The table comes flat packed with two chairs but I had the table for some years before I up cycled it. I advise putting together the table but leaving the chairs in pieces as they come, I did unscrew the table but then realised I'd have a hard job not getting paint into the groves and worried that it would affect getting the table top to slide into the groves it sits in so I put it back together.
I used masking tape on the white table top so that it didn't seap in to the grooves. I painted the pine parts of the table in Wilko's Sugar Sweet (£1 for a 75ml tester pot). I then went on to paint the pine pieces of the chairs in the same colour. I painted two coats on everything and then when it was completely dry I gave them a coat of varnish using Wilko Satin Quick Dry Ultra Tough Quick Dry Clear Varnish, £3 for 250ml. I gave that time to cure and then gave everyone another coat of varnish just to be extra sure that the paint can withstand the playtime of my 4.5-year-old Daughter.
Take extra care not to get any varnish in the grooves of the chair otherwise it will cause you a problem when you fix the pieces back together.
I purchased 3 x 1m lengths of wooden D shaped beading which was 0.95 pence each from B&Q and 1 x 1m length of 20mm wooden dowel which was also from B&Q for 0.95 pence. I painted those in the matching Sugar Sweet and varnished those too, using 2 coats of each.
I then marked and drilled two holes underneath the table on opposite sides to slot in the wardrobe rail holders that I had bought from eBay for £1.65. I then cut the dowel rod to size and put it in place with the roll of paper on it, which was £3.00 from ELC.
I then cut the wooden beading to size and nailed 1 to each shortest edge of the table top. It naturally creates a slight gap to slide the paper through which keeps it flat to the table and also allows the paper to be torn for a clean edge once your child's has finished their artwork.
I then marked out and attached the IKEA Bygel rail £2 for 55cm rail, to one of the widest sides of the table, the one I bought holds 4 Bygel containers they are priced at 0.75p each.
I then cut a piece of 4mm plywood the size of the table top minus 5mm to allow space to get it in and out of the table.
Then I used some fabric I already had which was from eBay, £3.99 for 1m x 1.6m.
I cut a piece of fabric slightly bigger than the table to allow for enough fabric to cover and overlap the plywood.
I then cut a piece of iron on vinyl which I bought from Amazon £8.99 - Heat n Bond. I ironed it on following the instructions.
Once it had cooled I stuck the fabric around the plywood using high grab double sided tape (it's a strong tape used in the flooring trade). If you don't have that then spray adhesive glue would be suitable.
The vinyl makes the table waterproof and wipe able.
Next I tackled the chair cushions! I bought a foam cushion from Hobbycraft £3.00 and cut out a square slightly smaller than the inside square of the seat base. One foam pad was enough for the two chairs but the second chair is two pieces together. I then wrapped fabric around it and used spray adhesive to stick it to the underside of the seat.
Once it had dried I then had the hard job of getting the chairs back together. A rubber mallet and some patience is essential for this part. It took a bit of effort getting the seat base back into the groves of the chair pieces and took about 20 minutes to do both.
I then used Matt Black Blackboard paint from eBay which was £2.25 delivered and is around 150ml. I paint two coats onto the white part of the table top so that when I remove the vinyl covered plywood it reveals a blackboard. The edges of the table prevent chalk dust getting on the carpet.
Written by Siobhan Range