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  3. Natural elegance: a DIY side table made from a wood slab
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Natural elegance: a DIY side table made from a wood slab

Upcycling
Project
Two vases with flowers sitting on a three-legged table made from a wood slab.
Rustic yet elegant – a slab of wood transformed into a side table.
  • Difficulty
    easy
  • Cost
    40-85 £
  • Duration
    1-3 h

The natural look is in: This DIY side table made from a wood slab might look like an expensive designer piece, but you can make it yourself with little effort. Our four-step guide shows you how to transform a simple wood slab into an extravagant side table. The result: a guaranteed head-turner for the living room or bedroom.

You need
  • g-clamps
  • work gloves
  • safety glasses
  • ear protectors
  • face mask
  • paint roller with tray
  • Three table legs (50 cm in height)
  • 9–15 screws (3.5 x 30 mm)
  • Wood slab
  • Parquet varnish (approx. 350 ml)
L: Length, W: Width, H: Height, D: Diameter
Step 1 4

Sand the wood slab

Close-up of a woman using a random orbit sander to sand a wood slab.
First, sand the upper side of the wood slab.

You need: Random orbit sander, Set of sanding sheets for random orbit sanders G80, Set of sanding sheets for random orbit sanders G120, g-clamps, work gloves, safety glasses, ear protectors, face mask

For this upcycling project, the first thing you’ll need is a wood slab. You can find this in well-stocked home improvement stores or using online classifieds. Once you have the wood slab, choose the side you like better. This will serve as the upper surface. Secure the wood slab – with the preferred side facing up – to a worktable or table using G-clamps. This prevents the wood slab from slipping when you sand it.

Sand the wood slab using the random orbit sander. Wear the gloves, protective goggles, mask and ear protection while doing so. Start by sanding the wood slab with the 80-grain sandpaper and then sand it again using the 120-grain sandpaper. If desired, you can turn the slab over when you’re done and smooth the underside as well. For this, the 80-grain sandpaper should be sufficient.

Step 2 4

Apply the varnish

Close-up of a woman using a paint roller to varnish a wood slab.
Varnish the upper side of the wood slab.

You need: paint roller with tray, parquet varnish, tub

Wipe away any dust left behind from sanding. Use the paint roller to criss-cross the upper side of the wood slab.

Tip
Tip:
Use parquet varnish, which creates a nice sheen and leaves the wood shining.
Step 3 4

Polish the upper surface.

A woman with gloves on varnishes a wood slab using the random orbit sander with polishing felt.
Sand the wood slab using the random orbit sander with polishing felt.

You need: Random orbit sander, Polishing felt for random orbit sanders, work gloves

Once the varnish is dry, use the random orbit sander and polishing felt to polish the wood slab. If needed, you can add a second layer of parquet varnish. Repeat until you have reached the desired outcome.

Step 4 4

Mount the table legs

Mount each table leg to the wood slab using the cordless combi drill.
Mount the table legs to the bottom of the wood slab.

You need: Cordless combi drill, 9–15 screws (3.5 x 30 mm)

Finally, secure the three table legs of your choice (height: 50 centimetres) to the bottom of the wood slab. This model features a set of trendy hairpin legs. You will need three to five screws (3.5 x 30 mm) per table leg. Use a cordless combi drill to drill in the screws.

That’s it! With minimal effort, you’ve transformed a simple slab of wood into a unique DIY side table.

 

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