cut-up styrofoam can transform into a convincing stacked stone look for an infinity well. From mid-century modern fluted panels to architectural cobblestone patterns, there are countless ways to make a stylish statement with this coffee table both inside and out.

The function and simplicity you want from your design will guide how you approach certain details. For example, a wireless light bulb will need to regularly be removed and replaced for charging; your glass top should therefore be easily removable. One option is to make a small ledge around the inside wall of the table, setting it just a few millimeters lower than the top edge of the walls to allow for the thickness of the glass. With the glass resting on this ledge, the table walls will lock it in place. The stability of the top can sometimes be an afterthought as you build a coffee table, but rubber or silicone bumpers offer an easy solution. Products like these FURNIMATE Glass Table Top Anti-Slip Pads supply simple adhesion and a sturdy grip to keep your glass top from shifting.

Added considerations include portability and storage. You can attach caster wheels to move the table around your space or leave room for a shelf or drawer underneath the infinity mirror cavity. Plan for the function you need and the effect you want — then, have fun creating a mesmerizing display, revealing an impressive centerpiece with the flip of a switch.