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Trash To Treasure

What to do with Plexiglass table top?

21 years ago

I posted this over on the Home Decorating forum also, but I know you guys are really creative when it comes to this type of thing.

I just bought ($3.00 at a yard sale) a coffee table that has an odd-shaped plexiglass top. It just sits on top of a vinyl covered frame which also has 3 ottomans on rollers that slide out from under it. The plexiglass is pretty scratched up. I plan on using this in my DD's new beach themed room in her sitting area.

My initial idea was to decoupodge the underside of the top with cut-out palm trees, then cover the whole back with blue and green paint. I'm open to other suggestions though.

Can anything be done about the scratches? Can they be buffed out or should I just distress it more to give it a "dreamy" effect? Any paints that would make a water-like effect? Any ideas will be appreciated. Keep in mind that sweaty water glasses and who knows what will most likely be left on it, so it needs to hold up well.

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Comments (3)

bloominweeds
21 years ago
What about getting it sandblasted for a frosted look.
lydia1959
Original Author
21 years ago
An update on this. Sandblasting would have been too expensive, but I did like the frosted idea. I found the permanent Frosting Spray in the link below and I think the tabletop turned out great ~ looks like a new top! If you need paints, this place has the speediest service! I ordered it on a Tuesday and it was delivered the next day UPS!

Here is a link that might be useful: Frosting Spray
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Drilling Plexiglass (acrylic) can be a little tricky but hardly impossible. The key to successful drilling is to clamp it securely. What I think would work for Scott is just 4 small nails, one in each corner. The local home center probably has some decorative brass or copper nails that would look nice. Take a thin piece of wood (like paint stir stick, which they'll probably give you at the same home center) and clamp it over the Plexiglass, map, and table. Use any kind of clamp - spring, c, or something like a Quick-Grip. Use a drill bit that's the same diameter as the nail (or slightly larger) and "flag" it with a piece of masking tape to indicate how deep you should drill (just through the stir stick, plastic, and a little way into the table top. Remove the clamp and stir stick and carefully drive the nail.
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des_arc_ya_ya
21 years ago
Oooh, thanks, Lydia! Glad that your project turned out so well. I bookmarked the link so that I can order some if and when Twinkie ever gets my old door cut off to fit in our bathroom.

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