How to reinvent a pine table

From family hand-me-downs to junk-shop finds, old furniture can easily be upcycled to become useful and stylish once more. See our ways to transfrom your dining table with our 4 step-by-step craft ideas .

A bathroom washstand How to do it

Step 1) Choose tiles and a basin. Then use a jigsaw to cut a rectangular panel from the table top.

Step 2) Screw a piece of moisture-proof MDF to the underside of the table under the hole.

Step 3) Paint the table and allow to dry.

Step 4) Tile a thin piece of MDF, the same dimensions as the recess, to ensure the tiles are level with the table ’s surface when fitted. Fix in place, then grout tiled area.

Step 5) Plumb in a basin – you may want to get a qualified plumber to do this for you.

Get the look

Legs painted in Sapphire Springs 3 satinwood, £31.99 for 2.5l, Dulux . Table top painted in All White estate eggshell, £25.50 for 2.5l, Farrow & Ball . Handmade tiles in Turquoise, £180 per sq m, Emery & Cie at Retrouvius . Cono basin, £148.35; Zyam tap, £193; both Aston Matthews .

A writing desk How to do it

Step 1) Choose decorative wallpaper , then paint the table to complement it.

Step 2) Cut a piece of wallpaper the same length as the table. Depending on the width of the roll, you may need two lengths to cover the whole table top. If so, place the join towards the back of the desk where it's less likely to be noticed.

Step 3) Use Spray Mount to attach the paper to the table and prevent it moving, then top with a cut-to-size glass panel. Avoid sharp corners by asking for polished edges when having your glass cut.

Get the look

Darly Indigo wallpaper (P523/05), £42 per roll, Designers Guild . Low-iron strengthened glass, £110.99 for piece shown, Preedy Glass . Table painted in Slate Blue Lt water-based eggshell, £16 for 1l, Sanderson .

A console table How to do it

Step 1) Paint a neutral base coat over the whole table.

Step 2) Once dry, mask out different-width stripes before filling them in with your chosen colour palette. Darker colours will need three or four coats.

Tip: to prevent colours from bleeding when the masking tape is removed, use a very fine brush to paint along the edges of the tape with the base colour.

Step 3) Make sure you paint part on the tape and part on the table for a neat seal. Carefully peel off the masking tape, then use a clear matt varnish to strengthen the finish.

Tip: why not use up old sample pots of paint for your stripes?

What you need

Stripes painted in Famille Rose, City Grey, Lagoon, Lichen, Black and Mushroom acrylic eggshell, all £19 for 1l, Zoffany .

A kitchen table How to do it

Step 1) Paint the table , choosing a bold colour for the supports.

Step 2) Once it's dry, stretch a piece of patterned oilcloth taut across the top, stapling the edges neatly under the lip.

What you need

Paradise Lace oilcloth, £12 per m, Viva la Frida . Legs painted in All White estate eggshell, £25.50 for 2.5l, Farrow & Ball . Supports painted in New Yellow Gloss Super spray paint, £5.86, Plasti-Kote .