Modular Coffee Table
You'd like your coffee table to hold something besides a couple of remotes and a pair of tired feet. This sectional -- made from four closet-storage cubes -- offers more than six square feet of surface area, and more than four cubic feet of storage underneath. Plus, you can pull the pieces apart for added utility (e.g., multiple side tables for a party).

Buy four storage cubes.

Paint as desired.

Push together.

Table How-To
Paint four fiberboard or wooden cubes with high-gloss white paint (high-gloss is ideal for high-traffic furniture because it wipes clean with a damp cloth). Thoroughly coat all five exterior sides and the edges of the open side; let dry overnight. Next, select paint colors for the cubes interiors; we chose rich shades of green and yellow, but nearly any combination of complementary colors will work. Tape the edges and paint all interior walls; let dry overnight. Slide cubes together so one opening appears on each side of the finished table. Fill interiors with books, blankets, etc.

Matrials: Modular fiberboard storage cubes,$25 each, stacksandstacks.com. Paint in White Dove (#OC-17), Adam Green (#2037-40), and Citron (#2024-30), all $50 per gallon, benjaminmoore.com for stores. Madeline Weinrib Atelier "Nepal Toile" rug, $3,999, ABC Carpet & Home, 212-473-3000.