DIY Concrete Table In 4 Easy Steps

Design Tips and Tricks
Written By Rebekah Correll

Industrial concrete tables are the new thing! They add a modern touch to a room with a little texture as well. The problem is that they have always been way out of my budget. I have good news, these tables are not only super easy to make yourself, but are super inexpensive!

I started with a regular 42” white tulip table with a metal base and laminate covered plywood top. I have always loved the style of tulip tables and had been on the hunt for one to use in our kitchen. We were fortunate to have inherited this particular table from my husband’s grandparents. It is a solid piece of furniture, but had a lot of wear from decades of love and use. My goal was to up-cycle the table to create an updated piece that matched the style of our home, without losing the sentimental value and history. I hope this step-by-step process will enable you to update meaningful pieces of furniture in your own homes!

Project Supply List from Home Depot:

-Materials: Total: $57.57

  1. Floor-Tex 1 -gal. Clear Satin Interior and Exterior Top Coat Water Resistant Sealer

  2. Pro Grade Precision 9 in. x 11 in. 220 Grit Fine Advanced Sanding Sheets (4-Pack)

  3. 20 lb. Quick-Setting Cement Concrete Mix – depending on the size of the table you may need 2.

-Tools Needed that you probably already own…

  1. Stainless Steel Finishing Trowel

  2. Work Gloves

  3. Shop wrag or old T-shirts for clean-up

  4. Paint brush

STEP 1)

PREP THE TABLE TOP

First, make sure the table top is clear of any dirt by wiping it down and cleaning it with any multi-purpose cleaner. I then moved the table outdoors to my workspace. I used unfolded packing boxes as my workspace, but a plastic tarp will also work. Concrete can be messy. I would highly recommend working on this project outside or in a well ventilated room. Both the concrete mix and the sealer have a lot of strong fumes that will make you light headed, learn from my mistakes… Pictured is what the table looked like before 🙂

STEP 2) APPLY THE CONCRETE

Apply a thin coat of concrete to the table top using the trowel. Spread it very thin so that it dries quickly, some of the table should be showing through after the first 1 or 2 coats. When applying the concrete to the edges of the table, be wary of dripping concrete. This is where the plastic or cardboard under the table comes in handy! I applied about 3 coats of concrete to my table, making sure that the previous layer had completely dried before applying the next one. It is not necessary that your finish is super smooth because you can sand out the really rough parts.

STEP 3) SANDING

Using the 220 grit sandpaper, start from the center of the table and start sanding down the COMPLETELY dried concrete. I would recommend wearing the work gloves for this step. I did not sand my table completely because I wanted to leave a little of the rough texture for a more industrial look. The finishing top coat will create a smooth finish so don’t be concerned with sharp points of concrete.

STEP 4) SEAL IT!

The final move is to apply the sealer to the concrete top! Just paint on a thin layer making sure to cover the entire table, including the sides. Again, watch out for drips! Make sure the sealer is completely dried before placing anything on the table.

Don’t Have time to make your own? Check out some of my favorite concrete tables you can buy online below:

Rebekah Correll
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