I made my DIY bed spindle pedestal bowl because I love drama. Not like in girl stuff from old school days, but drama as in home decor. I gravitate towards items that ad character and style and a big presence. Because I live in a small space I can’t have too many big items, but I can have pieces with big personality like my DIY bed spindle pedestal bowl.
Can you believe I made today’s project from an old bed?
Welcome to another edition of the Power Tool Challenge Team. Our theme this month is Re-purpose.
Our monthly themed challenges are meant to inspire our friends and readers to try new things, push a little out of their comfort zone and maybe, just maybe… pick up a new power tool and try out a DIY a project 🙂
DIY bed spindle pedestal bowl tutorial
I found this fabulous king size foot-board at our local Habitat for Humanity Restore. At the time, I had no idea what I’d do with it.
What I did know was there was a whole lot of opportunity in that piece:)
Cutting up the bed frame was simple. I placed it on the ground, propped up the edges with a few 1 x 3’s so it would lay flat and used my favorite Ryobi compound miter saw. I turned and slid it from place to place as I systematically took this huge foot-board apart. It was cumbersome, but not hard.
I saved that big piece of wood too, it will make an awesome something someday!
I thought of using another saw type, but the compound miter saw made fabulous straight and clean cuts. That meant it needed less sanding.
Less work is always better, right?
I’d already collected a bunch of wood bowls at the thrift store.
I planned on using layers of scrap wood cut in squares for the bases. If you’re designing your own DIY bed spindle pedestal bowls, make sure the base is wide enough to keep the bowl stable. At first I wanted tall pedestal bowls, but then realized they wouldn’t be very stable without huge bases.
Plus, unless you have a large space, the size vs. scale of a table to place it on doesn’t work well.
I cut a bunch of squares for the bases. My Ryobi Airstrike Brad Nailer worked perfect to attach the first base block to each spindle. I glued the next block in place and when it was dry, added a few brad nails from the bottom.
Sanding everything took off the sharp and the pointy corners.
I used my brad nailer to attach the wood bowl on top of the pedestal on this bowl below. Depending on the shape of the bowl, it can be attached with brad nails, glue and or a small wood screw. All the pieces of this wood pedestal bowl could easily be glued together too.
Before I painted it, I ran a bead of painters caulk around all the joints. I was already loving it at this point, and wanted it to turn out perfect.
Caulk makes a huge difference in the finished look, just like it did with my DIY baseboards that you can see in this picture:)
The last step was to add a finish. I thought my new pedestal bowl needed some pizzazz, so I used cheap glue to make a crackle finish with two layers of paint and a coat of wax.
Do you love it? I do!
The best compliment you can give me is to share my work on Pinterest or Facebook!
This DIY bed spindle pedestal bowl is a simple re-purpose project. Like I mentioned earlier, you could easily do this project with wood glue and wood bowl and find the rest of the pieces at Home Depot. I spent about $3 on my pretty home decor piece. I know I’ll use it year round in lots of ways. The other bowls will make their way down to my shop.
Ready for more DIY power tool inspiration?
Take a look at what my other creative team members came up with for this month’s theme!
1 Hanging Picket Pendant Light by Designed Decor
2 Garden Bench by Create and Babble
3 Bed Spindle Pedestal Bowl by H2OBungalow
4 Industrial Cart Coffee Table by Refresh Restyle
5 Mid Century Headboard Bench by My Repurpose Life
6 Framed Wall Spool Rack Upcycle by Kim Six
7 Vintage Tennis Racket Table by Virginia Sweet Pea
8 Recycled Wood Plant Stands by Designs Bt Studio C
9 Rustic Coffee Mug Holder by Interior Frugalista
10 Repurposed Cabinet Door String Art by Domestically Speaking
You’ll find my project linked up to these fabulous parties!
Love a good dose of DIY home decor, home improvement, the challenge of woodworking and creative ways to make your home look fabulous?
Me too!
I’d love to share mine with you. Click here to sign up for my post emails and I’ll send a quick note when I have a new project to share.
Disclosure: I may have been compensated, given product or tools that I used in this DIY post. All opinions that I share are always 100% my own. I use affiliate links in my posts. If you should make a purchase I will receive an itty bitty commission at no cost to you. Thank you in advance for supporting my blog and two fur-ball cats who believe they are privileged.
Lucy ~ Patina Paradise says
This is brilliant Wendi! So clever that now I will never look at a headboard the same way again. You have the wheels spinning in my head. Thanks!
Wendi says
Hi Lucy and thank you so much! It’s crazy funny how one little thing like these pedestal bowls can change the way you look at something like an old headboard! I have no doubt you’ll go one step further with this idea! Thanks for your visit and super comment:)
Angela says
How creative and resourceful is this! Never would have thought to put these pieces together. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Wendi says
You’re welcome:) This was a fun project and they fit so well together. Thanks so much for your visit.
Kim~madeinaday says
OOH! I have a vintage bowl like this! I think it needs to be white and crackle! Thanks for linking up to Merry Monday! Pinned & Sharing on FB! Have a great week!
Kim
Wendi says
Hi Kim! Thanks so much and you’re welcome:)
Colleen says
Incredibly creative! I love the finish!
Wendi says
Thank you Colleen. This was a fun project to try. The finish turned out great, especially since I’d only read about how to do it before:) Thanks so much for your visit!
Pamela Smith says
Love this! I have some spindles I have been trying to figure out what to do with and this might be the perfect idea. Thanks for sharing!
Wendi says
Hi Pamela & you’re welcome! I understand about the bed spindles too, I have some in the garage that I’d been saving. I couldn’t pass this bedframe up though, it has so much potential! Thanks so much for your visit!
Debbie @ Refresh Restyle says
Great idea! I love the outcome and guess what – I think I have similar junk store finds and I can probably make some!
Wendi says
Hi Debbie, With your eye for decorating I know you’ll make some gorgeous pedestal bowls! I can’t wait to see how you’d put your ersonal touch on them. Thanks so much for your visit!
Nancy says
Wendi,
That is very cool…..love how you cut the old bed frame up and used the parts to make something lovely!
Thanks too for stopping by my blog! I appreciate it.
Nancy
wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com
Wendi says
H Nancy & thank you! I love when a project turns out as good, or even better, than I thought it would. This bowl is definately one of those projects. You’re welcome too, I enjoy seeing new blogs, especially from people who leave comments. It kind of puts a personality to the person who commented, if that makes any sense. Thanks again for your visit!
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces says
Love the repurpose!
Wendi says
You’re awesome for visiting! Thank you! It’s a crazy easy project but I love it!
Paula@SweetPea says
How in the world did you think of this? I love it and want to start looking for bowls at Goodwill to make a few for my home.
Wendi says
To tell you the truth I have no idea. I was getting some pressure from my better half to clear some of the “junk” out of the garage. I had to find a use or I’d have lost all those spindles! LOL
Maryann @ Domestically Speaking says
Oh how I love that bowl Wendi!!! What a brilliant idea!
Wendi says
Can you believe how easy too? LOL Sometimes the simplest & cutest things are right in front of us! Thank you!
TwoPlusCute says
You picked the right piece to make the pedestal; I’d never guess it came from a spindle bed.
Loved the paint job – great marbling!
You know? I hate spindles. This pedestal bowl though, I’d bring it home with me.
Wendi says
Haha! Thank you! This one was fun, especially since it doesn’t look anything like a repurposed item, right? Thanks so much for your visit!
Cher @ Designs by Studio C says
OMG! That is such a clever idea, Wendi! I love the shape of the pedestal bowl as well as the finish!
Wendi says
Thank so much Cher. Crazy and crazy easy. I made 4, now I have to paint the rest of them!
Mindi says
Yes I do Love it Wendi! Seriously sooooo cute!! I love the idea of using the bowl on top, and your finish is beautiful! Awesome, pinned!
Wendi says
Thanks Mindi! This is one project I’m not giving away! Think what a cool Mothers Day gift this would make & thrifty too! Thanks so much for your visit!
Christy@Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer says
I am so bummed I missed out this month and I can’t wait to check out everyone’s links! This bowl is absolutely gorgeous, and no one would ever guess the base is part part bed!! LOVE!!
Wendi says
Thank you Christy! I can see you making these for your shop:) We missed you too! Hopefully you’ll get to join in next moonth! Thanks so much for visiting my friend!
Marie, The Interior Frugalista says
Seriously girl, you would never know that gorgeous, and expensive looking, pedestal bowl is made from bed parts and a wooden bowl! It’s gorgeous and looks so pretty on your sofa table. you rocked it!
Wendi says
Thank you! I’m so in the mode to make a ton more, but have to paint the other 3 sitting on my studio floor! LOL This one I’m keeping.
Jeanie says
Love it Wendi! I’m not sure I would envisioned making a bowl out of that awesome headboard! Great vision! Pinned!
Wendi says
Thanks Jeanie. It will be useful year round and I need more home decor items with personality around here:)
gail says
woohooo Wendi! I love your repurposed bed post project! I’ve done many, but never with a bowl…. you have inspired me!
I love the color and crackle of it, it looks like it was always that way…
pinned!
gail
ps thanks for all your hard work putting this challenge together.
Wendi says
You’re welcome and you’ll laugh at this since you are the queen of repurpose… I searched your site to see if you’d made a pedestal bowl. LOL I did! I know you’ll do something amazing with this idea too:)
DeDe @Designed Decor says
I love it! I have a few pedestal legs in the garage now to get some bowls!
Wendi says
No kidding! Grab those spindles! The best part is wood salad bowls are plentiful in the thrift stores. I know you’ll make an awesome one:)