Makeshift Massage Tables: Don’t Try This At Home!

At-home massages have taken place for as long as history has been documented. People have always tried to save money on materials and services by doing it themselves, or cutting corners.

1. Picnic Table

MATERIALS: N/A

COST OF MATERIALS: N/A

A picnic table could be used for quick stretches and an immediate sports massage to relieve pain, but it could also give the recipient slivers and ant bites. This makeshift massage table is not recommended because a user could never be certain of the strength of a given picnic table.

2. Heavy Portable Table

MATERIALS:

• Upholstery Foam

• Tacks

• Hinges

• Ply Wood

• Wood Glue

COST OF MATERIALS: $200

TIME: 1 Year

The creator of this homemade massage table admittedly spent more than a year developing the first version of his product. He later cut the necessary time down to a year-flat, which means that you could make this monstrosity in just twelve months.

3. Soft, Importable Table

MATERIALS:

• Carpet Padding

• 2×4 Wood

• Gray Paint

COST OF MATERIALS: $50

While this mammoth homemade table looks semi-professional, it doesn’t offer any portability or comfort to the massage recipient. This table requires special equipment like neck and knee supports, as well as lumbar support.

4. Card Table

MATERIALS:

• Card Table

• Quilt Matting

• Fabric

COST OF MATERIALS: $250

$250 would buy the materials for a homemade table that is literally a folding table. It’s unfathomable that someone would pay to re-create this design, which looks as uncomfortable as lying down across a kitchen table.

5. Baby Belly Cutout Table

MATERIALS:

• Thick, Dense Foam

• Plastic-Coated Fabric

• 2×4 Wood

COST OF MATERIALS: $300

While homemade table designs for prenatal massages used to be necessary, they are no longer the norm. Tables like this one (that has no support for a future mother’s head) should scare prospective clients.

6. Lightweight Table Only for Lightweights

MATERIALS:

• Wood Slats

• 9mm Thick Plywood

• Foam Rubber

• Quilt Matting

COST OF MATERIALS: $180

Clearly a sleek design that feels IKEA-made, this table does have professional attributes. However, the exposed nails and hinges should give potential customers pause.

7. Front Room Massage

MATERIALS:

• Coffee Table

• Pillows

• Towels

COST OF MATERIALS: N/A

It’s understandable that a massage therapist might go on vacation to visit family without his or her massage table. In those cases, making an ottoman/pillow table for your kid sister makes sense. However, massaging anyone on a slippery and unsecured surface could lead to injuries and additional pain. Consider the possible outcomes before using this table idea.

8. Floor Board Glamour Table

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MATERIALS:

• Air Mattress or Roll-Out

• Pillows

• Towels

COST OF MATERIALS: $50

Thin yoga mats, blow up mattresses, and roll-out padding are all fine surfaces for stretching, but for a massage they lack the glamour that a recipient wants. Never use a massage surface that doesn’t afford the recipient adequate back and neck support; not even if you’re giving the massage for free.