Repurposing a Table for a Child

Determine the purpose for the child's table. You may want to make it an art table, a sand and water table, a craft table or a tea party table. The purpose will help you decide the appropriate size and design for the table.

Measure the area in your child's room where you plan to place the new table. Measure the table. If you will have one of the table's chairs near a wall, provide 46 inches of clearance to allow for pushing the chair out.

Disassemble the table if you will be cutting it down in size. Remove the legs from the table. Take off the tabletop if possible.

Use a table saw to cut the tabletop to the desired size if applicable. Cut any side trim on the table to match the new size of the table top. If you are repurposing a coffee table, you can probably keep the legs at the same height so that the table is suitable for a child's size. Cut the legs down to size if you are using a dining room table.

Add your legs to the table if applicable. Attach a straight-top plate available from your home improvement store three-fourths inch from each of the table's corners with the screws that come in the straight-top plate package. Screw the legs into the plates.

Sand the table. You want the table to have a smooth finish so your child won't get splinters from the table and also to provide a surface that will absorb the paint better. Use wood filler to cover any nail holes or cracks in the table.

Prime and paint the table in the color of your choice. Go for a bold color if you prefer or use a color that coordinates with the room. As an alternative, paint a pattern on the table, such as lily pads, polka dots, flowers or cartoon characters.

Cover the table with nontraditional materials as an alternative. Use contact paper or wallpaper in the pattern of your choice. Cover the table with pictures or magazine cutouts for a collage effect. Roll on chalkboard paint if you want your child to be able to draw and write on the table.