Upcycling an Old Console Table: A Bright and Modern Transformation

In this tutorial, I'll walk you through how I upcycled a nice, but dated, wood console table to have a bright and modern look.

Starting Point

What I liked about this console table:

• from the photos, you could tell it was original timber all over rather than particle board or veneer

• It had good dimensions

• The existing design was pretty clean - no flourishes, so I didn't need to fundamentally change anything for it to look modern

Materials and Cost Breakdown

Here’s a list of everything I used for this project, along with an approximate cost breakdown (in AUD) to help you plan your own transformation:

• Old Console Table: $0 (this was advertised on facebook by someone who was moving out)

• Screwdriver (for removing hardware): $0 (already owned)

• Rough Sandpaper (80-grit): I already had this, but a 5 pack is $7.74

• Fine Sandpaper (220-grit): I already had this, but a 5 pack is $7.74

• Orbital Sander: $0 (already owned)

• Wood Putty: I already had this from a previous project but a small pot is $11.50 - you don't need much.

• Tan Paint: I already had this from a previous project, but a sample pot (which is more than enough) is about $7

• Clear Protective Coat (Cabothane Clear): I already had this, but a small pot is around $15. Again, you really dont' need much.

• Tropical Wallpaper (for drawer lining): I already had this from another project, and only used a small amount for the drawers. I originally paid $43.89 for it, see below for link.

• Hardware (hammered nickel handles): $41.44 + $10 dollars shipping (which is annoying, because I've previously bought these handles so if I was organised I could have avoided this shipping cost)

• Drawer Tabs: $0, but these are normally about a dollar each

Total cost for me, specific to this project: $51.44

Cost for someone with tools but no supplies: $131.30

The takeaway from the above is that the most cost effective way to upcycle is to pick a rough theme - i.e. a wood tone, colours if you want, hardware, and wallpaper and do a couple pieces. Most of the materials are a fixed cost and will support 2-3 projects.

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1: Clean and Remove Hardware

Start by giving the table a good clean. Remove all the existing hardware—this includes handles, knobs, or any other attachments. This will give you a blank slate to work with.

Step 2: Rough Sand to Remove the Existing Finish

The original finish on my table was quite red, so I used rough sandpaper to strip it right down back to the original timber.

Step 3: Fill in Holes and Dents

The original drawer handles were single knobs, and I am replacing them with two point handles, so I had some serious holes to fill. Using wood putty, I filled in the holes left by the old hardware and addressed several small dents and imperfections in the wood. If your piece has soft wood like mine, this step helps create a smoother surface for the final finish.

Step 4: Fine Sanding for a Smooth Finish

After the wood putty dried, I sanded the filled areas with fine-grain sandpaper to remove any excess and blend them seamlessly with the rest of the surface. I then gave the entire piece a fine sanding to achieve an ultra-smooth finish. This step makes all the difference in the final look and feel of the table.

Pro-tip - in the photos you will see I have put the table onto a padded, black drop sheet. This is because the area where I do my sanding has small pebbles occasionally blown in, and I needed to put the table down on it's side for the sanding, and without the drop sheet I end up with additional dents and gouges in the wood beyond what it started with. If your piece is made of soft wood, you should make sure you aren't having the same problem.

Sanded drawers once they had been wiped clean with a cloth

Step 5: Tan Wash for a Bright and Natural Look

My goal for this piece was for the timber to have a light finish, even a transparent one if possible. Once the original varnish had been removed I realised the underlying timber was quite yellow, so I decided to apply a tan wash.

Tips for Tan Wash

• To balance out a yellow tone of the wood, you want to buy a tan coloured paint for your tan wash

• To balance out a red tone of the wood, you want to buy a slightly green coloured paint for your tan wash.

• Don't buy expensive premade products. Just buy some interior paint in a sample pot (it goes a long way) and mix 50/50 with water.

• I used light cream coloured tan colour to achieve a bright tone that matches some of my other furniture. I like it, but if I was to re-do this project and I wasn't trying to match other stuff in my house, I'd probably go for more of a taupe colour than a cream colour.

• The biggest issue with applying a tan wash is that the consistency is much runnier than paint. This means there is a significant risk that it will run over the edge of the surface you are applying it to, the wood under the dribbes will soak up more tan colour than the wood around it. Be ready with a cloth to wipe around the edge of the surface you are doing as you go.

This is the exact colour I used for the tan wash. I would probably choose more of a taupe next time.

Step 6: Protect with a Clear Coat

To ensure the table is durable and resistant to scratches, dents, and stains, I applied a clear protective coat using Cabothane Clear. This step not only protects the piece but also enhances the finish, giving it a polished look. In other projects, I have used Cabot's Benchtop Clear, and to be honest I will go back to that in the future because the Cabothane Clear was really difficult to get off my hands and brushes.

Step 7: Add a Fun Touch to the Drawers

For a pop of colour, I lined the inside of the drawers with tropical wallpaper. I actually bought this wallpaper for another project but I just love it. It's good for furniture because the design is small enough that you can appreciate it in a drawer, but also has enough variety that it doesn't just feel a boring repetitive pattern.This little detail adds a cheerful surprise and ties in beautifully with the bright and modern theme. You can find the exact wallpaper I used here.

Step 8: Install Modern Hardware

Finally, I replaced the old hardware with modern handles featuring a hammered nickel finish. You may notice, I actually used the T-Bar version of this handle for a recent project upgrading some bedside tables. I decided to repurchase in a 96 mm handle because I like them so much.  You can find the exact hardware I used here

This is the hammered nickel handle I used.

I also added tabs to the back of the drawers to prevent them from being pulled all the way out, otherwise I had visions of my son yanking them out onto his head. I actually got these from my neighbour, but I've got a link to the product I used here.

The Finished Look

The end result is a console table that feels fresh, modern, and perfectly suited for a bright and contemporary space. This project is proof that with a bit of imagination, even the most outdated pieces can be transformed into something beautiful and functional.