See This $10 Thrifted Table’s Adorable, One-of-a-Kind Makeover

Sarah EverettHome Projects Editor
Sarah EverettHome Projects Editor
I organize the Before & After series and cover DIY and design. I joined AT in October 2020 as a production assistant. I have an MA in Journalism from the University of Missouri and a BA in Journalism from Belmont University. Past editorial stops include HGTV Magazine, Nashville Arts Magazine, and local magazines in my hometown, Columbia, Missouri.
published Apr 24, 2025
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
About this before & after
Home Type
Project Type
Cost
Skill Level
Rental Friendly

Don’t underestimate seemingly dingy items at the thrift store — especially if they come with a low price tag. They might just become the perfect decorative accents in your home. For example, DIYer Camilla Fabri (@familychic) found this $10 brown table at a thrift store, and although it was a bit stained, she liked the size, silhouette, and quality and turned it into a charming end table. 

She used $12 wooden balls, $12 wooden appliques, and paint to transform the piece, and she already owned the wood glue and paint from previous projects. “Before I buy anything for a project, I always check my supplies first,” she says.

The DIYer attached the wooden appliques with glue. 

First came prep work. Camilla sanded the piece, cleaned it with a cloth, and then attached the baubles to the top and floral appliques to the sides with Gorilla glue

“Spacing out the knobs on the surface was easier than expected,” Camilla says. “It all fell into place nicely.”

Painting was the trickiest part. 

Camilla painted the whole piece in Benjamin Moore’s China White. “The most time-intensive part was the painting,” she says. “It took three coats to cover it.”

But the new table is nearly unrecognizable and goes with Camilla’s eclectic Americana style. “I love the overall look,” Camilla says. “It’s a little unusual, but fits in easily with our decor, and the fact that it’s a-one-of-a-kind item is great.”