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    Home » Repurposed Furniture » Wooden Chevron Table Top using Shutter Slats

    Wooden Chevron Table Top using Shutter Slats

    Published by Gail | Published April 15, 2014 | Updated August 3, 2020
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    How to do a chevron table top pattern with repurposed shutter slats on an old console tv stand. Some may call it a herringbone table top. Update something you already have! #MyRepurposedLife #repurposed #tvstand #console #tv #cabinet #upcycle #diy #chevron #shutter #slats via @repurposedlife

    Do a chevron table top on a repurposed t.v. cabinet using shutter slats!

     

    update-tv-cabinet-wooden-slatted-chevron-tabletop



    Repurposed T.V. Cabinet

    blue-repurposed-tv-standDo you remember this repurposed t.v. stand (from the ReStore) that I showed you last week? If you remember-- I painted with my new Homeright Finish Max Pro?

     

    I’ve got some details to share with you today.

    t.v.-cabinetThe bottom of the cabinet was too deep and I decided to add a shelf. You can see that I have already added cleats to the side made out of scrap wood and secured with some Gorilla Wood Glue and my nail gun.

     

    notched-plywood-shelfI added a thin piece of plywood that I notched out to make the shelf. Not shown: I added a small board for support in the middle (back)

     

    Paint Sprayer Booth

    blue-paint-finish-max-proThen I put it in the paint booth for a quick paint makeover with my HomeRight Finish Max Pro . All this will make it ready for the chevron table top.

    Designing a Chevron Table Top

    designing chevron table topDid you wonder why I covered the top of the t.v. cabinet with paper while I was painting it? This is why. I had been working on the top of this cabinet off and on for a couple of weeks trying to get the pattern right. After I finally got it right I traced all of the repurposed shutter slats on one side so I could easily replicate the pattern without a lot of thought.

     

    louvered-closet-doorI used the slats from two closet doors I’ve had in my storage shed for a year or so.

    Louvered Door Slats

    five-inch-slatsI cut the slats in 5” lengths, then lightly sanded them to remove the shine. If you don't have access to shutter slats, you could try this project with Paint Sticks

     

    pattern for chevron table topIn this picture, you can get a better feel for how I traced them after I finally got the chevron table top pattern the way I wanted it. Seriously, I put them on and off so many times trying to get them to look right that I didn’t want to have to do that all over again.

     

    use-gorilla-wood-glue-to-secureI removed the paper and painter’s tape and followed the pattern I traced using Gorilla Wood Glue to secure all the slats in place. In order to get them snug, I let the first two set up before I continued the pattern.

    Gluing Slats on a Chevron Table Top

    wood glue for slats on chevron table topI found this method worked easiest for me. I placed a row where they should go, checked them for placement, then flipped them all over, squirted some glue on each one, then carefully turned them over and laid them in place.

     

     

    how-to-wooden-chevron-table-topBecause I'm so challenged when it comes to math, I'm sure you can do this much easier.

    Mark & Trim off Excess Slats

    yardstick-mark-cutsI used a metal yardstick to help me mark the cuts for the pieces than hang over the sides of the wooden chevron table top.

     

    diy chevron table top with shutter slatsI saved all the cut-offs and were able to use many of them to fill in the areas that were left.

    NOTE:  I cut my slats on a compound miter saw—using a full slat from the door shown above to do all the small cuts. NEVER place your fingers near the saw blade to hold short pieces of wood.  The small pieces you see are the end cuts after I cut the slat.

    Chevron Table Top Pattern

    wooden-chevron-table-topVoila! I love it!

    Stain & Seal

    stain-wooden-chevron-slatted-tabletopThese are my tools to stain the top after it was glued down. I used Minwax Wood Finish in Walnut, a cheap chip brush, a latex glove, and a small rag to wipe the stain off.

    staining chevron table topI used the cheap chip brush in able to get down into the cracks of the wooden chevron pattern, then wiped the stain off with the small rag, going with the grain of each slat.

    NOTE: painter’s tape around the front and sides.

    chevron table top made with slats

    stained, and loving it even more! Don't you think the stain brings out the chevron table top pattern?

    Add a Bead Board Backing

    patching-bead-board

    I added a cheap piece of bead board paneling for the back. So, here’s where I’d like to tell you that the piece was too small and I had to piece it together. Well, in fact that IS the truth. The piece was too small because someone cut it wrong <gail looks around to find the guilty party>

    You know the old saying measure twice, cut once? I actually measured this THREE times. I seriously don’t know how I cut it wrong—I think I’ll blame it on my poor math skills. Smile  So, I simply cut another small piece to make up the difference.

    gorilla-wood-glue-painters-tape

    I simply glued the two pieces together and used painter’s tape to hold it until the Gorilla wood glue set up, then I removed the painter’s tape and laid down a piece of white Gorilla Tape.

    Repurposed T.V. Cabinet with Chevron Pattern

    chevron table top repurposed t.v. stand

    I love the walnut stain with the Naval (Behr) paint.

    repurposed-tv-cabinet-chevron-herringbone-wooden-slatted-table-top

    Let's see how versatile this repurposed t.v. stand with the chevron table top is!

    Repurposed T.V. Stand Pet Bed

    pet bed from t.v. cabinet  Chevron Table Top

    Well, looky who’s there! It’s my little Louie! This cabinet would make a great pet bed. Louie doesn’t have a pet pillow because he sleeps with me, but a king sized bed pillow fit perfectly in this cabinet.

    Note: the pieced bead board is on the right, you can’t even tell it has been pieced. I painted the back of the board blue, and painted right over the white Gorilla tape.

     

    repurposed-tv-dog-bedLouie was such a good boy, he let me take all kinds of pictures. This repurposed t.v. cabinet is very versatile, how would you use it? Do you love the wooden chevron table top as much as I do?

    gail

    ps  I'm spending some time over at Sew Woodsy, helping Jon and Katie take some time off for their sweet baby Ryder. Check out my post Upcycle Furniture Roundup

    see other repurposed tv cabinets

     

    sharing here:

    Be Inspired @Elizabeth & Co

    see more great junk at 

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    1. Linda Louise Weeks

      July 30, 2016 at 6:45 pm

      math is useful- but not for me. I love your slat tv stand, especially the lil dog inside! I'd be so proud of myself if I'd done this project! and I have shutters which I have not decided about up to this point, so I'm thinking about doing the very same project myself! But with a cat, instead. Thank you for the posting!

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        July 30, 2016 at 6:52 pm

        Thank you Linda! I had to say goodbye to my sweet Louie in February 2015. I miss him so much, but I finally decided to say yes to a new love in June. Lulu Mae is my new best friend and will probably be doing some projects for her. https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/talk-of-the-town-25/

        good luck with your project!

        gail

    2. Michele Maddix

      July 02, 2014 at 4:54 pm

      I love the use of the shutter pieces for the top. I have a tv stand like that one and the veneer on the top looks to have gotten wet at some point. My son is passionate about music and I wanted to decoupage sheet music or guitar motifs on the top but I don't know what to do about the warped veneer. Any idea how to remove or smooth it?

      Reply
    3. Breanna

      April 24, 2014 at 4:25 pm

      That's absolutely beautiful! What a great way to reuse old shutter slats. Also love that it's a cute little home for your pup!

      Reply
    4. Patricia Krank

      April 22, 2014 at 9:41 am

      Gail . . . you ROCK! What an amazing idea and an amazing transformation. You must have a very mathematical mind. I know it would take me ages to do something like this but I'm pinning anyway, just in case I can get Mr. OTN, the Scientist, to help me on a project. Thank you so much for sharing the "how to".
      Blessings to you,
      Patti

      Reply
    5. Colleen S

      April 17, 2014 at 7:47 pm

      Very impressive! And inspiring! And gorgeous! And clever!
      I would like to know how you cut off the edges of the slats without cutting the top!

      Reply
    6. Kathy Nielsen

      April 17, 2014 at 11:54 am

      Hi Gail, Absolutely adore the table. BUT I'm a little confused. Did you cut the slates individually? Or where they glued to the paper and then cut. After you glued the slates, as shown, what where they glued to? Te able is so pretty I'm going to attempt to copy yours, if that's OK.
      Please let me know how you make your cuts.
      Kathy

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.net

        April 17, 2014 at 12:10 pm

        Kathy,

        I'm so happy to inspire you to make your own, copy all you want!

        I'm sorry-- I've confused you about the paper. the paper was on the top of the cabinet so that when I painted it blue, the pencil tracings wouldn't disappear. 🙂 I spent so much time figuring out the pattern that I didn't want to take a chance in loosing it.

        I cut tons of 5" slats, then laid them all out, drew the pattern along one side, covered it with paper, painted it blue, then removed the paper, revealed the tracing marks and followed that pattern again. Gluing them one row at a time. After I got all the whole ones done, that is when I cut some bits and pieces off of another long slat to get the small pieces to fill in.

        I sure hope this helps, if you ever have any questions, just let me know!

        gail

    7. Tasha @ Designer Trapped in a Lawyer's Body

      April 16, 2014 at 9:09 pm

      Gail, I love, love, love it! What a fabulous use of shutters. And the fact that the table serves as a bed for your sweet Louie makes it even more amazing!

      Reply
    8. Shirley

      April 15, 2014 at 10:20 pm

      If anyone could figure this out, you could. Wonderful beautiful job. I love it. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    9. Becky

      April 15, 2014 at 9:31 pm

      Awesome--love it! I have yet to try a chevron with wood--seems like a lot of work!

      Reply
    10. Mary

      April 15, 2014 at 6:38 pm

      Absolutely gorgeous!

      Reply
    11. Michelle

      April 15, 2014 at 4:07 pm

      I absolutely love this! What a fantastic idea, wow! PS. I hate math.

      Reply
    12. Diane Claassen

      April 15, 2014 at 3:16 pm

      Very nice! Love the top. I have a couple of old shuttered bi-fold doors. Now I know what to use them for. Could be a table top also.
      Just love it!

      Reply
    13. Dee

      April 15, 2014 at 2:46 pm

      Absolutely beautiful. Love the drawer in the bottom, was it hard to do? I need to look for a nightstand or something small to do that with the Chevron pattern is one of a kind. LOVE THIS PIECE.

      Reply
    14. Susie Heller

      April 15, 2014 at 1:59 pm

      Love the slats. Who would thought? I have some old shutters just waiting for that kind of thing. You are brilliant!

      I too had a nice tv cabinet that I started fixing. I finally gave it to the local thrift store and I couldn't think how to fix it properly. Wish I had it back. I just purchased a cabinet about the same size with a cat door in the side. I removed the front doors and cat door. had to strip it as it had some flaky finish on it. I want to use it to give my kitty privacy when she uses the litter box! Don't we all love our pets?

      Reply
    15. Mindi

      April 15, 2014 at 1:58 pm

      This looks A-mazing Gail!!! I love everything about it! My fav is the top, you rock!!! And I am math challenged too, lol!

      Reply
    16. Donetta Wolfe

      April 15, 2014 at 1:38 pm

      Gail,
      That turned out really cute. I love the top it really adds to the piece.

      Reply
    17. Stephanie@cre8tive

      April 15, 2014 at 10:43 am

      I love it! You and me are about the same with the math skills...I usually measure 4 times and still cut wrong. It's in my DNA. I like that you stained the chevron. It really added depth to them. I think it should be Louie's bed during the day! He looks so cute in there. And your staging is getting pretty darn good I'd say!

      Reply
    18. Julie @ follow your heart woodworking

      April 15, 2014 at 10:26 am

      That chevron top is beautiful... wow! And those are shutter slats, amazing again Gail!

      Reply
    19. Laurel Stephens

      April 15, 2014 at 10:18 am

      What a gorgeous top for a really useful cabinet. I think you did a great job on this, Gail. It's the nicest looking chevron top I've seen. I'd love to try and do this one day, and your instructions will be the ticket!

      Reply
    20. Margaret

      April 15, 2014 at 9:48 am

      Wow, Gail. This cabinet is so sweet! I love, love, love the Chevron on the top. It's just beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    21. cassie

      April 15, 2014 at 9:35 am

      this is so awesome!!!! love the top and want a pretty cozy spot to nap like this!

      Reply
    22. Katy

      April 15, 2014 at 9:12 am

      Absolutley beautiful-very imaginative!

      Reply
    23. Shelley

      April 15, 2014 at 9:02 am

      The chevron idea would make a lovely table top if sealed for out doors. Would be a nice dining table or small side tables in a seating area outdoors 🙂 got me thinking.....

      Reply
    24. Bliss

      April 15, 2014 at 8:58 am

      Every dog needs a prestigious bed, that would be my choice to use it.

      Reply
    25. Toqua

      April 15, 2014 at 8:34 am

      Oh Gail! That's beautiful! The work put into placing those slats! The end result is definitely worth it. Great job!

      Reply
    26. Holly

      April 15, 2014 at 8:17 am

      Love the slats on the top! A great repurpose!

      Reply
    27. Terri

      April 15, 2014 at 8:07 am

      This turned out so cool! Leave it to you to figure out an awesome way to use those slats! Love it!

      Reply
    28. Cynthia Banessa

      April 15, 2014 at 7:58 am

      awesome job!

      Reply
    29. Glo.

      April 15, 2014 at 7:22 am

      The whole piece looks great, but the top is awesome! Well worth your mathematical frustration (I hope!)

      Reply
    30. kirby carespodi

      April 15, 2014 at 5:56 am

      What a great idea for slats! We have lots of those small pieces from the factory---now you have my wheels turning! (Except I teach English, so I'm also lousy at math.)

      Reply

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    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

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