9 DIY Patio Tables To Add Function And Style To Your Outdoor Space

Finding the perfect patio table for your outdoor space can feel daunting and expensive. Luckily, there are countless DIY options to try — even for beginners. Whether you want to give an old patio table a chic refresh or build one from scratch, there is a hack for every skill level and style. We've curated the ultimate list of patio table DIYs so you can focus on choosing the perfect concept for your unique space.

The first step is to determine what kind of table you'd like and where you're going to put your new patio table. If you have a small, compact space, consider an accent piece like a side table or miniature barbecue table. For those lucky enough to have an expansive patio, prioritize a communal table to dine with friends and family. Some concepts are kid-friendly, and others are more fitting for a modern, adult-oriented space. The beauty of DIYs is that you can modify them to suit your lifestyle.

Take a tip from @heidy.mls on TikTok and turn an old piece of furniture into a contemporary concrete table. She repurposed a shelving unit by wrapping it in mesh tape and coating it with a concrete mixture. You can purchase pre-mixed, QUIKRETE Quick Setting Cement from Amazon for small furniture projects. If you want to maximize longevity, use a sealer like the SEAL Team's 1 Gallon Protect Concrete Sealer. Be aware that any DIY concrete projects can develop cracks and patina over time, so it's best to embrace the perfectly imperfect finish.

This playful DIY features two softwood boards attached with glue and finished with wood filler. The user painted the rounded surface in a pastel color with white polka dots. Lastly, they attached upside-down flower pots to create the mushroom's stem. To capture the warm, natural pink tone, try the paint color Sailor's Delight 1296 by Benjamin Moore. While the surfaces can be painted with regular exterior paint, the flower pot bases should be spray-painted with a durable aerosol paint. We recommend spray enamel from Rustoleum.

For an eclectic approach, follow @making_a_home1's lead. This user turned a cable drum into an eye-catching table by adding a plyboard top. Then, they glued bottle caps to the top with tile adhesive to finish the funky look. You can get a cable drum, also known as a wire spool, from Amazon via brands like AC/DC WIRE AND SUPPLY. Or, for a cheaper option, contact your local fiber boring company to find out if they have any spools to get rid of. This hack is an amazing way to repurpose bottle caps.

To creaye a budget-friendly outdoor dining table, this content creator used scaffolding boards to create the tabletop. After sanding down the boards, she used 2x2s to secure the edges. After attaching table legs purchased from Etsy, she stained the wood surface for a finished look. If this woodworking DIY sounds like it's out of your league, try starting with a tabletop from IKEA like the ANFALLARE. If you start with an affordable tabletop, the only DIYs you need to attach are the legs and, if you choose, a custom paint or stain.

@whitnwalt used plastic planters from Walmart to create a contemporary side table for her patio. After gluing the planters together, she painted them black and finished the side table with a wooden circle from Lowe's. Safety-wise, always use cement or plastic planters rather than glass pots for your side table base. Make sure to measure the diameter of your planter before purchasing a circular wood board. As showcased in the TikTok, Lowe's offers Unfinished Edge-Glued Boards in a variety of dimensions. Amazon also offers Wood Circles from Woodpecker, but they are offered in smaller sizes.

Demonstrating the power of recycling, @ravenelysetv decided to use old grout to achieve a stone or concrete-inspired look. She smeared the grout over her existing patio tables to create a textured appearance. Then she sealed the surface with a waterproofing liquid. The only issue with this hack is that grout tends to be more expensive than a simple concrete mixture, making it impractical if you don't have extra grout to make use of. If you do choose to use grout, make sure that your product has cement in the ingredients to create the proper texture and finish.

This DIYer came up with a unique way to refresh an old, wooden patio table by adding a few eye-catching details. They sanded down the table and painted it white for a modern base. Then, they smashed outdoor tiles to use as terrazzo-inspired texture on the tabletop. Concrete was used both to adhere the tile pieces and fill in the gaps. If you just completed a tile project, this is a great way to make use of excessive tile overage. For those who prefer the look of a tessellated mosaic, Amazon offers packages of Vibrant Broken Ceramic Tiles.

DIY cinder block patio furniture is trending, and this hack is following suit. This single-material side table has been going "viral," according to @bohofrisco who tried the hack herself. All you need for this DIY are four scalloped edge concrete pavers and a single square paver. While you can get pavers in a variety of concrete shades, the most popular for this hack is a classic brick red. You can use SIKA Pro Select Construction Adhesive from Amazon to connect the cement blocks. Always be sure to apply a primer before painting over brick or concrete.

If you have a glass top patio table that looks dated, @braegfam demonstrates a genius way to revamp your outdoor patio space. The first step is to spray paint the legs of your patio table with a white, metal-safe aerosol paint. Next, apply marble-style contact paper to the surface of your table. You can purchase HOLOMEY's White Marble Contact Paper from Amazon. However, this hack is only suitable for covered patios, as contact paper does not fare well with exposure to heavy moisture. Consider sealing your table with Rustoleum topcoat spray to help it last.