I made this repurposed metal and wood side table out of a thrift store find for under ten dollars. Repurposing or upcycling a dated metal side table into a contemporary piece of furniture was easy. All I needed was a power tool to cut my wood and a little paint!
Today is one of my favorite days of the month, it’s PTC or Power Tool Challenge Day, be sure to scroll down to see the creative DIY projects and home decor idea from my team mates!
I found this little table at our one and only thrift store up here in Ludlow. Looked at it and passed it up. Later that day I realized I could upcycle this dated metal table into a fashionable repurposed metal and wood side table that would fit perfectly in the new living room of the North House. I quickly wished I’d had the “vision” to see its potential earlier!
Our thrift store is only open Saturday and Sunday. I obsessed over this silly table for an entire week thinking someone else would pick it up in the meantime. Yep, I was at the door pretty much the first morning they were open again to claim my old beat up metal side table.
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Repurposed Metal and Wood Side Table
Supplies needed to make this repurposed metal and wood side:
- metal and glass table
- wood insert
- cutting power tool, depending on the thickness of your wood, jigsaw, table saw or circular saw
- water based polycrylic
- Simple Green
- Beyond Paint, Metallic Bronze
- Beyond Paint, Licorice
- 4″ foam roller for smoother finish or low nap foam roller for slightly textured finish
- paint brush
#1. Remove the glass and wipe down the metal surface thoroughly with Simple Green to de-gloss the surface.
#2. Use a small paintbrush and dab paint into corners and areas the roller won’t get to easily. Roll a thin coat of Beyond Paint over the entire surface. Let dry and follow up with one or two more coats as needed. Allow to dry overnight.
I used Beyond Paint because it adheres well to metal. I’m loving this paint ever since my DIY painted kitchen cabinet project I finished.
I loved the bold color of the metal paint alone, but knew it wouldn’t look good in the room I wanted to use it in. I toned the color down a lot by dry brushing.
#2. Dry brush on the black paint. Dip just the tip of your paintbrush into black or contrasting paint, unload most of the paint onto a piece of cardboard or paper towel and “dry brush” color onto the metal table frame with long sweeping motions.
#3. Cut a piece of wood the same size as the glass top.
I used a scrap from my western red cedar projects. Do you remember my floating bathroom shelves? I made the most out of two wood slabs and added a few rustic DIY reclaimed wood shelves in my kitchen too.
#4. Finish the wood as desired.
I sanded the cut edges lightly and gave it two coats of poly. Just like I did in my hairpin DIY live edge coffee table project.
#5. Place the new wood top onto the table where the glass top was. The small support pieces that held the glass hold the wood.
I made my repurposed metal and wood side table in an afternoon. Upcycling or repurposing old gold metal glass furniture is easy my friends! Depending on the type of insert you replace the glass with you can make a DIY industrial metal with wood top side table or a sleek and modern side table from the same metal frame.
Pin this project for later or share it with your Facebook friends!
Don’t forget to take a peek at what my creative team mates came up with for this months Power Tool Challenge!
The Kim Six Fix Vintage Surveyors Tripod Lamp
Virginia Sweet Pea DIY Candlesticks Using Upcycled Bedposts
H2OBungalow Repurposed Metal and Wood Side Table – that’s me!
Create and Babble Little Round Stool
My Love 2 Create Small Decorative Caddy
My Repurposed Life Easy One Pallet Project
Designed Decor Build Your Own Tufted Bench
Pin this too!
Can you think of other ways to upcycle metal and glass tables like my repurposed metal and wood side table? I can see adding tile inserts for the top, or maybe slate. I also liked reusing the glass top for this metal table after the frame is painted and updated.
Share your ideas and thoughts below!
Victoria @DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Great upcycle! Love how it looks now. Visiting from Think Tank Thursday.
Wendi says
Hi Victoria and thank you! I’m excited to place in the living room where it will go. It’s a construction hot mess at this point, but soon it will be great! Thanks so much for your visit!
Marie says
This is such a great idea for those brass and glass tables often seen at the thrift stores. So glad it was still there when you went back. Love the depth the dry brushed black made to the copper finish. Love the idea of replacing the glass with a slab or rustic wood. Night and day transformation! Pinned
Wendi says
Hi Marie and thank you my friend 🙂 I should have seen the potential when I first laid eyes on that cute little table! I see metal framed furniture in the stores all the time! Crazy! Of course, now that I want more of these they will be no where to be found! LOL Thanks so much for your visit & pinning my project!!
Jody says
So happy you made it thru the hurricane. I would surely miss Wendi. Darling table. I like almost all you do.
Wendi says
Hi Jody! We are happy we made it through the storm too! Part of FL are still putting things back together, my nephews haven’t stated school again yet. We were fortunate not to have too much damage. Glad you like my little thrift store find! It was a super easy makeover and we can always use another side table up here. Hope you are well and thanks for stopping by and leaving me your sweet note 🙂
Sheila says
What great vision. I tend to do the exact thing…pass something by, and later think, wow I can repurpose it for… ha. Then the agony begins worrying someone else with “faster vision” doesn’t buy it first!!! Beautiful piece and love the dry brushing technique!
Wendi says
Hi Shelia! I completely understand, it can be maddening to come up with a brilliant idea after seeing something awesome with potential. You described it perfectly, it’s agony! LOL The worst is that I’ve gone back on other occasions and my “dream” piece really was gone too. In a town where there is only 1 thrift store and slim pickings on recycling it can be a challenge. Glad you like my table and makeover. It turned out cute and I’ll take a useful little $10 table all day long. Thanks so much for your note!
gail says
Wendi,
I’m so happy your little table was still there when you went back to get it. 😉
I love the new look and think you made a wise choice with the dry brushing. Love the end result.
pinned!
Wendi says
Hi Gail! I fretted over that simple table all week. I don’t know why it took me so long to realize I could refashion it. Anyhoo, thanks for your visit & pinning my project 🙂
DeDe Designed Decor says
OMG! I would of walked past it too! It’s awesome! Now your making think about those metal tables like that!
Wendi says
Hi Dede, Crazy right? When I first saw it I thought yeah, that thing will never sell. I ate my words after I realized what could be done with it! I’d love to find a coffee table like this too, with a glass top and metal frame. Thanks so much for your visit & comment!
Angie ~ Ambient Wares says
I love your side table! It truly looks like wood through and through. I was shocked when I saw you’d painted it. The gorgeous slab of wood is really great on it! Pinned
Wendi says
Hi Angie and thank you! Funny you mention it looks like wood. I thought that too. Looking at it I thought I could build that frame and then I thought, why? LOL The metal one is so much stronger and already put together! LOL Thanks so much for your sweet note and visit 🙂
Jeanie says
Very chic Wendi! I’m so glad the table was still there for you. I love how you toned down the brightness of the finish with dry brushing – the perfect finish!
Wendi says
Hi Jeanie! The metallic bronze is a gorgeous color, but for my room needed toning down a bit. We’ll get a lot of use out of this little table and for under $10 it’s a deal!
Paula says
What a cute side table you created! I like the look of the wood top combined with the metal base. The finish you gave the base is a great update. I laughed thinking about you hoping that no one bought your table after you passed it up on your first shopping trip to the thrift store.
Wendi says
Hi Paula and thank you! This was a silly easy project but the end result is perfect for the living room I’m working on now. I take a $10 table all day long, especially when I can make it look like the ones at the stores!