I recently took on a project to transform an old coffee table, breathing new life into it with a rustic, handmade twist. Below is a step-by-step guide, complete with links to the products I used in case you’d like to try it yourself!
Prefer watching instead of reading? Check out my YouTube video, where I walk you through the full process.
I found this table in a local second hand store for only 7,50 euros. This is how it looked before (as you can see, wood colour is kind of orange, glass plates look a bit boring and wheels simplify the overall look).
This post contains affiliate links to products I used in this project. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my DIY journey!
Step 1: Preparation
To start, I prepped the table for its makeover. I began by thoroughly washing the surface to remove any dust, dirt, or old residue. Then, I dismantled the table to make it easier to work on each part individually. With a clean, disassembled table, I was ready to begin the transformation.
Step 2: Wood Staining
To bring out the table’s natural beauty, I used a water-based wood stain in a rustic oak color. You can find the wood stain here.
Applying four layers in total, I carefully built up the color, allowing each layer to dry fully before adding the next. Before applying the final coat, I used a 240-grit sanding sponge to smooth the surface, ensuring a nice, even finish. You can find the sanding sponge and brush I used here and here.
Here is the final color after 4 thin layers.
Step 3: Creating Custom Tiles
For the tiled surface, I decided to make my own tiles. I created molds out of plasticine on a glass surface. Check out the plasticine I used here.
Then I poured a modelling gypsum (Plaster of Paris) and water mixture (at a 1:1 ratio) into each mold. Check out the Plaster of Paris I used here.
After letting them set for 24 hours, I released the tiles, sanded the edges to make them smooth, and reused the molds as needed to make enough tiles for the table top.
Step 4: Painting and Coating the Tiles
To give the tiles a custom look, I mixed acrylic paint in equal parts yellow and blue, plus a bit of water to achieve a rich color. Using a foam roller and a painting tray, I applied two coats, aiming for an antique effect by not distributing the paint evenly. Here are the links to the paint and the set of foam roller and painting tray I used.
Once the paint dried, I added a layer of epoxy top coat to seal and protect the tiles. I used a 2:1 ratio, mixing 100 parts A with 50 parts B, and applied it with a foam roller. After 24 hours, the tiles were fully set and ready. You can find the epoxy I used here.
Step 5: Tiling the Table
With all the tiles ready, I laid them out on the table surface, experimenting with different layouts until I found the perfect one. Once happy with the design, I used a mounting adhesive to glue the tiles to the table top. After setting, I grouted the gaps with a light grey grout (using 400g of grout with 100ml of water). To finish, I washed the grout with a special sponge to smooth it out and clean any residue from the tiles. (Find the adhesive here, grout here and sponge here.)
Step 6: Assembling the Table
For the final touches, I reassembled the table. I glued the metal bars back onto the wooden parts, securing them firmly. Finally, I carefully placed the tiled table tops back in place, completing the makeover!
And that’s it! This coffee table makeover turned a simple piece into a one-of-a-kind feature for any space. I hope this inspires you to try a DIY furniture makeover of your own! Let me know how it goes!
