Driftwood Sculpture Table Top Stand DIY
How to make your own version of modern art using a piece of reclaimed wood. Capture the organic beauty of nature and mount it to make a driftwood sculpture table top stand or petrified wood slab or slice. When mounted on a stand it will blend seamlessly with any modern or traditional space.
Over the weekend, I made something new for my foyer. Even though my house is small, there is a large 2-story foyer that needs big items that will fit the scale of the space.
I am always looking for ways to decorate it using more minimal decor that will make a decorative impact.
I find that I am being drawn to natural and organic decor like the wood sculptures on stands I have been seeing in decorating books and magazines similar to the ones in the above image.
I decided that was just what the sideboard in my foyer needed – a piece of modern art… but without the price tag or any wood carving skills. More to the cost of free!
What Type of Wood Can Be Used To Make a Wood Table Top Modern Art Stand?
Wood sculptures on stands like these can be made with reclaimed wood, petrified wood, driftwood, or any interesting piece of wood you may come upon when you are out in nature or even your yard.
I have an endless supply of interesting looking driftwood that washes up from the lake to my yard, so I have been keeping watch for a big piece.
When out kayaking a week ago, I came upon a floating section of a tree trunk that had the shape I was looking for. It was way too big, but I knew I, or shall I say, Ed could cut it to the size I envisioned with a chain saw.
So we went home, got a rope, went back out on the lake to find the section of floating tree trunk again. We tied it up to a kayak and paddled home with it in tow. It kind of looks like an alligator, but no gators in the lake. :-)
I had to let it dry out for a week, and then got to work to create what I imagined in my head.
Here is what I made with a section of the large piece of driftwood I found.
I love it! The driftwood now looks like a sculpture and gives a modern touch to the foyer. Just the look I was after.
One fun thing that happened when we went to cut a section of the log. On one end it looked like a fish, so we went with it and used that end of the log to make the a decorative piece for the foyer. :-)
The other end, we cut in the overall shape of the fish face side to keep the piece of wood somewhat symmetrical.
The only item I had to buy to make the project was a dowel.
How to Make a Driftwood Sculpture Table Top Stand
You can make a wood stand sculpture any size you want, large or small. For this how-to tutorial, I list the sizes of the wood and dowels I used so you have a point of reference.
supplies needed:
- Piece of driftwood or any interesting looking piece of wood. My piece measures: 36″ long x 9″ high.
- 1 – 4 x 4 post or section of a wood pallet or a piece of wood cut to 24″ long x 2″ wide x 2-1/2″ tall.
- 2 – 5/8″ diameter dowels. Each cut to approx. 7-1/2″ in length.
- Black satin paint
- Saw
- Drill and 5/8” drill bit or to fit size of dowel
- Chalk
- Measuring tape
- Wood glue
- Cut the wood to the size needed using a chain saw. The size of the section I used is: 36″ long x 9″ high. We will use the rest of the wood for our lakeside fire pit.
2. The bottom piece of the wood for the stand is a piece from a wood pallet that I found in the trash at Home Depot. It was the perfect size and shape. I asked if I could have it and they said yes. With wood prices so high, I was very excited to have come across it.
3. Lay out the driftwood, dowels and wood for the stand on floor or work table to envision where you want the dowels to go.
3. Paint stand wood and dowels using black satin craft paint or any color you want. Let dry.
4. Mark the center part of the driftwood and stand wood to align with each other. Then mark on each were the dowel holes should be drilled.
5. Using a 5/8″ drill bit, drill two holes in the driftwood and stand wood. Drill down about an inch for each.
6. Drill two holes where your chalk marks are on the driftwood. Go about an inch deep.
7. Brush a coat of wood glue on the end of the dowels and then place in the stand. Touch up with paint if needed.
8. Repeat glue step for attaching the driftwood to the top of the dowels.
9. Place on sideboard or console.
Here it is on the sideboard with nothing in front of it.
And with a white tray of candles in front of it.
I like having options as I don’t have too many surfaces around my house to display my favorite decorative accessories.
Since the driftwood looks like a fish, I will have to name him or her. :-) Do you have any good name ideas?
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