$20 projects: A new side table

This is definitely a week of firsts! I’m very excited that yesterday’s “In the Trenches” interview was so successful and I hope everyone will tune in each Wednesday to see who’s in the spotlight that week. Today, after tantalizing you with mentions of them for the last two weeks, I’m finally debuting the first $20 budget decorating project.

As you probably know by now, I am all about making my home more beautiful. The problem is, my budget doesn’t often want to cooperate with me. In an effort to make sure I am always making progress no matter what, I instituted the $20 rule in my home. On each of my husband’s paydays (cause his money is my money, don’t ya know!) I get to spend at least $20 to accomplish one of the goals on my project list. And that’s what led to the $20 budget decorating projects here… it’s my way of staying committed to my own personal challenge. Hopefully you guys will benefit from it too!

I’ve been hunting for something similar to this table for a few months now to go between two chairs in my living room. Unfortunately, every version that I’ve found that I liked cost at least $100. Way more than I’m willing to pay for a side table. (Yeah, I’m cheap like that). I kept hoping to find something on craigslist or ebay or even the local Goodwill, but nope, nothing!

This past weekend I was browsing in the local Pier One and saw a beautiful tray table that I loved. On sale. Still, it was $70-something and since I just bought the two new headboards for the kids, a little bit out of my budget.

As I was leaving the store, I spot these lovely red trays on clearance. I’d wanted one at Christmas time, but didn’t want to pay $20 dollars for it. On clearance, however, it was a mere $5! Of course it was coming home with me.

Standing in the checkout line I happened to spy a few red metal table bases. That’s when the idea hit me… I could buy a base and then add the tray to the top instead of glass. I immediately tried the tray with the red metal base and it looked fantastic. The only problem was the base cost more than the original table I started off looking at– $80! It did let me know I was headed in the right direction.

And so I present to you my new side table:

The tutorial for creating it is simple. First take one $5 tray (about 18″ diameter) and one $12 Marshall’s clearance plant stand (about 23″ high):

Combine them as demonstrated by my handy assistant:

Accessorize with a $4 plant from Lowe’s Garden Center. And Voila! New side table:

Cute, right? I’m not completely sold on this planter table. I love the legs, but I don’t like the seashell decoration, so I may go check a few other places that have planters to see if I can find something with the same type of great legs without the ornamentation. Once I decide if it’s a keeper, I’m going to epoxy the tray to the table since I don’t plan to use the tray for anything else. Even with epoxy though, it’ll still be a $20 new table.

What do you think about the pop of red? I’m considering painting it all a shiny metallic silver. (A free change, because I have silver metallic spray paint in my craft stash.)

There you go. Your first $20 budget decorating project. With summer coming, you can find planter tables of various styles everywhere. You could change the look also by using a different type of tray. I was just thinking that if I had a more formal home, I’d hunt up a silver (silverplated) tray at one of the junk shops. Imagine how pretty that could be.