DIY Faux Planked Tabletop
Happy Monday, I hope you are enjoying your holiday weekend! My family has been celebrating my daughter’s high school graduation, so it’s been a busy, full week of preparation and festivities! I honestly haven’t had much time for blogging (plenty of projects, just no time to take photos and/or write about them), but I do have this project that I shared last month over at Lolly Jane, but haven’t shared here yet. If you have a piece of furniture in need of an update, checkout this easy DIY Faux Planked Tabletop tutorial – it may just make you fall in love with that dated furniture all over again!
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————–Hello Lolly Jane readers! I’m Amy and I blog about design, DIY, food, and “all things home” over at Home Remedies. I’m so happy to be back, sharing another quick and easy DIY project with you.
Awhile back a sweet friend of mine asked me to help her freshen up her newly purchased home. As a new homeowner moving from a small apartment to a larger single family home, she had a lot of space to fill on a relatively small budget. Filling the house with all new furniture was just too expensive, so we decided to get creative with some of her existing pieces. My friend loved the look of her rustic, planked dining room table and asked if I could help her achieve a similar look with her sturdy, but outdated coffee table. Closer inspection of the dining table revealed that the “planks” were not really planks at all, but simply deep grooves cut into a solid piece of wood, giving the illusion of planks! I wondered if I could do the same thing with the coffee table, using the existing wood top. Painting the base of the table and “planking” the top would give this piece the updated, fresh look we were after.
After doing a little research on the internet, I was happy to find a great tutorial (by Maison de Pax), that served as a guide, and with a bit of tweaking, I was able to adapt it to my own quick and easy project.
So let’s get started. The supplies needed for this project are :
- Table with a solid wood top
- Circular saw
- Hand saw
- Tape measure
- Pencil or pen
- Electric sander and sandpaper
- Yardstick
- Clamps
- Paint and/or stain in your choice of color (I used Minwax stain in Provincial and Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint in Everlasting)
- Topcoat, if desired
- Paint brushes and rags
First, the table base was painted with white chalk paint, distressed, and a coat of wax was applied.
I then measured and marked the tabletop “planks”. This table was 36″ square so I made six 6″ wide planks (6 planks x 6″ = 36″). *Don’t forget to continue your lines down the edges of your tabletop!
Next, using my yardstick and metal clamps, I made a “guide” for the circular saw – to help keep the cuts as straight as possible.
Using the circular saw set at 1/8″ deep, hubby made the cuts, slowly and carefully.
Once the cuts were made on the tabletop, I used the hand saw to cut the grooves into the edges. You could use your circular saw but neither hubby or I felt comfortable doing this and the hand saw worked just fine.
I wanted a more “rustic” look for the faux planks, so the old orange-y finish was sanded off. I then distressed the tabletop using a hammer, a screwdriver and a metal drill bit.
Next, I applied the stain, making sure to get into the grooves between the faux planks (two coats were applied).
Allow the stain to dry completely, then apply the topcoat of your choice.
That’s it!
I told you it was easy! And now my friend has a “brand new” faux planked coffee table for very little money!
My friend loves her new coffee table, and I hope you enjoyed this project, too! Thanks so much for letting me share with you today! I’d love it if you would follow me over at Home Remedies where you’ll find more quick and easy DIY and home decor projects.
You can also connect with me here:
Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter | Blog
Until next time!
You might also like:
Sharing Here:
Monday
Two Bees In A Pod, Cedar Hill Farmhouse , Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm , Brepurposed, Burlap and Babies, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia , Cozy Little House, Setting For Four, Happy House and Home, Love Grows Wild, Beyond The Picket Fence, The Simple Life Of A Firewife, A Night Owl, A Pinch Of Joy, Keeping It Simple, Huckleberry Love
Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life, Just A Girl And Her Blog, Home Stories A to Z, Tiny Sidekick, Tip Junkie,The Sits Girls, House On The Way, Hope Studios,
Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style , The Turquoise Home , The Real Housewives of Riverton, Someday Crafts, Crafty Allie, Cherished Bliss, Snap Creativity, The Blissful Bee, Family Home and Life, The Thrifty Home, Made In A Day, Seven Alive, Live Laugh Rowe
Thursday
Liz Marie Blog, City Farmhouse , Sweet Haute, Chic California, The Pin Junkie , A Delightsome Life , Craftberry Bush, Joy In Our Home, Glitter Glue and Paint, A Glimpse Inside, Too Much Time On My Hands, Posed Perfection, The Pin Junkie, From My Front Porch To Yours, Table + Hearth, All That’s Jas
Friday
The Shabby Nest, My Romantic Home , French Country Cottage , The Girl Creative, The 36th Avenue, Lolly Jane, I’m Not A Trophy Wife , The Charm of Home, I Heart Naptime, The Cottage Market
Saturday
Six Sisters Stuff, Be Different Act Normal , Reasons To Skip The Housework, Funky Junk, It’s Overflowing, A Little Clairification, The Girl Creative, Reasons To Skip The Housework
Sunday
Thoughts From Alice, View From The Fridge, Under The Table, Delineate Your Dwelling, The DIY Showoff
So pretty! I want to see the rest of the room!
Thank you Katie!
I love this! I can’t sit still just thinking about trying this. What stay did my use, If I may ask? I have to tell you I probably would not have look twice at the original version on this table, but now it carries the entire room! Please show us more of this lovely home!
Paige recently posted…At Long Last. . . . A Drum!
That looks so cool! I would have never thought to do something like that, but the result is amazing!
Carlee Scharnhorst recently posted…Classic Buttercream
I love this technique!!! Faux planking it would make it sooo much lighter. At first glance I thought you added the planks on top! You’re amazing, Amy! Way to go! xo
Thanks so much, Kendra! It just seemed reasonable to use the wood that was already there, rather than buy more to put on the top. I’m cheap like that!
This looks great! I love what you have done with it!
Brooke Riley~Re-fabbed recently posted…Tale of the Vintage Tea Cart
Amy,
This is a great tutorial! I would have never thought to add groves to an existing top to make it look like planks and it turned out great! I am starting a new link up party with Refresh Living every Tuesday night starting @7 pm CST and we would love to have you join us. http://www.pocketofposies.com
I love this Amy! I shared it on facebook this week
I love how you distressed it, lol. I just picture you banging it all over with a hammer, haha. The table looks amazing!
Lindi recently posted…Father’s Day Footprint Card
Thank you, Lindi – I appreciate the share! Beating it up was probably my favorite part – is that bad?
Brilliant, Amy! I absolutely LOVE this makeover! You are so talented and creative! Thank you so much for linking up with Thursday Favorite Things and hope to see you again this week! XO
All that’s Jas recently posted…Greek Milk Pie – Galaktoboureko
Thank YOU, sweet lady! I love Thursday Favorite Things and am always so happy when I have a project to link up!
I’m including this stylish piece in my features tomorrow. Can you make me one for my own home?!?! Love!
Jamie | anderson + grant recently posted…My Exciting News
Thank you so much for the feature, Jamie! Of course I’ll make you some!
It is amazing what a little change can make for a piece! Love the new planked top.
Pamela recently posted…Thrift Store Shopping with $40
Thanks so much, Pamela! I had a hard time giving them back to my friend when I was finished – I may just need to make some for myself now!
It turned out beautifully, Amy! I love the contrast of the white paint with the stained top.
Lauren recently posted…10 Tips for Getting Your Blog Noticed
Thanks so much, Lauren! This was such a fun project to work on!
Gorgeous coffee table.
Trish recently posted…Blueberry Lemonade Recipe
Thank you so much, Trish!
Wow Amy! That is a night a day difference! I love your eye for creating beautiful things!
aspen jay recently posted…ABC Car Game
Thank you! It was a fun project to work on!
Oh my heck, I love this. I am visiting from Treasure hunt thursday. This looks so awesome. I thought you have actually removed the top and put planks on. It really updated that table. So fun!
Thank you – it turned out even better than I had hoped! So glad you like it!
Wow beautiful transformation!! Loveeee it!
Thank you!
I’m so glad you shared this with Thursday Favorite Things, Amy! The transformation is unbelievable! Hope your weekend is an amazing one

All that’s Jas recently posted…Thursday Favorite Things 194
This is so gorgeous, Amy! I want one in my living room!! I love how easy it was, and I love the dark top agains the white bottom. Featuring this at MM tonight!

Amanda @ Dwelling in Happiness recently posted…Summer Spotlight: Sarah from 702 Park Project
So glad you like it, Amanda! Thank you so much for the feature – yay!
I love this idea! I never would have thought of creating “planks” but using a circular saw! What a great idea! I may have to give this one a try sometime!
I’m so glad you liked it – it was such an easy project!
this came out beautifully!! love it
kandice recently posted…Just the Woods, LLC – Ombre Jewelry Armoire
I am visiting from Treasure hunt thursday. This looks so awesome. I thought you have actually removed the top and put planks on. It really updated that table.