Take a cheap piece of store-bought furniture and upgrade it by casting a new concrete top for it. This side table from Target has a nice metal base, but a cheap melamine top. Using the melamine as a form to create a new concrete table top turns this cheap furniture into something more durable and desirable.

SUPPLIES:

Quikrete Countertop Mix (in white)
Available at Home Depot
QUIKRETE® Countertop Mix is a super high-performance mix that is worth the price. It has no large pieces of gravel or aggregate, which makes it great for small intricate pieces such as lamps and vases. It’s easy to work with and comes in different colors. Most stores don’t carry it in-stock so call ahead to your local Home Depot to have it ordered for pickup.

 Off-the-Shelf Alternative: 


Quikrete 5000
Available at Home Depot
QUIKRETE® 5000 Concrete Mix is a commercial-grade blend of stone or gravel, sand, and cement and is specially designed for higher early strength. This is the recommended concrete mix to use because of the high early strength and low price. It’s great for making tables, pavers, stools, and lamps and is typically found in 80-pound bags at Home Depot, but 60-pound bags are also available.

Melamine Topped Furniture
Available at Target
I saw this really cool wire frame side table from Target via Happy Mundane. The metal base is really nice and would be hard to make, but the melamine top is cheap and will delaminate and crumble over time.

Vinyl Base Trim
Available at Home Depot
Vinyl base trim is flexible and tough. It comes in various lengths, is affordable and reusable as a casting material.

TOOLS:

RYOBI 18 Volt Cordless Drill
Available at Home Depot

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1: Screw On the Trim
I used seven (7) 3/4" long screws to screw through the vinyl trim and into the edge of melamine. If your trim is too long, you can cut it with a knife.





STEP 2: Tape the Gaps
I used duct tape to close the gap and connect the ends of the trim.





STEP 3: Support the Mold
I used two (2) long zip ties to make a band to support the sides.





STEP 4: Seal It Up
I used silicone caulk to seal the crack between the vinyl and the melamine table top.





STEP 5: Mix + Pour the Concrete
After the silicone has cured, mix and pour the concrete. Push the concrete down into the corner edges and vibrate the mold to get rid of air bubbles.





STEP 6: Let the Concrete Cure
Let the concrete cure for at least 20 hours.



STEP 7: Remove the Mold
Remove the screws and unwrap the vinyl. The bottom edges can be shaped with a knife before the concrete has fully hardened.





STEP 8: Attach the New Concrete Top
I screwed the new top on with masonry anchors. Screwing into concrete can be tricky since concrete tends to crumble. Squeezing some epoxy into the holes before screwing can help.





STEP 9: Finishing
I used Quikrete Acrylic Concrete Cure & Seal with a satin finish to protect and finish the concrete countertop. It's easy to use and looks great!









Good luck upgrading your own tables and please email, tweet or hashtag photos to @benuyeda, ben@homemade-modern.com or #homemademodern. For more detailed instructions, dimensioned drawings and different variations of the project, check out our soon-to-be-released book.

---