Upcycle: Coffee Table Bench

I got this coffee table second-hand when I moved into my apartment on my own. It was a cute, simple table that served it's purpose well...

...until it's purpose morphed from table to foot rest.

After a while, the hinges started to give, and the table edges didn't hang straight or stand up on their own anymore.

...by the way, please excuse my super messy basement craft room. That is a project on the bucket list for a later date. In the meantime, I can't stop crafting, so I live in the mess. It's a beautiful mess, and it's mine.

First, I removed the hinges and the folding leaves.

At this point, I had considered finding decorative hinges or hardware and trying to cover those holes. I'd also thought about trimming around the table and making a tray or frame out of the top.

I finally settled on a stuffed bench - I can tell you with certainty that my husband will use this as a foot rest, so a stuffed bench seemed to make the most sense.

Next, I cleaned the table with white vinegar and a rag.

I selected an oil based paint to cover the table. The table had a glossy finish, and I didn't want to sand it down for this quick project, so oil-based paint adhered to the original finish nicely.

Here's the best part: after the table was painted, I took apart pillows from the thrift store...

that's right...pillows!

...and used the stuffing to make the "cushion." Then, I covered it with a piece of cute chevron fabric and used a staple gun to secure the edges.

It took a little time to break the bench in and loosen the stuffing up a bit - if I were to do it again, I would definitely just go buy a cushion. But this project was completed at zero cost using the supplies we have in our basement!