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If you’ve been following along our journey, we bought a house in August of 2016. It’s a beautiful home, in one of our dream neighborhoods, but it needed a little TLC. The previous owners were artists out of their own heart and paired the original hardwoods with yellow, green, blue, and red walls – YIKES!
Walls Galore
Fast forward a few months later and the color of all the walls may not have changed, but the decor surely did! We worked on small projects at a time. I finished painting the living room (not ready for a full room reveal yet!) but realized our idea of going table-less in front of the couch was not the best idea! We always have flowers, coffee cups, remotes, or some knick-knack just wanting a place to lounge.
So bring in the ottoman pouf. Yes, we had this big pouf (similar to this one) that we LOVED! It was super comfy, and Reagan, our pup, called it his own. But it just wasn’t cutting it for us and was often in the way. So I moved it to a new loved spot, before Reagan threw up all over it when he had a tummy ache, and then to the trash it went. Cue, coffee table idea.
DIY Marble Top Coffee Table
I really wanted a sturdy, functional, and cute coffee table. Being on the broke wedding, newlywed budget Kit and I were on (AKA – SPEND NO MONEY EVER), I started browsing Craigslist and some FREE groups on Facebook for items people no longer wanted that were in decent condition and just needed a little fix me up. I found this super cute IKEA Lack Coffee Table (that we once owned and got rid of, brand new *face palm*), that was a little rough on the edges, but I knew I could make it work. The one someone was giving away was this Black/Brown Color. If I had a choice though, I would have gotten the White One. If you already have a table to use, even better (square or rectangle are the easiest shapes to work with).
Materials
+ 1 Roll Marble Contact Paper – make sure you measure your table before purchasing, you may need a different size if you are not using the IKEA Lack Coffee Table
+ (4) MidCentury Table Legs
+ 1 Pack of 4- T-Plate 5/16
+ Drill + Drill Bit
+ X-Acto Knife (Scissors work too, but a blade is way easier!)
- Balling on a budget? Opt for the White IKEA Lack Coffee Table and skip the new legs and T-Plates! (Plus, you’ll have that cute second shelf for storage!).
Steps
- Sand and wipe down the top of the coffee table. You want it to be as smooth and as clean as possible so that the contact paper sticks to the surface.
- Remove all legs.
- Measure and cut your contact paper to fit across the table. PS – there are dotted lines on the back of the adhesive for perfect line cutting. I tried to make it so I didn’t have to cut the paper so much and it made it easier.
- Attach the contact paper! This is easier with two people. One to hold the paper tight and the other to slowly smooth it across the surface! Be careful with air bubbles, I have a few but they aren’t noticeable.
- After the contact paper is in tact, time for NEW LEGS! Drill new holes for the t-plates too attach. If you’re like me and don’t know how to use those tools that well, THANK YOU YOUTUBE.
- Screw in the T-Plates and Twist on the new legs!
- If you want to stain your legs for a darker wood do that BEFORE you twist them on. I wanted the natural look so I left them they way they came.
If you are crazy like me and think you can take shortcuts, DON’T. I have little pieces that are overlapping because I was impatient, and I totally drilled one hole too big, plus I was on a sugar high while completing the project… #untoldrawmoments. Also, I was way too excited when completing this project, so enjoy my crappy iPhone photos of before and after and nothing in between, because that’s real life.
Enjoy your new table! If you make one, send me photos via email, comments, or on Instagram, so I can see your work!
**Note – the legs are SHORTER than the original ones the IKEA table comes with. Personally, I liked it that way, so I bought the shorter legs, but you can purchase taller ones if you choose!**
Who’s ready to makeover their life with Marble Contact Paper?
xo,
Leanna
I need to use this DIY technique to refinish our cheap IKEA coffee table! It looks so chic.
Author
Ikea Table + Marble Contact Paper = AMAZING DIY!
This turned out beautifully! I really am a sucked for marble. I feel like this is a total DIY dupe for a high end table!
Author
Thanks lady! Me too! Marble is so amazing!
This came out so good!!! I cannot believe that is not actual marble, just based on the picture. What a steal xx
Author
Thanks, Kait! Totally visually appealing and could pass as marble any day on my watch!
This is so crazy because I’ve actually needed a tutorial like this! I bought contact paper to do something similar with an ugly coffee table we have.
Author
Woohoo! I am glad this could help you! Do it!
This is such a great project! It looked like real marble from the photo- this would be a fantastic thrift store project.
Ying | http://www.navigatingadulthood.com
What a great DIY! I have a really basic black coffee table, and this would be a nice little upgrade 🙂 I love the legs that you added!
XO, SS || Seersucker Sass
Author
Yes! It is the best way to upgrade a basic table!
You did such a good job! I totally would love to do something like this to our coffee table.
Author
Awh, you’re so sweet, Jenny! It’s so simple, do it!
Wow that looks amaaazing!!!! I love that there are totally cheap ways to do this and make things look high-end <3
Author
Thanks, Sophia! Yes, definitely cheaper!
This turned out so good!!! I love the finished product so pretty!
Author
Thanks, Bella! It turned out so much greater than I expected!
Wow, what a great DIY! That contact paper is brilliant.
Author
Contact paper is amazing! So many uses!
I love this! Such a great DIY and the table looks amazing
– xo, Azanique | http://www.lotsofsass.com
Author
Thanks, Azanique! Happy you enjoyed it!
Oh man…I literally just got rid of a table in a garage sale that I could have done this to. Darn! Such an easy DIY too!
xo, Lily
Beauty With Lily
Author
Crossing my fingers you come across another one!
The table looks great! I need to get some of that paper to fix a table of mine too!
Carrie | https://carrieeliseandkho.com/
Author
It’s so simple, such a great DIY!
fun!! I have that paper on a foam board for photos and it’s super cool! It came out great!
Author
Yes! I do that too!
This is amaaazing!! I love how it came out – so sleek and classy!
Author
Thank you! I love the finished look!
Oh my god this is amazing! We have the same table… I kind of want to do this to ours! This is SO good!
Author
Thank you, Ashley! I hope you do your table!
Love marble – so I will definitely be trying this DIY.
Author
Yes! So excited for you to try it!
OMG! Now this is a home DIY I actually want to try!
Author
Yay! So happy you want to try it!
WOW, I legit thought this was real marble! What a great DIY- looks expensive, but didn’t have to break the bank.
Ying-navigatingadulthood.com
Author
Right? It’s amazing! I love it so much!
Girl!!!! You just blew my mind with this….deff trying this out!
xo // http://www.thematerialgirl.co
Author
So happy! I can’t wait for you to try it!
this is such an awesome DIY project – I’ve used the contact paper to mimic marble backdrops for my blogging, but never thought to carry it into my home w/ something like this. need to try! x, nicole // http://www.nicoleeigh.com
Author
Yes! I love using it for blogging backdrops too!
Wow! You did an amazing job! I’m currently re-doing mine as well but it doesn’t even come close to how great this looks! Definite inspo.
xx Carly | http://www.thecarlycollective.com
Author
Hopefully it’s giving you a little more inspiration! xo
BRB while I try to do this! I have a coffee table I hate and would love to try this!
Greta | http://www.gretahollar.com
Author
Yes! Perfect for those coffee tables you are dying to replace!