HOW I TRANSFORMED THESE OLD THRIFT STORE OCTAGON TABLES WITH PAINT AND NATURAL RATTAN MESH | YOUTUBE VIDEO

Hello, beautiful friends! Today, I’m thrilled to share my favorite FFU project of 2024.  A pair of unpopular-shaped thrift store octagon tables. With a touch of creativity and some DIY magic, these dated pieces have been transformed into chic, modern accent tables that I’m absolutely in love with. Let’s dive into the details of this makeover journey!

It’s also Furniture Fixer Uppers Day and I’m joining my FFU crew. We are ALL sharing our FAVES of 2024! I’m sharing links to their projects down below. I hope you join me in visiting their before and afters FAVES too.

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. There may also be affiliate links in this post to other companies/products I use and love as well.  You will never be charged extra when you purchase through these affiliate links. To see my full disclaimer, click here!

Here’s the thrift store octagon table set I started with. I thought they were selling for $22.99 for the set as it had x2 on the tag. So did the young boy who wrote the receipt for me to bring to the front. I paid and brought my FUV to the pick-up area. Once I started loading them up, another associate came out and said I only paid for one and needed to come back in to pay for the other. I don’t mind as buying thrift helps other non-profits in the area but they weren’t quite the deal I thought they were.

There were also a few repairs needed like this damaged corner.

Overall, really nice solid well-built pieces though. They don’t make furniture like they used to, that’s for sure!

THIS POST IS SPONSORED/CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I USE.  YOU CAN SEE MY FULL DISCLOSURE HERE.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Octagon End Tables  – SALVAGED
White Lightning Cleaner
Bondo Filler
Wood Filler
Bosch Sander
BIN Shellac Based Primer
Astro EuroPro Spray Gun 1.7mm
Pneumatic Staple Gun
Whitecap SILK Mineral Paint
Sand Castle SILK Mineral Paint
Brasso Metal Polisher
Natural Cane Webbing

OCTAGON TABLE MAKEOVER

I envisioned a fresh, modern look for these tables that would highlight their unique shape. To do this, I decided to incorporate rattan cane webbing into the design which I’ve been wanting to try for a while now. Pairing this with a neutral paint color would create a blend of contemporary and natural elements. Here’s how these end tables all came together…

REMOVE HARDWARE

I gave these tables a cleaning with White Lightning. making sure to rinse my sponge and wipe with clean water to remove any residue before unscrewing all the hardware.

REMOVE DATED PANELS

These tables had me stumped so I asked everyone on Facebook what to do with them. You all came up with some AWESOME ideas! Dog or cat bed, indoor or outdoor planters, decorative stop signs, glow-in-the-dark night tables for kids, and more!

I decided to remove these dated panels using my multi-tool. It took me over 3 hours to remove 4 inside panels. I think I used the wrong tool but it was a learning experience.

FILL – SAND – PRIME

Besides removing the panels on the four swinging doors, I removed the dated plate on the third panel on each table. To fill in the large ‘scar’ I used heavy-duty Bondo. Once the Bondo was dry and sanded smooth, I filled in all the little leftover divots with this Dixie Belle Mudd Filler. Then I sanded until everything was perfectly smooth, including the damaged corner, and then gave it two coats of primer.

Priming is essential, especially when working with previously finished or repaired furniture. I applied a high-quality primer to the tables, which helps to block any potential bleed-through and provides a solid base for the paint. Using a brush and roller, I applied an even coat of primer, following the direction of the wood grain. Once the primer was dry, I lightly sanded the surfaces again to ensure a smooth finish, then wiped away any dust.

PAINT SPRAYED

Now for the fun part! For the paint color, I wanted a neutral tone that would complement the rattan cane webbing and suit various interior styles. I custom-mixed two paint colors-  using Sand Castle SILK Mineral Paint and White Cap SILK Mineral Paint. I’m not sure the exact measurements because I eyeballed it but it was approximately 2/3 Sand Castle to 1/3 White Cap.  I thinned the paint with 10% water and sprayed two coats. Can you see where the Bondo fill was? Pretty amazing disappearing act, right?! This gave a gorgeous neutral shade that pairs beautifully with the rattan.

HOW TO ADD CANE WEBBING

To create a ‘modern’ look for these end tables, I added this natural cane webbing that I bought on Amazon. I’ve been wanting to try this for years. I love the look of all-natural rattan/cane. I’m so happy I finally tried it on some furniture and will be using this on future projects! The key to making it simple is by soaking it in warm water for 30 minutes. This cane is an all-natural material and can be tough to work with when dry. By soaking it, the cane gets very flexible and easier to work with.

Here’s how I installed it onto the doors –

1. I rolled out the cane webbing and secured it flat with a paint can and clamps
2. Measured the door opening
3. Measured the cane webbing adding an inch and a half to each side
4. I cut the cane webbing using this rotary cutting tool – works amazing!
5. Soaked the webbing in warm water for 30 minutes
6. Layed it on a towel to remove most of the moisture
7. Stapled it in with my pneumatic staple gun 
8. Cut off the excess with a utility knife
9. Adding trim for a finished look is optional

CLEAN & ADD HARDWARE

To clean up the grungy hinges I used Brasso. Brasso is a metal polisher that is easy to use – rub on rub off.  I poured a little onto the hinges and rubbed with a dollar store brush. Then using a towel I wiped them down. This past year I also found a cheaper (and maybe even better!) way to clean metal – Barkeeps Friend. You can see how amazing it works on this brass and glass table here.

As for the original pulls, one was missing and it looked too old for the new look. I tried out a few brushed brass handles and knobs but I didn’t like the look. They were too close together. I’ll be buying this door clasp magnetic door catch mechanism for a cleaner look.

THE REVEAL!

Here’s the finished look. The two paint colors I mixed created a gorgeous neutral and it pairs so well with the rattan! Don’t they look more modern and fresh?!

I also wanted to photograph the damaged corner lip that I shared with you at the top of this post… but after I filled, sanded, and painted, I’m not sure which corner it was…lol.

And I’m impressed with how easy it was to install this cane straight. I was worried that it would end up crooked and loosey-goosey but it’s taut and perfectly lined up. Not bad for a first attempt. And I love sharing this because if I can do it YOU can do it! 🙂

As I mentioned, I tried out a longer handle and I even had two octagon brushed brass pulls (which I was SURE I was going to use on this makeover) but I much prefer the clean look. What do you think? Would you prefer knobs or handles?

Tips for Similar Projects

If you’re considering a similar furniture makeover, here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Choose Quality Materials: Investing in high-quality primer, paint, and brushes can make a significant difference in the final outcome.
• Take Your Time: Allow adequate drying times between each step to ensure a durable and professional finish.
• Experiment with Textures: Incorporating materials like rattan, fabric, or wallpaper can add depth and interest to your projects.
• Personalize Your Pieces: Don’t be afraid to customize colors and finishes to reflect your personal style and complement your home’s decor.

PIN FOR LATER 🥰

YOUTUBE TUTORIAL

For a step-by-step visual of this thrift makeover, check out the video below. Our #siyoutubefamily is already a community of 49.3K so don’t forget to subscribe if you haven’t done so already! So exciting, thank YOU!

And now for some FURNITURE FIXER UPPER FUN!

You’re going to LOVE what my creative FFU ladies do!  Below are the BEFORE photos from MY faves of 2024 from each of my friends. Visit the links provided to see the amazing AFTERS and learn how they did it!

1. PETTICOAT JUNKTION

2. MY REPURPOSED LIFE

3. CONFESSIONS OF A SERIAL DIYER

4. A RAY OF SUNLIGHT

5. SALVAGED INSPIRATIONS (SO HAPPY YOU’RE HERE!)

…MORE FURNITURE FIXER-UPPER FUN!

Below are the links to THEIR FAVES of 2024! I’m heading over to take a peek. I’m always curious which ones the ladies picked as their favorites!

Christy’s FAVES. CONFESSIONS OF A SERIAL DIYER

Natalie’s FAVES. A RAY OF SUNLIGHT

Kathy’s FAVES. PETTICOAT JUNKTION

Gail’s FAVES. MY REPURPOSED LIFE

Here’s another look at this end table set before and after. I hope it has inspired you and given you some ideas for your upcoming furniture painting projects.

I hope you enjoyed this roundup as much as I enjoyed creating it and thanks for joining me today. We are all getting busy with holiday prep so it means a lot to have you here. 💙

As of tomorrow, I’m unplugging for some R&R over the holidays and will be back the first week of January with more salvaged makeovers, salvaged decor ideas, painting techniques, and DIY tips. I’m excited for what 2025 will bring and even more excited to share it all with YOU!

Thank you so much for all your support throughout this last year. As I always say (and I’ll probably say another 1000x) this wouldn’t be any fun without YOU!

A very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays… see you in 2025!

 

Until next time, happy painting and happy creating!

Denise x

RELATED POSTS::

HOW TO MAKE PAINT LOOK LIKE WOOD

HOW TO: PAINTED FAUX LINEN DRESSER

22 SALVAGED FURNITURE FLIPPING IDEAS

JOANNES’ THRIFT STORE CHAIR MAKEOVER

HOW TO REVAMP AN OLD DESK

THRIFT STORE DEMILUNE TABLES

PIN AND SHARE!