This sweet little repurposed cabinet door table is the product of me having so many doors in my stash. I’ve made a small table out of a cabinet door way back in the day, but it’s much easier and prettier when you have the right tools.
Items to make a cabinet door table
These are the items I grabbed from my stash to make this cabinet door table. I purchased a whole bunch of spindles for $5 last year. I used a 1x4 for the table skirt and some other random pieces for the bottom shelf.
After trimming the spindles to the height I needed, I placed the cabinet door table upside down so I could measure the length and width of the skirt. I cut the 1x4 to size.
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Steps to use a Kreg Jig
This is the tool that makes all the difference in the looks and the strength of this little table. A kreg jig allows me to drill the perfect pocket holes to make this table come together.
Need more details on using a Kreg Jig? See my article How to use a Kreg Jig Pocket Hole System
When doing a small project like this cabinet door table, it’s best to secure the smaller sections with the pocket hole screws. Then do the longer side afterwards.
I had a little problem with the top of one of the spindles splitting, so I did some gluing and clamping.
I scrounged around my scraps and found some random boards for the bottom shelf of the cabinet door table. Notice they are not all the same width.
When I was ready to paint, I literally went to my small can stash and grabbed the very first thing I saw. It is Valspar (Summer Shirt Waist) chalk paint.
I had to do about 3 coats to get the spindles to look halfway decent. I still wasn’t thrilled with the way the little cabinet door table was looking. In all honesty, I guess it may be because yellow is my least favorite color.
I bought some Valspar Glaze, one is whitish—sort of clear, the other is dark. To give the little table a slight sheen, I tried the light glaze. I still wasn’t pleased.
How to glaze furniture
Then I used a sponge to apply some dark glaze, using a cheap chip brush to get in the cracks and a rag to wipe it back.
I think I went a little too heavy with the dark glaze, but at this point in time, I was over this little table.
Mostly this is about how to build the little cabinet door table, NOT how to paint it.
It really is a cute table, and it was easy enough for a beginner to build.
This is a small table, but the same look could be achieved with a larger door and salvaged table legs.
See these posts: How to make scrap pile candlesticks (candlesticks on the table) and How to Print on Fabric (daughter and son-in-law’s photo)
I hope you learned something today!
gail
Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.
Amy
How do you attach the table top the bottom?
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Great question Amy! I totally forgot to mention that I used Gorilla Wood Glue and my nail gun to shoot finish nails through the top into the skirt. Thanks for catching that. š
gail
Mindi
Such a cute little table Gail, a perfect example of repurposing! It is so true the right tools make this such an easy build, thank goodness for the kreg jig! Great tutorial, as always!!
Mary
Sooooo Love your cute table!! Would make a great nightstand. Mary
Patty
I really like this little table. I really wish I knew just basic skills, I have been thinkinking of taking some kind of wood working course at the vocational school.
Do you ever do workshops in your spare time (haha spare time)???????????????????
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Patty,
It's been my dream to host classes in a workshop setting, but I think the clock is ticking and that opportunity is just a dream for me. š
You are right about the "spare time". hehehehe
you *should* take a class, or at least watch some great youtube videos!
gail
Julie @ follow your heart woodworking
It's great how you put that together. I'm so glad you put a skirt on the table, I've seen some in blogland without skirts and they just look... wrong!
As for the colour, sorry, I don't like it either, but I'm sure you can get out your sprayer and spray over it with something else!
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
yep, I'm on the fence about the glazing on this piece. I think I went a little too far.... but like you mentioned.. . it's just paint! š
Margot C
As usual, you are so clever! Still, I'm not sure that I love that stain.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
I agree, thanks for your honest input Margot!
Dee
Really neat table Gail. It can be also used for a night stand. I will have to check on Habitat to see if they have spindles as well, because I would love to try this. I also need to get a Keg Jig as this makes everything look so professional.
Love your work and have a safe and Happy New Year.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
I recently saw some thoughts on pocket hole joinery without actually drilling the pocket holes, mostly for "rough" construction. Rodney actually showed me how to do it on the fence we're building! I look forward to using it in the future, but for furniture, I will definitely continue to use my beloved Kreg Jig!
Wendi @ H2OBungalow
You are too brilliant! What a cool use for cabinet doors! Our local Restore is full of them and at about $2 ea this is a crazy awesome project! I can't wait to share this with my readers!!
Christina in FL
OOOoo Gail, this is a GREAT idea! I think even I could do this! :))) I'm waiting to see how long it is until you repaint it. š A very cute table, thanks!!