Concrete Table Set in Stone

This started as a DIY home decor project, but now that it is finished it’s feeling more like a DIY home improvement project! Concrete has been extremely popular in interior design over the last few years, so of course we had to show you how to make some of this gorgeous decor for yourself. With the help of our contractor friend Tom, we made this lovely DIY concrete table top, perfect for an indoor or outdoor coffee table. Find our full free tutorial below, complete with photos for visual guidance. Or, if you want to dig into daily DIY fun, check out our membership program and make this the most creative year of your life!

Tools & Materials

Steps

Note that these instructions are for a 2 x 4 foot table top. You can adjust the instructions as necessary to create the table size you want. Refer to the photo tutorial below for a visual guide! 

  1. Cut from 1 x 3 inch wood molding for the sides of the form, and a panel product for the bottom of the form. Cut a sheet of wire mesh that is roughly 2 inches shorter on all sides.
  2. Use drywall screws to attach the sides to the bottom panel.
  3. Mix the concrete in a large container. 
  4. Fill the bottom half of the form with wet concrete, working into the corners. Pat and slightly shake the mixture to move air bubbles to the top.
  5. Place the wire mesh piece on top of the half-full form.
  6. Fill the rest of the form with concrete.
  7. Slightly overfill the form, then scrape the top flat using an extra board piece.
  8. Use a good quality trowel to smooth out the top, shaking the form to bring remaining air bubbles to the surface.
  9. After the concrete dries for a few days, remove the form and sand the concrete with 120 grit sand paper to smooth the table top out. Fill in any visible air pockets with a bit of extra cement that you can mix in a small container. Apply concrete stain with a cloth, sponge or roller brush.

Tips

We rounded up our supplies from our local hardware store. I was planning to create a simple mold form for the concrete out of wood, but the staff there suggested adding a piece of wire mesh to strengthen the concrete. Brilliant! Whatever size mold you make, the wire mesh should be two inches smaller in height and width of the bottom panel. Once everything is cut, use drywall screws or a pneumatic nailer to attach the sides to the bottom panel. Mix your cement in a large plastic container. You can use a shovel or a drill to mix. As you fill the form with concrete, alternate between lightly shaking the form and smoothing out the top to bring air bubbles to the surface.

When you are done pouring the concrete, you can use an extra board or a trowel to scrape the top smooth. If you want your table top to last, you will want to add some finishes. Use a random orbital sander to smooth out the surface after it is completely dry. At the very least, apply a stain coating to the concrete. If you want to use this as an outdoor table, you might also want to use a sealer.  

Styling 

Once you complete the project, you can use this concrete table top in any way you like! Our contractor made a fabulous foundation for the table top with gorgeous cedar wood. He put it on rollers so that we can easily move the table whenever we need. We styled our concrete table with some beautiful home decor goodies to give our new furniture a greenhouse theme. Starting with the handcrafted botanicals from our Potted Plant Series for some beautiful greenery, we added the irresistible bottle caddy from Orchard, and we fell in love with the aesthetic of the barrel lantern. 

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Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for daily doses of DIY inspiration, and sign up for your very own Lia Griffith membership for just $10 a month today! For a chance to be featured on our social media, use #MadeWithLia when sharing photos of your projects — your creativity is our greatest inspiration. Happy crafting! ~ Lia & Team

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