DIY: turning an old door into an original table

Recovering, repairing, building, recycling or modifying are things we love to do. And even more so if the instrument to do so is our own hands, without the help of experts or professionals. For this reason, what we bring you today is something for you to take your kit, roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty: craft for adults!

It is an easy, fast, practical DIY that will bring a very original and personal touch to your decoration. What are we talking about? To give an old door a new use by turning it into a table. By making good choices, the result can be brilliant. Here's a sneak peek:

But first, theory is necessary.

What tools will you need? Brush, spatula, steel wool, sandpaper, brush, bristle brush, sanding block, chisel.

And what materials? Decolorizer, plastering wax, woodworm insecticide spray, water-based primer, wood pulp.

And, of course... A door! You or a family member may have one that has stopped doing its function well. But if not, don't worry because a walk through a flea market or flea market will solve your fault.

#1. CLEAN THE DOOR

The first thing we have to do is to return the wood to its natural state. To do this, we will use paint stripper. A coat of dense stripper will be enough if the door is varnished, but if it is painted, we will apply as many coats as it has of paint. We will apply it in circular movements (with a thick brush) and let it apply for 15 minutes to 2 hours.

To achieve a perfect finish, we will remove the remains of material with a spatula and with steel wool soaked in alcohol.

#2. PREPARE THE WOOD

The next step will be to give our door a good sanding to achieve the same level on the entire surface. But beware! Be careful, you have to sand in the direction of the grain of the wood, to avoid scratching and damaging it. With a damp cloth we will remove the dust generated in the sanding.

If we are lucky, the preparation prior to painting our door would already be finished. But, depending on the age and location of our door, problems may arise to be solved at this stage. Stains and dampness? We will use wood bleach. Woodworm? We will apply insecticide spray in all the gaps that are seen and in the entire door in general. Then, we will use the chisel to fill with plastering wax.

#3. PAINTING THE DOOR

Before painting, it is advisable to apply (with a fresh brush) a coat of sealing primer to close the pore. While it dries, we can think of the color for our new table! Synthetic paint is a very good option: very durable. But it will require a primer and solvent to remove residues beforehand. We will apply at least two coats of paint and, between them, we will sand thoroughly and wipe with a damp cloth to achieve a perfect finish.

As far as the table support is concerned, you have total freedom to decide what suits you best: legs, easels? Here are some inspiring ideas: