I’m finally caught up from being on vacation (kind of), emails are responded to, laundry is complete and I finally found some time to sit down and write a few posts. Which means I’m back with another before & after project! I’m so excited to share with you my DIY Side Table Makeover With Naturally Distressed Wood!
DIY Side Table Makeover
I am pretty excited about my ‘new’ side table for our family room. And by ‘new’ I mean, the newer version of our current side table. Oh how I love a little upcycle project!
Before and After Table Makeover
Here is what my side table used to look like. There was nothing wrong with it per se, I just wanted something brighter and a little different for our new space. Using spray paint and some old distressed wood, I turned this old side table into a modern yet rustic side table.
Adding Wood To The Top Of A Table
I LOVE reclaimed wood and I was so excited to be able to use some on this project. The natural distressed tones are gorgeous and bring a whole new life to this little table.
Just look at those beautiful natural tones, the greens and browns and grays. Swoon.
Steps To Refinishing A Side Table
I started by applying one coat of spray primer, followed by 2 coats of White Spray Paint.
Now the story of where I got the wood is actually kind of funny. The previous owners of our home planted a raspberry bush on the side of our house. It was on the side of the house where our garbage cans live and it’s not a pretty space. Needless to say the raspberry bush was huge and not very prosperous so my husband decided to take it out.
Under the bush laid a worn and collapsed trellis. It was apparent that it had been under the bush for many years. To some it may have looked like a piece of junk, but the minute I saw the colors of the wood I saw potential and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it!
I took the trellis apart and cut it into 17″ pieces. The size of the top of the side table. I gave them a good scrub and then laid them out to dry.
Using my trusting Gorilla Glue, I glued each piece onto the top of the side table. I didn’t use a guide, I just placed each piece down and let the natural colors create their own pattern.
I aligned the wood on the left side of the table, and because my cuts aren’t perfect, the right side turned out to be a little uneven. After the glue was dry, I used my Dremel to make one clean cut to even out the edges.
Next, I gently sanded the wood with an electric hand sander and then gave it 3 coats of Semi-Gloss Sealer.
And now I have a crisp and clean new side table with tons of character.
About Taryn Whiteaker
Hi! I’m Taryn! The voice behind Taryn Whiteaker Designs. I launched this brand over 11 years ago when I became a stay-at-home mom. What started as a small craft and mom blog eventually grew into a full time design and DIY site. My goal has always been to inspire others (especially women!) with design ideas, DIY tutorials, entertaining ideas and give you the tools you need to complete them yourself!
This is gorgeous! It really looks like something out of a magazine! I can’t believe that wood came from an old trellis! Beautiful job!
Ooh, you have inspired me! I want to do something like this to our end tables! Love it!
That is a pretty table.
This looks great – and it’s inspiring…
Thanks for showing!
This is so beautiful! But your projects always are! :)
Gorgeous!! I want to come and steal it!
Oh wow Taryn! It turned out beautifully … love the colors you chose. It went from ho-hum, forgettable to look-at-me, gorgeous … LOVE it!
I absolutely love this…I painted my sidetable months ago white that looks very similar to yours…but, I’m loving the addition of the wood top! Great DIY. I’m repinning…=)
Fabulous makeover!
I am now following you on Pinterest.
I also wanted to invite you to my blog. I just began a new linky party entitled “Friday’s Favorite Pin” where you link up your favorite pin of the week. And yes, it can be your own creation.
Have a lovely weekend.
That turned out amazing! Great job, Taryn!
Very nice!
Wow! That table is amazing!! Truly stunning!
Love the table!!!!
I can’t believe how beautiful the table looks. Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely gorgeous!!!
This looks great!! I love the contrast between the white and the old dark wood!
This looks AMAZING Taryn! I love all those shades of wood. It is truly a stunning table.
Have a wonderful weekend:)
Wow! I love the new look. The wood on top is beautiful. I’d love for you to link up this (and any other ideas you’d like to share) at “One Creative Weekend” on OneCreativeMommy.com.
What a great idea! Super cute! I would love for you to come link up your blog to my Get social Sunday link party!
http://alivedinhome.blogspot.com/2012/08/get-social-sunday.html
Love it! It is super cute, and it’s so rewarding to use supplies you already have. Great job!
I LOVE this table! It looks so beachy. Great idea you had to use the wood from the trellis. Thanks for sharing!!
xoxo
Nif
I love this table! I like how each piece is colored differently and the contrast against the white legs. Great job!
Woowww. I am very much impressed. I had a side table in the storage. I might do exactly the same thing and create a new side table with your instructions.
Beautiful! I never would have recoganized that as the old table!!
Oh. My. Goodness. I love this! I have collected a bunch of the $7 Ikea Lack tables and now I have nothing good to do with them. This sort of thing would be fantastic! If you have a minute, I’d love for you to link up to Sweet Sharing Monday – http://saynotsweetanne.com/2012/sweet-sharing-monday-17/
Wow! What a great transformation. I love the contrast of the reclaimed wood with the white legs.
You are very talented with wood! keep it up! :-) Linking back from “My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia”
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! This is an amazing transformation! I love that you painted the legs and lower shelf white. It makes the reclaimed wood stand out and appear so much more beautiful! An absolutely amazing piece of furniture!
Just saw your link of Not Just a Housewife – what a beautiful table! Thanks for sharing
Oh this is gorgeous. I love the combination of white and timber, fresh and classic…oh and I really, really want a Dremel ;)
this table is SO SO SO cute! I have a side table from a yard sale that I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with… this is going to be my afternoon project!
Gorgeous!! I recently did a similar project, so when I saw yours on Not Just a Housewife I had to check it out. My wood is more distressed, from an old fence, and I stained it for the results. I really like yours too – I like how our projects are similar ideas but different looks! I think your photography skills are better though ;) My project is here: http://house-capades.blogspot.com/2012/06/office-cabinet-makeover-aka-tornado.html
I love this!!! I am off to pin it :) Thanks for linking up!
This is GORGEOUS! What a wonderful idea
It’s gorgeous! I love the stain you chose and the contrast of the white and the wood. Nice job :)
It’s gorgeous! I’m crazy about furniture makeovers, but I never thought to add old wood to the top. Very cool.
It really is fantastic. Amazing what something seemingly useless and trashbound could become. You had a great eye for the finished product and your follow through proved your genius!
Love it!
Liz
Perfect! I love what you did with “trash wood”–I’m going to be looking for some old wood to do this. Thanks for the great idea. Gail (BibleLoveNotes.com)
This is the best table I’ve seen in a long time. I love the reclaimed wood so much! Featuring you tomorrow. XO, Aimee
Wow! This is a great project. I love how you saw the potential in the wood and turned it into something beautiful.
Just gorgeous!!! I always love your projects, but life is so crazy, I just realized I hardly ever tell you :) Your blog is one of my favs and I am always inpsired by you! Thanks for sharing this amazing upcycle. You are a girl after my own heart :)
What a great project. Can’t wait to share it with everyone. Thanks for linking up to Show & Tell on SNAP!
xoxo, Tauni
Taryn–your ugly duckling table sure turned into a swan! Beautiful job!
gail
Saw you at the Snap linky and just had to stop by and say how much I love your table! Absolutely beautiful <3 Crisp with Character is a great description.
<3 Christina at I Gotta Create!
Wildly Original linky party is open.
Love the Naturally Distressed Wood used on the top of the little side table. It adds SO much character and pazaaaz! Gonna be breaking out my drimel tool soon. Thanks for the tips – You are such an inspiration!.
Wow, that looks beautiful.. and expensive! I love that part about DIY, making things that look expensive, and would be if sold in a store, but aren’t because you did it all on your own! Awesome
Question on my post: Do you know if similar wood IS found in stores? Like a Home Depot maybe?
That is a gorgeous makeover. Love the colours in the wood.
this is absolutely incredible! i love!
found you via MMS’s party where i’m partying too. would love to have you as a follower.
smiles and happy weekend.
michele
This is so gorgeous! I love the colors in reclaimed wood too, and you highlighted them well in this project! VERY Impressive!!!!
This is so stunning and so simple. You have inspired me to do this on my own little sad side table. Thank you~!!!
Well spotted Taryn! Just shows that you can make something nice out of almost anything with a little work!
I guess you need to watch out for nasty chemicals if the timber is treated, but then you’ll be wearing a mask when sanding anyway……
Regards
So beautiful! Where did you get the original table?
Hey Taryn…I’m Jessica, Maria’s friend. I met you this weekend at the garage sale. She told me about your blog so I checked it out and LOVE IT! You’re so cute and your projects are amazing. I will definitely be trying this table makeover. It was great meeting you…I’m sure I’ll be seeing more of you during the wedding planning!
I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You did a fantastic job!!
Hi Taryn, I know I’m late to seeing this, but wow! It’s beautiful! What a great way to utilize the wood!
This table turned out awesome!! Really, really, gorgeous!!
love it!
This is gorgeous! I love reclaimed wood, and I love the stories about how people get ahold of it! (bums me out that I haven’t had such good luck ;) ). Great before-and-after :)
I am so impressed with this project. The final product is incredible, and I feel like I can actually do this myself! I think I might give it a try….
I love it! I could tell that it was a trelis before you even said it. Thanks for the idea. Looks beautiful.
Great project, Taryn. It’s always fun to see the transformation with upcycled wood and this one looks fantastic. Did you happen to use Minwax Wipe-on Poly?