Why would such a simple upholstered coffee table bench take over a year to complete? I'll tell you. I bought this u fix it topless coffee table in March 2016! It was a steal at Vendors’ Village for only $3.99. Of course I had no idea what I was going to do with the topless coffee table, but I knew it was worth four bucks!
Unwanted broken coffee table
I’m guessing the coffee table must have had glass inserts at one time. After I got it home I thought maybe I could use some reclaimed wood to replace the inserts that were missing.
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Make any necessary repairs
The date on this image is from May 2016. I used Gorilla Wood Glue and a Rockler silicone glue brush to aid in getting the glue into the tight spaces. As usual, I clamped the table using scrap wood to prevent the clamp from making an indentation.
Easy painting with a paint sprayer
After all the repairs I painted the coffee table with my Homeright Finish Max.
Finding the right option for the table top
I attempted to use stained pallet boards as the inserts. It worked pretty well in these two spaces, but not so much in the last space. I scrapped the idea and the table sat waiting in the garage for over a year.
Fast forward to June 2017. I dug out the table, and found a piece of cheap plywood that I buy in small sheets to use as a top. You can see I paid $3.88 for the plywood. This will aid in it becoming the perfect coffee table bench.
Because my table saw was not easily accessible, I used my large compound miter saw to trim the board to size. NOTE: I clamped the board down tight so that it wouldn’t budge.
Adding plywood as new coffee table top to make a bench
After the simple cut, the top fit perfectly for the vintage coffee table bench.
How to cut foam without an electric knife
I had a memory foam mattress topper in the basement that I wasn’t using. You've probably seen a lot of people use electric knives for this, but I don’t own one.
I ran a serrated knife down the edge of the board to get the proper size foam piece for the upholstered coffee table bench.
Double memory foam for coffee table bench
I used two layers of the mattress topper memory foam and drop cloth to upholster the coffee table bench.
Secure drop cloth upholstery with a staple gun
A staple gun was used to tack down the folded over edge of the drop cloth.
I placed the upholstered top onto the coffee table and checked it out. But it seemed like it needed a little more!
Easy Button Tufting
I used the same easy button tufted cheat method using screws and washers that I used on my Upholstered Corner Headboard Bench. Oh my just thinking about that corner headboard bench makes me want to make another for my craft show in October! I used dritz craft cover button kit to make the buttons match the drop cloth. I love using drop cloth for upholstery. It is so sturdy!
Although I love the way the top looks with the easy button tufting, but I do not like the color of the coffee table with the drop cloth fabric.
Time for Plan b
This was before I got my new favorite chalked smoked glaze. I was using a black paint wash to give it a glaze and I wasn’t loving it.
It was time to bring out the Homeright Finish Max Super . As always I started painting my project upside down.
So much better in black
As you probably know, color definitely makes or breaks a project. I struggle with color a LOT since I’m making projects to sell.
See? Here is the coffee table bench with the black wash on it. Unfortunately, I am not a fan!
This is the other side. Notice I left the wooden pieces on one side. I know—strange, right?
The upholstered coffee table bench is great for the living room . . .
. . . but even better for an end of the bed upholstered bench to help a fur baby get on and off the bed! Miss Lulu Mae likes her regular coffee table bench at the end of the bed.
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It took over a year to complete, but I generally keep working on a project until I’m happy with it no matter how long it takes.
gail
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Upholstered Headboard Bench with Ruffled Skirt
Tufted Upholstered Queen Headboard Bench
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Wow, I love your persistence. I hate it when a project doesn't come together as imagined. I have one in my garage now that I have to revisit that has been ignored for too long. Thanks for the inspiration to keep trying! This project turned out great! Love the button tufting tip.
Thank you Carol. I rarely give up, but sometimes it takes a while to figure it all out. 😉
gail
Excellent job. I have a heavier coffee table that I wanted to do this to. Great Ideas.
Awesome Deanna! I'm glad you like my ideas. I hope your project goes quick and easy.
gail
The bench is beautiful. The buttons are perfect! I have a table a table at the end of my bed! I have too much stuff! LOL!
I love what you did with the coffee table, the black paint and tuft buttons, really made a big difference. And Miss Lulu Mae looks like she approves, lol. She is adorable!
This is a great way to baby proof a coffee table. I know my daughter has been looking for a solution.
Very nice! We have a very old, and very sturdy, coffee table. This might be a great idea for it. It has it's top, so I'm lucky that I don't have to do something about that before painting and making the soft part.
Awesome! Do let me know if you make your table into a bench, k?
gail
Love the tufted top and the black combined with the drop cloth upholstery is a winning look.
Thanks Paula, I love the black as well.... happy I didn't quit on it in it's earlier stages. 😉
gail