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Our old door table has been in the works for a while. I'm so happy it's DONE and we're able to enjoy it all summer long. This table is made up of an old door from a friend of mine and plumbing conduit that my husband configured for the base. It serves as the perfect patio table.

I've had the hardest time finding a dining table for our patio. After living here an entire year, I just went for it and made my own. Initially, we went with the plumbing pipe table base because it was the simplest solution with minimal construction...now I just love how it looks and can't imagine it without the pipe. See how we put this old door table together below (including the painting techniques).

Making an Old Door Table

If you're looking for a unique and fun table (for a patio or even dining area inside), an old door table may be just the ticket. We truly love ours and use it all the time. It's one of our favorite DIY projects of all time.

As you can see from the photos, I left all of the holes and indentions from locks, knobs, and hinges in the door we used for this project. I think they give this table so much character. One big question I've been asked is regarding the top of the table. I thought about putting a large piece of glass over the top to give it one level surface. However, the decorative squares act as perfect built-in places at the table. And they do not mess with how place settings sit on the table. It's not ideal for writing or anything like that...but we don't really use a patio table for that in our house, so it's okay with us. I may still add glass, I just want to see how it goes without it for a bit longer.  

We started with our door. This was given to me by my sweet friend, Bonnie, about a year ago. It came off of her grandma's home and was destined for a burn pile...until Bonnie asked if I'd like it (ummm...yeah). Again, we decided on plumbing pipe legs to avoid any kind of big build (we're tired, y'all...it's been a wild spring!). But, I never knew I would love the plumbing pipe base so much. 

Plumbing Pipe Base Supplies:

We used 3/4" plumbing pipe for all pieces. You'll have to be consistent with this.

• 1- 60" pipe (this is the long piece at the bottom that holds it all together, both ends need to be threaded)
• 8- flanges
• 6- t parts
• 4- 24" pieces (threaded on both ends)
• 4- 8" pieces (threaded on both ends)
• 4- 4" pieces (this is what is pictured...this was a little tall for our chairs and we went back and switched these with 1" nipple pieces later, threaded on both ends...but it's total preference)

We purchased all standard lengths and didn't need anything cut. However, most big box stores can cut and thread plumbing conduit, if you ask.

Putting Together an Old Door Table:

There isn't anything fancy to tell you here. We literally just screwed it all together by hand. 

• We used a wrench on the final "go-round" just to make sure it was all tight. 
• Because of drainage, our patio itself isn't totally level. Once we got the table in place, we had to do a bit of adjusting here and there with the wrench. You may need to wait until your table is in its actual spot and do the same.
• I have the configuration photographed for you below.

• One set of flanges sat on the ground. 
• We attached the other set of flanges to the bottom of the table, using 3/4" screws that were thick enough to hold the flanges in place. 
• We did pre-drill the holes to avoid splitting the wood on our door before screwing the flanges into it.

Painting Technique:

The paint job on the plumbing pieces was a complete mistake that worked out for the better. I had it in my head that I wanted to try to coordinate the pipe with the finish on the chairs I purchased. So, I spray painted them with white chalk-style spray paint. I spent hours doing this to get a nice, even coat. The minute I was finished with it, I realized I had just wasted a boatload of time to make the piping mimic PVC (which was definitely NOT the look I was going for). So, I lightly sanded the white chalk-style paint to reveal the silver plumbing finish in large areas of the legs (I used a coarse grit sand paper for this). Then I used a dark wax and made the pipe look a bit old and weathered. I ended up loving the outcome...but it was totally not planned!

UPDATE: it's been over two years, and the actual door has weathered considerably (probably more than I'd like). I plan to go over it this summer with another coat of paint and marine-grade varnish. But, below is how I originally finished the door. It made for a nice, chippy, weathered look...it just chipped and weathered a lot more on its own over the past two years (but it's in the elements 24/7).

Refinishing the Door

For the door, I also wanted a weathered look. I have several paint techniques here on I Should Be Mopping the Floor that are similar styles, listed for you below.

• My table and chairs makeover uses the exact same technique, right down to the brand of paint.
• My red distressed buffet paint technique is a reader favorite.
• The waterfall dresser makeover I did for my son's room also uses chalk paint, except with a dark wax.
• If you're wanting a cool effect using more than one paint color, see how I made a fun layered paint look on our laundry room shelves.

• For this old door table, I used my Waverly chalk-style paint in Agave for the door (you can also see how pretty the Agave color is in my table and chairs makeover). I just brushed it on in two coats.
• After it dried, I hand sanded the table's details to get a nice, weathered look. 
• After sanding, I wiped it down thoroughly with tack cloth to remove dust and debris.
• I used Waverly's White Wax (pictured above) to go over the entire table and give it a washed look. I wiped off any excess with a soft cloth.
• I highly recommend varnishing with a marine-grade sealer, as well, if your table will be exposed to the elements. 

UPDATE: Water tended to pool in the recessed areas of this table when it rained. We fixed this by drilling small holes in each recessed corner...it worked like a charm for drainage and they barely show.

Farmhouse Patio Table Chairs:

As crazy as it sounds, I ordered these chairs on Amazon, y'all. I love this style of chair but had a hard time finding an outdoor version that wasn't a floppity-jillion dollars per chair. But, good ol' Amazon came through. (UPDATE: it's been over two years and we still love these chairs. They stay outside 24/7 and have held up remarkably.)

GRAB THE EXACT CHAIRS I GRABBED ON AMAZON.

To show what I mentioned earlier, a plate and entire place setting fit perfectly in the decorative areas of the door. They don't wobble or anything. This was another fun, unexpected surprise. 

I made my tin can planters for the table, as well. They were a fun upcycle that added loads of color to our table and fence, too.

I highly recommend an old door table to anyone...

we're super happy with how ours turned out!

You can see our video below of how the entire patio came together.

Looking for More DIY Table Ideas?

• As I mentioned earlier, our kitchen table and chairs were a great paint makeover.
• This DIY French Farmhouse Table from Handmade-Haven is so pretty. 
• Shanty 2 Chic has a gorgeous Restoration Hardware inspired table she built.
• Another great DIY patio table can be found here (from Lemon Thistle).