Updating An Old "coffee Table" With No Glass

What to do with old "coffee table"??

We have this coffee table, which is missing all three pieces of glass...but we just don't want to get rid of it! Any ideas of how to put something on the top and be able to save it or sell it??

8 answers

Moxie on Apr 24, 2015
Ill take it! Lol...I would make stained glass inserts for it...u could use acthink plexi glass, sabd it to make it "frosted" and the paint with white onvthe bottom side a motif like the dandilions with puffs blowing away across the panels. ..and paint it black with satin poly...that would be really cool

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- Cindy Carley on Apr 24, 2015
  @Moxie Do you have a photo that you could share?? Sounds like an easy project, but don't quite get the "full picture" of what you're talking about!! Thank you!!
  
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- Jackie Wilkins on May 31, 2022
  
  I think putting picture frame glass in it, if not too expensive. I can imagine just regular glass that you have to cut would be quite pricey, but I'd check the size and it's already cut, looks like it could be 11 x 15 or something close. I'd try that first. Thanks
  
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B. Enne on Apr 24, 2015
Upholster the top and turn it into a bench/ottoman.

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- Cindy Carley on Apr 24, 2015
  @B. Enne Crazy me....didn't even think about a bench....awesome idea!!! Thanks!
  
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- B. Enne on Apr 24, 2015
  @ @ You're welcome...I plan on trying that on an old ratty one I have. I may even attempt to tuft it. I make a lot of plans, but they rarely materialize :)
  
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- Cindy Carley on Apr 24, 2015
  @B. Enne Know what you mean.....we're procrastinators!?!?
  
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- B. Enne on Apr 26, 2015
  @ @ It's a sign of intelligence :D
  
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- B. Enne on Apr 29, 2015
  @ @ I thought of you when I saw this today. http://www.hometalk.com/diy/living-room/furniture/diy-tufted-ottoman-443277
  
  DIY Tufted Ottoman
  
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- Cindy Carley on Apr 29, 2015
  @B. Enne Thanks........I'll have to take a look at it after while!! :)
  
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- B. Enne on Jul 04, 2018
  
  HAHAHA! I just saw this reponse 3 years later...seriously! 🤣🤣🤣
  
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Lucy on Apr 24, 2015
I'd cut the legs off, put in stable glass, add art or decos on a masonite back, and hang it on the wall as a unique shadow box.

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- Cindy Carley on Apr 24, 2015
  @Lucy Amazing idea.......would you sand it and repaint??? Thanks!!
  
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- Lucy on Apr 24, 2015
  @ Chalk paint is a good idea, if you don't care for the natural wood look. If you like natural wood, you might be able to spruce it up with Old English light scratch cover. As a shadow box, you might even want to install a small, thin fluorescent light in the top, depending on the texture of the contents. Even if you don't paint it, you would probably want to paint the raw wood and braces underneath a similar color as the contents. As heavy as it must be, you'd need to screw or bolt it to the studs in the wall.
  
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- Cindy Carley on Apr 24, 2015
  @Lucy If we goes this route will definitely be sanding/painting it another color. Great suggestions!! Thanks, again!!!
  
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- Lucy on Apr 24, 2015
  @ I'd love to see what you end up doing. The coffee table offers SO many possibilities!
  
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- Cindy Carley on Apr 24, 2015
  @Lucy When I get "real ambitious" I'll put a photo on Hometalk!! Have a great weekend!!! Thanks!
  
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PainterNoni on Apr 24, 2015
1. paint existing wood with chalk paint, distress if you like. 2. buy a piece of fairly thin plywood to fit on the underside. finsh the upside of the plywood with paint, mirrors, cloth, whatever. 3. Get glass cut to fit the 3 openings. 4. affix small attractive handles on glass so can lift up. 5. Place small "pretties" of choice under the glass. Could be flowers, "jewels".......old rusty items.........6. voila......a display coffee table to use or sell.

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- Cindy Carley on Apr 24, 2015
  @PainterNoni Thanks for all of the "amazing ideas"!!! I definitely will be doing something with it!! Everyone has been so helpful!!!! ~ Have a Great Weekend!!!
  
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Margaret Adamski on Apr 24, 2015
You can also paint for Chess games or artist or ceramic on coffee table or artist or ceramic.

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- Cindy Carley on Apr 25, 2015
  @Margaret Adamski Yours is also a great idea, but the 5 granddaughter's are teens now and have their own activities; so don't have "little ones" around much anymore. Thank you!!
  
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Sandra wilson on Apr 24, 2015
put wood box in and put in laundry room for whites ,colors ,towel. and the kids can help after showers to put wash in the boxes for mom

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- Cindy Carley on Apr 25, 2015
  @Sandra wilson Now your idea is "brilliant" if I had the extra room in our laundry room!! Would never of thought of this one!! ~~ You're ALL so "CREATIVE" & "INSPIRATIONAL"......thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!!!
  
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Marion Nesbitt on Apr 26, 2015
Nice table. I'd just replace the glass.

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- Cindy Carley on Apr 26, 2015
  @Marion Nesbitt I've thought about doing that, but glass is pretty expensive to have cut & replaced. We were hoping that there would be some other cheaper idea that we could come up with!! ~ Thank for your comment!
  
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- Marion Nesbitt on Apr 26, 2015
  @ Am wondering if you could get some at a re-store and cut it to fit? I saw my Dad doing this with a small glass cutting tool (shouldn't be too expensive). Once he scored the glass, he made sure the piece was well supported along and behind the scored part. Then he just gave it a light tap and the unwanted piece just separated.
  
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- Cindy Carley on Apr 26, 2015
  @Marion Nesbitt Thanks...........I may try that and have my hubby help me out. Would probably be the easiest and least costly, possibly!! Thanks, again!!! :)
  
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Tonia on May 18, 2015
I had something similar that i made into a craft table for my kids when they were little. I put a bottom under the apron to make a box then I put a larger top on it using a piano hinge and safety hinges so it wouldn't slam shut. They kept games, coloring books etc. in it. They loved it because it was just their height.

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