Turn the Tables!

Old outdated tables are a fixture in most junk stores, antique shops, garages, and yard sales. Robb Whittlef, a frequent guest on Home and Garden Television's "Trash to Treasure" series, shows how to salvage, restore, and update these tables and other discarded items into new functional tables. The series is filmed at Art & Architecture, Inc., a salvage and antique store in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Whittlef suggests that old tables that have damaged legs still have a second chance for a new beginning: simply cut the legs to the desired height. To ensure that the legs are cut evenly, place a board across the legs. Or, simply attach another set of legs to the table, sand, and paint for a whole new look. Polyurethane may be applied to provide protection for the table.

Often, a simple coat of paint can give new life to discarded items. Whittlef suggests painting an old table a light color and pencil a design similar to a compass on the top. Fill in the design with various colors of paint, and paint the legs and edges to accent the details of the table. For an antique look, sand the paint as well.

A salvaged typing table can serve as a bedside table when given a new coat of paint. This type of table is particularly functional since the folding sides can be raised to provide extra space. A plain nightstand or multi-drawer side table can be restored with a couple of shades of bright paint and a varied assortment of drawer knobs. Paint each drawer a different color and add a different style of knob to each one.

Sometimes revamping the piece slightly is all it takes to update a table. Revitalize a table with a missing drawer by removing the apron and reattaching the base. If you have a table that is missing a top and some drawers, look for replacements at a salvage yard. Paint the newly constructed table to unify the combined pieces.

With a little imagination, you can reuse a discarded desk lacking a back piece. Simply screw a shelf into the backside to replace the missing portion and attach a bedboard to create a hutch-like addition. Support the corners with decorative trim and paint as desired.

When a neglected table comes your way, revive it into a functional piece in only a few steps. Apply a coat of latex paint. When dry, lightly sand, cover with a coat of wood stain, and wipe the stain off. This will give the table a distressed appearance. To form a new tabletop, place a piece of wood covered with fabric or pictures on top and add a glass sheet.

A piece of glass can easily transform many objects into a fantastic table. For example, set a large, round piece of glass over an antique column top to create a conversation piece. To make a large coffee table, shorten the height of a collapsible bed frame, secure the corners for stability, and place a glass piece on top.

Place a piece of glass on top of an antique farmhouse box with its legs removed to transform it into a table.

Old workbenches are becoming quite popular since they are highly functional. A workbench can become a sideboard or breakfast table in a rustic-style kitchen, or place a glass top on a sanded workbench to instantly create a desk.

Use an older shutter to create an attractive table by attaching the shutter to a set of drawers. Add three graceful-looking legs, and finish by placing a piece of glass on top. This table is best positioned in an entryway or behind a sofa.

Some antique sewing machines may no longer function, but they often have beautiful iron bases that can be creatively and easily turned into a side table. Simply remove the machine and cabinet from the base and place a wood, glass, or mosaic tabletop on the base for a unique and functional side table. Similarly, an antique washtub obtained from a salvage yard can be transformed into a table when simply topped with a glass sheet. Depending on the shape of the glass, this table can easily be assimilated into several rooms of the house. A round piece creates an elegant entry table; a square or rectangular piece serves as a coffee table or side table.

A glass tabletop may be placed between a pair of old large metal canisters to make an eye-catching sitting table. A second bonus: store items out of sight in the canisters. A retired wooden wagon can be reused as an interesting coffee table by removing its side slats and setting a glass plate on top. Accent pieces can go under or above the glass. A baby travel crib can have a similar use; simply place a glass sheet on top of the crib to create a unique dining table. If desired, place decorations inside that are appropriate for each season.

By using an antique suitcase for a base, you can turn old luggage from thrift stores or yard sales into occasional tables. Add travel stickers lightly sanded with sandpaper to the suitcase for an aged appearance. Place a smaller suitcase on the base and top with a piece of glass. Attach adhesive felt pads to the bottom of the glass to secure it to the suitcase.

When an antique cast-iron bench with a damaged seat has been retired from the garden, you can reuse it to create an elegant coffee table. Replace the seat portion with a glass plate cut to size—this creative reuse displays the bench's attractive legs. Another option is to place a discarded shutter on top of a wood and cast-iron garden bench to create a new table. Cover the shutter with a glass sheet for a finished tabletop.

Whittlef also describes how to reuse many household items as tables. Take a discarded wooden toolbox, strip it, wax it, and place it in the living room for a unique side table or plant stand. Use an old ironing board cabinet to create a coffee table by rotating the cabinet on its back and attaching wheels and a handle. You can also use the unit for storage. Apply a crackle finish and paint the trim a contrasting color. To create a country-styled entryway table, simply line up rural mailboxes along a wall. The mailboxes can also serve to organize mail or to display collectibles.

Often, combining several unrelated items results in a unique and eye-appealing table. Attaching salvaged table legs to the back of a large oval mirror creates an attractive side table; simply paint the piece a uniform color to finish. You can also create an unusual side table from an old beehive box. Reuse the bottom tin piece as the tabletop and attach the bottom box to the tin top with four porch spindles. Paint as desired to unify the piece.

Attaching an old tomato cage to a floor grate forms a large outdoor table. For a tabletop, use a jigsaw to cut out a portion from a piece of wood that is large enough to accommodate the grate. Use screws to attach the grate to the top and screw the tabletop to the tomato cage. Finish with a coat of paint to complete the piece.

An old wooden crate uncovered at a yard sale becomes a functional table with the addition of wooden legs to the inside corners of the crate. Paint the table with a vibrant shade and use stencils, if desired. You can achieve a distressed appearance by lightly sanding the table with fine grade sandpaper.

To construct identical end tables from an old pillar, cut the pillar in half and adorn it with stock molding on top. Use discarded oak flooring to inset the top portion, varnish, and trim the edge to complete the look.

Transform two old solid-wood doors into a table by using one door for the tabletop and one for the legs. To construct the legs, saw the door in half and secure each side of the legs with metal brackets. This type of table serves well in the family room.

Want to create a conversation piece with your coffee table? Attach an old chalkboard map to a less-than-desirable tabletop with decoupage glue. Transform an old chalkboard into a child's table by outfitting with table legs and wainscoting for an apron. Place trim around the top edges and paint a vibrant color.

Screwing a large old cutting board to the top of a tray stand creates an instant coffee table; finish by painting a desired color. Or, take legs salvaged from another piece of furniture and attach to an antique tool chest to create an eclectic coffee table. The fronts of old radiators and discarded oak flooring can be coupled to create a substantial Mission-style coffee table.

You can even transform musical instruments into furniture! Obtain four table legs, which can often be found inexpensively at antique shops, and an old drum. Attach a piece of plywood cut to fit the drum's rim, and then attach the legs to the plywood and place under the drum.

Artist Skot Davaly suggests placing a piece of scrap wood on top of a discarded mannequin to instantly create an eclectic table that is perfect for the bathroom. Take an old sewing cabinet missing its front section, attach an attractive piece of a headboard to the cabinet where the section is missing, and paint the piece white for a becoming side table. The new table may be umbered and rubbed with sandpaper for an aged appearance.

Don't overlook the garden when considering items to creatively reuse for tables! You can reuse pieces of discarded picket fencing as decorative accessories for an unsightly table. Using the top portions of each picket, cut the pickets so they will be long enough to be seen when attached to the underside of the table. Add a coat of white paint to the pickets, and attach them upside down to the underside of the table, allowing the decorative edges to show. Painting the table red, or another vibrant color, sharply contrasts the picket accents.

The tops of fence posts, a bathroom door, and an old hanging cabinet left over from a kitchen remodel can also be combined to create a new table. Screw the fence post tops to the cabinet to form the legs and attach the door to the top. Use wood filler to fill the holes and paint the piece as desired.

Discarded flooring or old barn boards are perfect for constructing an outdoor table. A worn bench once useful in the garden can be reused as a tin-topped side table when an old cupboard shelf is attached to top and three tin pieces nailed to the shelf. Below the shelf, attach small finials and paint the piece as desired to unify it. You may sand the table to give it an antique appearance.

Use a leftover slab of marble to create a charming outdoor table-simply place it on two concrete blocks or upturned flowerpots. You can place a marble slab on the damaged top of a coffee table or end table for an instant update.

Or combine three unrelated items to construct an eye-catching side table. For the top of the table, use the lid of a wicker basket; for the leg and base, use decorative columns. Simply nail the pieces together to attach them and complete the table with a coat of whitewash and umber paint.

Construct a massive sideboard using excess items from around the house. Use doors from the lower portion of old kitchen cabinets, tin drawer knobs, barn board, a color-washed tabletop, an unframed mirror, a piano's support columns, a cabinet's top columns, or crown molding.

An old record cabinet can be transformed into a table by removing the slats and placing in the cabinet a shelf that has screws drilled in from the sides. Cut a door of appropriate proportion and attach to the cabinet with hinges. Attach decorative molding to the edges and casters on the legs. Paint the piece a solid color, add a raw umber and varnish. Finish by sanding the edges for an antique look.

You can revitalize an existing tabletop that leaves a lot to be desired by simply covering it with another object. For example, the base of an old drafting table may be topped with a game board for an interesting accent table. Another option is to cover a tabletop with a piece of embossed wallpaper cut to fit the table's surface area. Paste the paper to the top and paint the paper with a metallic glaze to give the appearance of a tin top.

To create a new bedside table, replace a worn tabletop with metal flashing, attach the flashing with nails, add an edging, and finish with a coat of paint. Give an old veneer table a second chance by replacing the old tabletop with a pine top; paint the new table a solid color to unify the piece.

Turn a salvaged banister into a table by cutting the banister into three pieces, one large piece and two half its size. On the large piece, form a notch on either side of its center. After nailing the shorter pieces into the notched areas, add a round glass plate to the top, and finish by attaching medallions to the rail ends.

Jim Hanson and Steve Douthit of American Island Antiques and Folk Art offer suggestions on how to turn various items found at flea markets into unique tables. Often, you can create a new table with no effort at all. For example, turn an old trunk into an instant coffee table. The additional storage space the trunk offers makes this creative reuse doubly appealing. Trunks in many sizes and styles are usually available in thrift stores, antique shops, and yard sales. Stack old picnic baskets to easily transform them into charming end tables while providing extra storage space. An old sled taking up space in the garage can be put to new use as a coffee table-simply choose an appropriate size to match the accompanying sofa.

With just a little more effort, a charming coffee table can be created from an antique trunk or cabinet. Simply nail four fence post tops to the bottom corners of the trunk or cabinet. Add a coat of latex paint and rub lightly with sandpaper. If a distressed look is desired, apply a mixture of wood stain and paint thinner, let the wood absorb the stain for five minutes, and then wipe off the mixture.

By contrast, an old coffee table can become a new item. Use a worn coffee table as a unique ottoman by cutting the legs from the table to desired height and attaching them to an old piece of wood. Using foam for padding, upholster the top with an old blanket, cut the blanket to fit, and staple it to the wood.

To create a vanity from items destined for the trash, nail pieces of plywood to two antique night tables to form a top and back. Paint and trim the vanity in desired color and finish by adding an old mirror frame to the top of the piece. An old coffee table can also be transformed into a functional garden bench by serving as a supportive base for the bench.

Need to dust your "new" furniture? Old tables can even be creatively reused into cleaning accessories! Use an old table leg as a feather duster handle by drilling a hole in the handle and attaching a bunch of feathers.

As Whittlef's many suggestions prove, there is a wealth of possibilities for reusing undesirable furniture to create a roomful of stylish pieces at a fraction of the cost!

Information for this article came from the sources below:

Art & Architecture, Inc.
404 Washington Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 904-1776

Home and Garden Television
www.hgtv.com/

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Last updated: August 01, 2008