I needed a patio table for summertime dining. So with the inspiration of an old vintage red and white metal table top rescued from a dumpster, my mother and I made one.

 

First, you will need the supplies.

We had a metal table top we found in a dumpster, table legs from a flea market, paint and brushes, an old closet door, electric saw, electric screwdiver, and 4 straight top plates. However, you can use tools that are not electric.

Table legs can be purchased at places like Home Depot and such.

 

So, duh, of course we had to paint the table legs and make them look all pretty.

I am a big fan of the aged look so we used crackle paint. To use crackle paint, you need well, the crackle stuff available at craft stores, sponge brushes and two colors of paint.

We painted the legs white and let the paint dry. Next, we added a layer of crackle glue/paint, then painted a thick coat of red paint on top. The color underneath (the white in this case) is what is going to show through the cracks.

So we crackled, let it dry, then spray painted the legs with a coat of weatherproof clear finish.

 

Since my table top was metal, I needed something wood to sit it on and anchor the legs to. We just so happened to have an old closet door laying around. We got out the saw and cut the closet door to the exact size of the metal table top so it could sit right on top.

Not everyone is going to have a table top ready made like mine so you might paint the wood you intened to use to match the table legs. Perhaps do a mosaic on the table top. Use broken plates to make it look like a set table.

 

The ends of the legs are going to have pertruding screws that are going to screw into your table.

This is why you need something wood, and why I had to have the closet door.

 

You need to install 4 straight top plates. You screw the plates into the wood on all 4 corners of the plate. The center hole in the plate is where the legs screw in.

 

Screw the straight plates in the four corners of your table.

After this you can screw the four legs into the straight plates. Make sure they are good and tight and that all 4 sides are even.

At this point I placed my metal table top on top of the closet door.

 

Flip it over and there you have your patio table!

Get some pretty plants to use as a center piece and a few lawn chairs and you are ready for out door summer dinning!