This side table DIY is the perfect price…free!

This gem was rescued from my parents’ basement during a visit to their home on Dead End Rd. It was the end of the line for this little beauty. A plant stand in its former life, it was dirty and scuffed. The metal container (that held the plants) was discolored and scratched.  But look at the lines! Oh, for a dollar for every time I’ve said this. I also loved that it had a bottom shelf (more places to stack books!). The faux bamboo on the corner posts gave it a bit of an Asian flair. I knew this piece could play a leading role in my bedroom renovation.

And it has! The paint (Aztec Gold by Valspar) was free, courtesy of two magazine inserts for free sample pots from Lowes. I lightly sanded the piece first, then primed it, then added two coats of paint. This was a bit tricky, only because of all the curves. You really have to keep an eye out for drips (a good rule of thumb for life, in general).

The metal insert, which formally held plants, I simply flipped upside down, so it would transform the piece into a table. I hit it with a coat of the silver spray paint I always keep around in case a piece needs a little bling. This silver has a nice matte finish, plus it’s hidden partially behind the latticework so it’s not too overpowering.

I love this spot of color against the robin’s egg blue walls of my new room. The fun chair was a steal from Big Lots. I’d always wanted a reading nook in my bedroom. This area is small, but quite comfortable. A place to lean back, a place to put up your feet, a place to set your cup of tea. Every bedroom needs a spot like this.