Custom Dining Room Buffet

Create a custom serving buffet from an old dining room table in just a few simple steps.

Blue Buffet Table and Blue Artwork

Create a custom serving buffet from an old dining room table in just a few simple steps.

By: Brian Patrick Flynn

Related To:

Materials Needed:

wooden dining room table
table saw
orbital sander
medium-grit sanding pads
extension cord
pencil
level
tape measure
1" angled paint brush
paint roller

roller pad
paint pan
pan liner
gallon of primer
gallon of porch and deck paint
gallon of floor sealer
drill
wood screws
1x2 trim
damp cloth

Choose Proper Table

To choose proper table, focus on width and height. Depth is not important since table will be customized with new depth.

Measure and Mark Dining Room Wall

Use tape measure to determine proper width and height of serving buffet. Mark measurements on wall with pencil and level. Jot dimensions down for reference.

Antique Wood Dining Table

To choose proper table for the DIY dining room buffet, focus on width and height. Depth is not important since table will be customized with new depth.

Cut to Size

Use tape measure to determine where to cut, mark a straight line along the top using a pencil and the level. With help of a friend, guide the table through the table saw along marked line.

Sawing Dining Table in Half

Use tape measure to determine where to cut the table, then mark a straight line along the top using a pencil and a level. With help of a friend, guide the table through the table saw along marked line.

Remove Existing Finish

Use orbital sander with medium-grit sanding pads to remove finish in smooth, controlled manner. Wipe dust from table with damp cloth.

Sanding Wood With Orbital Sander

Use orbital sander with medium-grit sanding pads to remove table's finish in smooth, controlled manner. Wipe dust from table with damp cloth.

Add New Finish

Pour primer into paint pan liner, then use a paint roller to apply a single coat of primer to piece. Paint any remaining areas with one-inch-angled paint brush. Let dry. Replace paint pan with new liner, then pour porch and deck paint into pan. Use a paint roller to apply two even coats. Let dry. Replace paint pan with new liner, then pour floor sealer into the new liner. Use paint roller to apply a single coat. Tip: Keep paint brush nearby to brush out any air bubbles.

Use a paint roller to apply two even coats of paint to your table. Let it dry. Replace the paint pan with a new liner, then pour floor sealer into the new liner. Use a paint roller to apply a single coat. Tip: Keep the paint brush nearby to brush out any air bubbles.

Priming Furniture Before Painting

Pour primer into paint pan liner, then use a paint roller to apply a single coat of primer to piece. Paint any remaining areas with one-inch-angled paint brush. Let dry.

Painting Furniture With Blue Paint

Use a paint roller to apply two even coats of paint to your table. Let it dry. Replace the paint pan with a new liner, then pour floor sealer into the new liner. Use a paint roller to apply a single coat. Tip: Keep the paint brush nearby to brush out any air bubbles.

Create and Install Wall Cleat

Using a table saw, cut 1x2 trim approximately two inches shorter than width of table. Hold 1x2 trim below the height line marked on wall with pencil. Fasten 1x2 to wall with wood screws using drill.

Drilling Pilot Holes in Wall Cleat

Using a table saw, cut 1x2 trim approximately two inches shorter than width of table. Hold 1x2 trim below the height line marked on wall with pencil. Fasten 1x2 to wall with wood screws using drill.

Attach Buffet to Cleat

Slide buffet into place laying bottom of table on top of cleat. Fasten table to cleat by drilling wood screw through cleat and into table from underneath using drill. Allow 24 hours for sealer to dry before placing objects on serving buffet.

Drilling Screw Through Cleat

Slide buffet into place laying bottom of table on top of cleat. Fasten table to cleat by drilling wood screw through cleat and into table from underneath using drill.