Transform a simple wooden picnic table into a charming farmhouse dining table with this easy DIY project that combines rustic style and affordability!
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For nearly 20 years now, I haven’t had an official kitchen table in any dining space.
After removing walls to the upstairs to create more of an open concept, we just used the kitchen island (or truth be told, the sofas LOL) as our table because my blog office landed in the dining room area!
This arrangement worked for years, and I did love the look! BUT I admit I was growing very weary of always having to look at office clutter.
And then my son moved out… leaving me with enough space for some new options! Whoop!
Today I’m teaming up with my creative friends from the Thrift Store Decor Team! Be sure to visit each of their new thrift store flips after reading my own post!
See my new blog office today with the cutest ladder shelf!
So I promptly moved my blog office into his old room (it may or may not have transpired that very evening…) to create my now new cute office space!
See the blog office looking its best HERE
Current blog office – now it needs to go!
Which ultimately kicked the door WIDE open to FINALLY transform this area into one that looked like a real kitchen! Time for a fresh new look since it was half pulled apart by this time anyway!
But once I started out pricing farmhouse tables I liked, the sticker shock had me reeling. Being WAY out of my budget, I held off until I could come up with a better plan.
And that’s when a lucky picnic table find with two benches came into play! They were in pretty good condition when I first got them.
Where to find picnic tables
Picnic tables can possibly be found at thrift stores that sell furniture, or Facebook Marketplace, or you may even get super lucky to find one on the curb now and then!
Picnic table before
However after using this one outside for a spell, I completely ignored the finish which just got worse over time. It needed refinishing at this point!
So then I decided… wait… could this become THEE affordable farmhouse table of my dreams?! I was about to find out!
Not only did this idea work out perfectly size-wise, I LOVE the finished result! And it cost me a whoppin’ $25 to get the vibe I was going for!
So if you too dream of having a farmhouse table of solid wood options of your own, perhaps a picnic table could be your answer too! I can’t wait to share how this turned out plus how cute the new space looks for just a quick coffee or everyday meals!
Here’s what I did:
Easy DIY farmhouse dining table made from a picnic table!
Supplies you’ll need:
Wood picnic table with separate benches
Random mismatched farmhouse chairs
Reclaimed or new cedar planks for the top
Orbital sanding discs in various grits
Fusion Mineral Paint in Casement (get 10% off)
Furniture Wax – Tuscan by Fusion Mineral Paint (get 10% off)
Repairing the picnic table for added strength
1. Repair and sand any areas you will be painting.
Over time, the joins of this table and benches became wobbly. So I took a wrench to every bolt and added a few screws until nothing creaked or groaned any longer.
I also used an orbital sander to smooth out any areas I planned to paint. The sanding was completed after I couldn’t feel the highs and lows of the chipped paint any longer.
Fusion Mineral Paint in Casement (get 10% off)
Repainting the picnic table and 1 bench
2. Repaint any areas desired.
Since I desired a 2-toned effect of a wood top with white legs, I chose Fusion Mineral Paint in Casement to give the crossed leg and bench a fresh new start!
To paint the table and one bench, I first turned everything upside down to paint. Then the bench was turned right side up to finish the top. However I didn’t paint the top of the table because I had different plans for that!
Enlarging the table top with reclaimed wood
3. Cover the top of the picnic table with reclaimed wood planks to the size desired.
Since I wanted a wood top that was slightly larger than the picnic table anyway, I decided to pull the boards off my old farmhouse desk from downstairs (see it HERE) and use for the farmhouse dining table instead!
The boards were already the perfect size! No cutting was required. So I first sanded them outdoors, then positioned them into place on the table leaving some overhang on both ends.
4. Attach the wood planks to the picnic table top with screws.
After arranging the boards exactly where I wanted them to go, I attached them to the picnic table top with 2 screws each. No glue at all! This girl loves to repurpose so if one day I wish to take these boards off, I wanted to make sure it was effortless!
Furniture Wax – Tuscan by Fusion Mineral Paint (get 10% off)
Waxing the table top wood to protect and enhance
5. Protect the wood surface with a product of choice.
Because I wanted to use this as a kitchen dining table, I wanted to protect the top with something but didn’t want to darken the wood tone. So this round, I reached for Fusion’s Furniture Wax in natural with the Tuscan scent. Oh lala… did it smell wonderful going on!
The wax darkens the wood tone as it goes on, however once it dries, the wood lightens right back up again. I always suggest you test any finishing product in a small area to ensure it will give you the results you’re after.
I also waxed the top of the bench in the same way.
Furniture Wax – Tuscan by Fusion Mineral Paint (get 10% off)
How to apply Fusion’s Furniture Wax
- Remove all dust from the wood.
- Dip the tip of a rag into the wax, then generously spread it over the wood.
- Allow the wax to penetrate for approx 5 minutes.
- Using a clean rag, remove the excess wax, then end with a polish until the surface feels dry to the touch.
Adding a mix of random chairs
6. Gather up some farmhouse chairs along with the bench to complete the look!
Since I desired a gathered-over-time vibe, I landed 3 other chairs for free, and teamed them up to my wooden antique chair plus painted bench to complete the look! This offers very flexible seating, plus I can easily add and subtract should another intriguing chair come along.
I can’t believe I finally have a farm table in my kitchen! It’s the perfect size for this space and is all the space I need.
And while this setup doesn’t offer an extension leaf, the fact that I had the versatility to make the wood top the size I desired depending on the wood I chose works for me! It’s the perfect everyday tabletop size for just myself or guests. And ready for special occasions to boot!
Trying out my first coffee time on the new table!
And just check out the tone of that wood top! The wax basically faded out of sight lightening that wood right up again! The light, natural tone is absolute perfection and feels as smooth as silk thanks to the wax finish!
And in case you were wondering if the hype of benches is really a good companion to farm tables, I can vouch it is! I love sitting on this bench when I’m doing a puzzle, so I can slide back and forth for extra pieces. Plus imagine wiggly kiddos… it would be so perfect for them.
I think benches make the look so inviting, like it’s begging you to sit down right now! AND love the lower height so you can really see the table shine behind it!
But that’s not all I did…
Redecorating the wall shelving with a kitchen vibe
The back wall display was transformed from office to kitchen too! With IKEA GORM shelves displayed with rustic crates, faux plants, antiques and wicker baskets, these shelves really helped loosen up my cupboard space while adding a rustic kitchen vibe I love SO much!
The shelving and the table basically became one. It’s such a neat look!
Tell me that bare table isn’t positively begging for coffee time…
Yup, it was. And don’t mind if I do!
Regular priced farmhouse tables ran in the thousands of dollars. However my version cost me $25 and a little bit of my time. I think this version has all the warmth and charm a much higher regular price table would have. So I think this will work just fine, thank-you very much!
Do you think it passes ok for a farmhouse dining table?
Youtube video tutorial of picnic table turned farmhouse dining table
View the video tutorial from Hometalk’s Youtube above to see it being made!
Other unique furniture flips:
Rustic side table with fire log storage
See many other unique furniture projects HERE
Easy DIY farmhouse dining table made from a wooden picnic table!
Supplies:
Instructions:
- Tighten up all bolts on the table and benches if needed. I also added a few screws for good measure.
- If repainting , sand all desired areas to remove any chippy paint or rough areas.
- Flip the table and 1 bench upside down, then paint in Fusion's Casement.
- Flip the bench right side up, and paint the top.
- Position some reclaimed wood boards on top of the table to your desired size, then sand them before installing.
- Install the boards to the top of the table by drilling in screws.
- With a high grit sandpaper, sand the tops of the boards.
- Apply Fusion's Furniture Wax to the top boards and the top of the bench. Allow to sit for 5 minutes, then buff the excess off until the boards feel silky smooth and dry to the touch.
- Arrange random farmhouse chairs around the table for a gathered-over-time look! I also added a chair on each table end.
- Position one bench along the front, so you have a complete farmhouse table look! Enjoy for a fraction of the cost of the real deal!
Notes
Now it’s time to see what everyone else flipped! Visit below to see them all!
8 THRIFTED & DIY PROJECTS TO TRY
1. Restored Antique Oil Lamp Redhead Can Decorate takes her Grandfather’s antique oil lamp and restores & styles it to perfectly fit her home today and it’s beautiful~ |
2. Vintage Rattan Refresh Christy from Our Southern Home gave a vintage rattan furniture set a fresh new look with a simple seat fabric update. |
3. Thrifted Embroidery Hoop Wall Art Michelle from Our Crafty Mom turned thrift store finds into beautiful embroidery hoop wall art with a simple, creative DIY makeover. |
4. Dated Hutch Makeover Sue from Shop At Blu gives you some tips on how to make minor repairs and transform a dated hutch into a contemporary beauty! |
5. MacKenzie-Childs Inspired DIY Pumpkin Get that whimsical, checkerboard MacKenzie-Childs look for a fraction of the price with this easy tutorial by Uncommon Slice of Suburbia! |
6. Picnic Table to Farmhouse Dining Table See how to flip an old picnic table into a decadent DIY budget-friendly farmhouse dining table by Donna from Funky Junk Interiors! |
7. Farmhouse Vase Painting Idea See how easy it is to update a boring vase into a stunning farmhouse beauty with this vase painting idea by Marianne Songbird! |
8. Floor Lamp to Table Lamp Transformation This towering floor lamp was hiding a charming table lamp in its base. See how Gail from My Repurposed Life gave it a whole new purpose. |
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