Repurposed Upcycled Plant Stand: Easy DIY Side Table
Do you have old plant stand sitting in your garage or a set of patio furniture that has seen better days? Instead of heading to the store for new outdoor decor, you can save money and reduce waste by upcycling what you already have.
I have been on a mission to refresh my backyard on a budget – just like when I made my Easy DIY Solar Fountain or these Top 14 Ways To Use Solar Lights In Your Home. In this guide, I’ll show you how to transform a basic plant stand into a stylish, functional patio side table, using simple supplies from the thrift store or Dollar Tree.
Project Overview and Quick Answer
How do you repurpose a plant stand? The most effective way to upcycle a plant stand is to clean and sand the frame, apply a rust-resistant metallic spray, paint, and insert a glass cutting board or a wooden round as a tabletop. This transforms a tiered stand into a weather-resistant side table for snacks and drinks.
- Time: 60 minutes (plus drying)
- Skill level: beginner
- Budget: $15-$20
Why upcycling is the best choice for your patio?
In my 30+ years of DIY, I found that outdoor furniture often just needs a little “face – lift “rather than a replacement. Upcycling isn’t just about saving money; it’s about informational gain – creating something unique that you can’t buy at any big box store. Plus, using metal – specific paints ensures your office furniture lasts through even more seasons of rain and sun.
Materials needed
To get the best results (and ensure your project class), I recommend these specific supplies:
- Old plant stand: (metal, wood, tiered)
- Top surface: a glass cutting board (I found mine at Dollar Tree) or a wooden round
- Cleaning supplies: steel wool (to remove rust) and a damp cloth.
- Spray paint: Rust-Oleum metallic finish (bright metal)
- Protective gear: gloves and a mask for painting
Step-by-step instructions: The Plant Stand Makeover
1. Prep and Clean the Surface
Before you pick up a paintbrush, you must prep the material. I can’t stress enough that the finish is only as good as the prep work.
- Wash: Scrub away the dirt and spider web.
- Sand: Use a steel wood pad to remove loose paint and rust. This gives the new paint a “tooth” to grab onto.
2. Apply the metallic finish
Once dry, apply your spray paint.
- Chas pro tip: Use “short bursts” rather than one long spray to avoid drips
- Dry time: Let the stand dry for at least 24 hours before adding the top.
3. Creating the Tabletop
This is the “crazy creation” magic! I found that a circle glass cutting board from Dollar Tree fits perfectly into the recessed top of most plant stands.
- If you have a tiered stand, you can add a cutting board to both the top and the bottom shelves for double storage!
How To Update Your Patio Furniture To Match
If you’re updating the plant stand, your chair probably needs love, too. I use the same metallic spray paint on my old green and black chairs.
- Does it hold up? Yes! This set has survived a full winter and so looks fantastic. Consistency and color make a mismatched patio set look like a high-end designer collection.
But Wait!!! More Ways To Repurpose Plant Stands
If you don’t need a side table, here are a few other ways I’ve used these stands in my home and garden:
- Create a Water Feature: I placed a large bowl on top and added a solar pump to create my favorite DIY Solar Fountain.
- Spooky Holiday Decor: For Halloween, I turned a stand into a “Garden Ghost” using a basketball and a tablecloth. You can see the full tutorial in my DIY Halloween Decorations Outdoor: Fun and Easy Ideas on a Budget post.
- Towel Rack: Place the stand next to a hot tub or pool to hold rolled-up towels.
- Container Gardening: If the stand is sturdy, use it to create a vertical garden in a small space.
- Decor Display: I placed a large plant stand on my front porch, and I added decor that I change up seasonally. You can see an example in my tutorial 11 Thrift Store Finds For Unique Planters post.
- Indoor Organization: Use them in a bathroom to hold toiletries or a folded washcloth. You can see my tutorial for this in my post Dollar Tree Planters.
- New Indoor Tables: I painted ugly planters that I found at a garage sale with chalk paint, I added a base to make them stable, and coated the top with a glass cutting board from Dollar Tree. You can see my full tutorial in my post Hobby Lobby Plant Stands Side Tables
- Solar Light Holder: I found a light house planter, and I upcycled it to become an outdoor lantern. You can see it in my post, Top 14 Ways To Use Solar Lights In Your Home
Frequently asked questions
I highly recommend rest, oleum metallic, brilliant metal finish. It provides a durable barrier against moisture and gives a high-end look that mimics expensive ironwork.
Absolutely. If you use wood, ensure that you seal it with an outdoor deck-grade polyurethane to prevent rotting or warping in the rain.
If your stand is lightweight, you can use shaped garden stakes to anchor the feet into the grass or place heavy decorative rock on the bottom shelf.
Repurposed Upcycled Plant Stand: Easy DIY Side Table
Ingredients
- Old plant stand: metal, wood, tiered
- Top surface: a glass cutting board I found mine at Dollar Tree or a wooden round
- Cleaning supplies: steel wool to remove rust and a damp cloth.
- Spray paint: Rust-Oleum metallic finish bright metal
- Protective gear: gloves and a mask for painting
Instructions
Prep and Clean the Surface
- Before you pick up a paintbrush, you must prep the material. I can’t stress enough that the finish is only as good as the prep work.
- Wash: Scrub away the dirt and spider web.
- Sand: Use a steel wood pad to remove loose paint and rust. This gives the new paint a “tooth” to grab onto.
Apply the metallic finish
- Once dry, apply your spray paint.
- Chas pro tip: Use “short bursts” rather than one long spray to avoid drips
- Dry time: Let the stand dry for at least 24 hours before adding the top.
Creating the Tabletop
- This is the “crazy creation” magic! I found that a circle glass cutting board from Dollar Tree fits perfectly into the recessed top of most plant stands.
- If you have a tiered stand, you can add a cutting board to both the top and the bottom shelves for double storage!
Notes
How To Update Your Patio Furniture To Match
If you’re updating the plant stand, your chair probably needs love, too. I use the same metallic spray paint on my old green and black chairs.- Does it hold up? Yes! This set has survived a full winter and so looks fantastic. Consistency and color make a mismatched patio set look like a high-end designer collection.
What’s next?
If you love these budget-friendly outdoor projects, you’ll definitely want to check out my cheap and easy DIY solar fountain or my guide on how to color glass 10 different ways to customize your new side table inserts
I’d love to see your makeovers! Leave a comment below or tag me on social with your upcycled creations.
I recycle microwave turn tables into tops for small tables and plant stands. They are heavy washable glass, available at almost all thrift stores. My coffee maker sits on a rectangular microwave insert to collect drips and spilled coffee grounds and when it needs cleaning, it goes to the sink and gets washed with hot soapy water.
I love that! Thank you so much for sharing, and I’d love to see pictures.
Finding the glass cutting board that fit perfect was fantastic! All is looking fresh and new!
Thank you so much Chloe – always great to be able to refresh something and repurpose it.
Did you do the same to your furniture as you did to the plant stand?
Yes I did do the same technique on our outdoor furniture and it’s holding up well. Thanks for asking
Love this repurposed porch furniture! Someone is giving us some white iron that I’d like to paint black. Thanks for your ideas. Came over on Modest Mom. Happy Monday!
Thank you so much Melanie, and I’m to glad this might be helpful for you too 🙂 Thanks for stopping by
Those are the same patio chairs we have!!! How lovely. Thanks for sharing at #OverTheMoon!
Thanks Marilyn – great minds like the same things 🙂 Have a great week!
what a classy look simply beautiful
come see us at https://shopannies.blogspot.com
Thank you so much Angie and thanks for stopping by.
It looks great and it is important to have somewhere to have your cuppa when your sitting in the garden.
Thanks Julie, love that and you are so very right!
I love the makeovers. I did our chairs last year too. Now I need to look for a plant stand to add that extra table space. 🙂
I love that you have done this too Linda – so great to just give our old stuff a face lift to bring it life again.
I like to repurpose things. I have two planters made from parts of old BBQs. – Margy
I love that Margy, thank you for sharing.
I would to see what you made from an old bbq. I love things repurposed
Interesting idea, I’ll have to get to work on that 🙂