This is my favorite seat in my house. It is where I snuggle up on a cold Winters day, read a book, or watch TV. It is a nice bright spot, but I have no place to put a mug of hot cocoa or a glass of wine. There is the temporary IKEA table that the lamp is on, but I need something lower and that will fit on the other side of the chair. I don’t want to spend any money, so in times of need like this I do what I do best – I go shopping, but not to the mall – in my house. I went shopping to find something to use as a table.
I found this empty urn in my mudroom sitting all alone and in need of some loving. In the Fall I place leaves and a pumpkin on the urn, in the Spring and Summer – it is filled with flowers. Now I am going to show you how to repurpose an urn.
I love to find new uses for objects and have seen photos in decorating magazines where a piece of round glass was placed on a large flower pot to create a table. I tried that. It looked nice, but was a bit too wide and with Trax the cat jumping all over, the glass is not secure and would end up in a million pieces.
I then tried a silver tray where the center section of the tray is lower that the rim. This was secure in the urn, but it looked like an ash tray you would see at a bus station. Not the look I was after.
I like to shop… so I kept browsing and looking through all the items in my house and found this cake stand.
Presto-o Change-o It worked. I liked it. It looked good and was secure when I placed it in the urn.
The stand part keeps it from moving back and forth.
The perfect small table to hold flowers.
a good book and a glass of wine. Just what I wanted and it didn’t cost me a cent.
My bright and sunny spot all warm and snugly for a Winters day made by simply by repurposing.
Have you shopped your house lately to find new uses for items that would have more impact somewhere else in your home? It is fun – no credit card necessary.
* I have repurposed many tables in my house over there years, take a look at how I have moved pieces around.
Mirror Table Acrylic Side Table Thrift Store Side Table
Maddy says
05/04/2012 at 12:40 amWow, I just love your blog Diane! I found you today on craftgawker and every post is better thna the next.
Maddy
Diane says
09/12/2012 at 11:46 pmHi Maddy – thanks so much. It is so nice to hear from new readers. I appreciate you taking the time to say hi and leave a comment.
Heather R. says
05/12/2011 at 12:45 pmThis is such a super cute idea! I may try and do this on my back patio since I am in need of a little table there…thanks for the great idea!
ellen says
02/16/2011 at 10:13 pmvery nice! Love it when you have a new “piece” but didn’t pay anything for it!
it was funny, the ‘ashtray’ comment….:)
Sweet Tea with Cindy says
02/10/2011 at 8:04 pmLove your blog! What a fabulous idea with the urn. You have a beautiful home and great decorating ideas! Sincerely, Cindy Eckhart
antiquechase says
02/09/2011 at 1:49 pmFantastic! i just found you… clicking away.. I don’t even remember where I was… oops! New follower!!!
COme see me if you have time!
Heidi says
02/09/2011 at 10:43 amNo wonder you love to hang out in this room. I would too.
Love the leopard print combined with the winter white slipcovers. Unexpected drama. Cool.
Again, coupling the Vintage Urn with the lively flowers is simply “STYLE” and it is yours. Thank for such an inspiring blog.
Best Wishes
xoxo
Heidi
Kim says
02/09/2011 at 9:27 amWhat a very cool and creative solution!
Maggie says
02/09/2011 at 9:15 amWhat a great job, the perfect little side table for when you’re relaxing in that big comfy looking chair.
Glad you didn’t go with the “ashtray” look!
Missy says
02/09/2011 at 9:01 amI love your resourcefulness! Thanks so much for sharing.
[email protected] Charm says
02/09/2011 at 8:11 amWhat a super duper “COOL” idea…thanks for sharing it at my PARTY!!!!
Blessings,
Linda
aninchofgray says
02/08/2011 at 7:30 pmLooks great! What a sweet little spot to enjoy!
Marilyn Holeman says
02/08/2011 at 5:31 pmHi Diane, I just solved the exact same problem at my house, but in a slightly different way. I have a quiet spot in my bedroom that needed a place for my Bible and a glass or cup, so moved a flat covered basket over next to it. Not as pretty as yours, but it works and it, too, was free! Thanks for sharing. I love your blog.
Blessings,
Marilyn
Diane says
02/08/2011 at 7:40 pmHi Marilyn-
I love decorating with baskets – I bet it looks perfect – and like you said – it was free.
Jane's Junk and Treasures says
02/08/2011 at 1:36 pmWhat an amazing idea!!!
I just found you over at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia!
I love your blog!! Great stuff!
I just became your latest follower!
I would love it if you stopped my “newbie” blog!
Thanks
Lamb says
02/08/2011 at 9:47 amI stopped by to let you know that there’s a fun surprise waiting for you on my blog this morning :)
Pam @ diy Design Fanatic says
02/08/2011 at 8:58 amWhat a perfect solution!
Jenny says
02/08/2011 at 8:06 amI love your creativeness. I could see using this in my home.
Lisa says
02/07/2011 at 10:49 pmGreat Diane! Shopping your own home is the best advice I ever got from a blog!
Lynn at Cottage and Creek says
02/07/2011 at 8:42 pmLove your creativity and thriftiness. Great job. And I agree that it’s essential to have a little something to set that cup of tea of glass of wine on. Brilliant. I found your blog from the Cottage Instincts link party and I’m your newest follower. I hope you’ll visit me at Cottage and Creek and follow back.
~Lynn
Marilyn says
02/07/2011 at 7:59 pmI think I’ll look for an flower pot like yours and have a wonderful table like the one you made! I, too, have two wild animals in the house, and when the weather is changing (like now) DO NOT get in the cat’s way as she races down the hall from the bedroom, up the chair, onto the mantle, and back!
Diane says
02/08/2011 at 7:57 pmHi Marilyn-
Trax – the cat who resides in my house has been bouncing off the wall a lot today. He keeps us entertained – constantly! He does exactly what you describe – racing around from room to room, on chairs, etc. It is like he sees something we can’t.
Diana K says
02/07/2011 at 7:53 pmIt looks great- I love repurposing things…this is great and if/when you get tired of it – it will be an easy switch back for its orginial use. Hugs- Diana
Diane says
02/08/2011 at 7:59 pmHi Diana-
I will be excited to switch it back to it’s intended purpose – cause then that will mean it’s Spring!!!
Pammypam says
02/07/2011 at 6:40 pmI love anyplace that will hold me wine. Awesome!
Marianne says
02/07/2011 at 6:00 pmI love making urns into tables ~ you can also use the glass and put treasures under the glass to show case them ;-)
Diane @ home sweet homemade says
02/07/2011 at 4:15 pmBrilliant! It is the perfect little side table. And your point about using the things that we already have in our home, in an inventive new way is well taken. Good reminder and great example!!
[email protected] Stroll thru Life says
02/07/2011 at 3:35 pmSuper idea. It looks wonderful. Hugs, Marty
Ann says
02/07/2011 at 3:12 pmThis is lovely! The combo of the classic white dish with the vintage style urn is gorgeous. Good job!