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. 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.
Servings 1 stand
Cost $15-$20
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.