How to Make a Killer Surfboard Table

This surfboard table is a crafty, unique, stylish addition to jazz up any dorm, apartment or even office. It makes a great focal point and conversation piece and can set a fun, adventurous theme for any room. This is a fairly simple craft – the hard part is finding all the materials.

Scout thrift stores and pawn shops for an old used surfboard. It doesn’t matter what shape the surfboard is in. Even if it’s cracked or split, you can fill in with putty or leave them for more character.

Pay attention to the size – surfboards come in many lengths. Make sure you don’t get one too long for the room you want to put your table in.

If you have the money to spend on this craft, feel free to purchase one new. There are many talented artists who specialize in designer surfboards that are gorgeous. You will definitely pay more money this way, but you won’t have to decorate and design the board later. Again, it just depends on the feel and mood you are going for.

If you purchase a used surfboard, the next thing you need to decide is how much to fix it up. Give it a basic cleaning first. Now, step back. Do you like the rustic, beat-up look? Is it rough and splintered or safe for you to work on already? The half-painted, weathered look can be very cool. If that’s what you want to do, simply sand the rough spots (so you don’t get splinters) and go from there.

If you want to have complete creative control over your table, sand the entire surfboard down and start from scratch. Use paint thinner to remove any remaining paint. You can use a colored stain to give your surfboard a jolt of color but keep the wood grain for effect. Or start with a layer of paint primer. When the primer dries, have fun and paint a scene on your surfboard. Research surfboard designs and you’ll find everything from simple floral designs to full surfboard murals. Do whatever you like. Give as much detail as you like.

If your surfboard table with have a lot of things on it (for example, a desk with computer, accessories, notebooks, etc.) you may not want to put a lot of work into the design. But, the surfboard table can be very cool as a stand-alone piece in an entryway or room without anything on top of it. In that case, spend the time for a cool mural effect with lots of details.

When your surfboard is decorated and styled and completely dry, it’s time to give it some legs. These, again, can be as simple or intricate as you would like. Consider using another old surfboard and cut it in half. Place the cut ends on the floor (they will be more steady and balanced) and use brackets to attach the other ends beneath the table. Or go to your local hardware store and purchase stair rails for four spindle legs.

Other cool ideas for legs include:

two tall stacks of old records or CDs glued together.
wooden cutouts in a themed shaped (like palm trees or hula dancers)
exotic stumps, like palm tree trunks (these work best if they are narrow but tall – make sure to cut them evenly)