Hello, lovelies!! I’m so glad you’re back with us for Trashy Treasures Tuesday! Today, I’m sharing how to turn a table into a cat bed!
And I’m making it out of what’s left of this side table I picked up from the thrift store for only $6.99:
You may remember that I already repurposed the top of this table for our last Trashy Treasures Tuesday.
If you missed that post, you can see it HERE.
I kept the rest of it in hopes that I would be able to use those parts for something else!
One of the legs had a good crack in it, so they needed to be cut down in order to create something new…
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Original plan
My first thought for this piece was to cut the straight part of the legs completely off, so those pieces sticking out would become the feet. Then I would make it much narrower from front to back to turn it into a holder of some sort that could sit on a table.
Plan B
But then I wondered how I would hide all the braces in the corners that held the legs, so I decided instead to turn it into a new cat bed for Lyla!
I first needed to remove the legs to make it easier to cut them down.
Then, I cut them just above the level of the crack on that one leg using my Ryobi miter saw:
OOPSIE
This table was janky, y’all! When I removed the legs, the table pretty much fell apart lol…
The original corner braces came apart from the table and had so many staples in them that it would’ve been near impossible to reuse them, so I found a scrap piece of wood and set out to make new ones.
I used my miter saw for that also…
Mine is a 12″ sliding miter saw so I can cut things up to 12″.
Always cut with care and use proper protective equipment.
I also cut the original side pieces down to make the new cat bed more wide than deep.
And my new braces worked great to secure the legs back together.
I attached them with small screws, predrilling my holes first to prevent splitting and reinforcing them with wood glue as well.
Paint
I chose Dixie Belle’s Fluff white for the base of Lyla’s new bed since it will be living in our house where pretty much everything is white.
I gave it two coats and then sanded all over with 220 grit sandpaper once the paint was dry.
Seal
To seal, I used Clear Coat in Satin that I brushed on this time due to all the details on the front:
Make the cushioned top
Next, it was time to make the top. To do that, I cut a piece of thin, wood underlayment I picked up at the Home Depot using my mini circular saw:
Then, I cut a piece of foam I picked up at Walmart, tracing it first with a sharpie:
Then, I cut it with an electric knife…the BEST thing by far for cutting foam!
I found mine at the thrift store. You can remove the blade portion for cleaning if you still plan to use it to cut your holiday turkey!
Time for fabric!
I covered the top in this pretty fabric from Walmart that I had left over from this dresser makeover, attaching it with my El Cheapo staple gun…
Next, I made some piping to finish it off:
You can see how to easily do that HERE.
I often use my glue gun to attach the piping, but I just used the staple gun to add that too.
Attaching the new top to the base
To attach the cushioned top to the base, I used these L brackets in each corner:
Let’s see if Lyla approves of her new cat bed!
She started out a bit skeptical but quickly got comfortable! I think she likes it!
She laid there all day, so I’d say she definitely likes it!
She is never far from me when I’m home, and when I sit at my desk, she likes to lay in this cardboard box thingy that lives on my desk:
Seriously, isn’t she the cutest?
It can’t possibly be comfortable, so this new bed will live beside my desk to give her a more comfy option!
I wanted to add a throw casually draped across her new bed for the picture, but she never gave me a chance. As soon as I set it up, she hopped on up there.
The piping always adds a nice finishing touch on these upholstery projects…
And I swapped out the pull for this pretty glass knob. Instead of filling the holes, I was able to make a mould from the Soho Haven Mould to cover right over them and also to give me a pretty back plate for my new knob.
I made it using Amazing Casting Resin…
See more about making moulds with resin HERE.
Sweet dreams, Lyla!
I hope y’all enjoyed this fun makeover with those left over table parts!
Don’t go anywhere just yet, my friends have even more Trashy Treasures fun for you today!
I’ll be back on Thursday sharing what I did with these frames:
UPDATE: No need to wait!! See them all HERE now!
I hope to see you then!!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
If you like what you see, there are several ways to follow along!
EMAIL * INSTAGRAM * FACEBOOK * PINTEREST
Get FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $50. No code needed at checkout! Orders under $50 always enjoy $8 flat rate shipping! Most orders ship same or next business day!
Mary Kaiser says
Oh my goodness, it turned out so cute, I love that fabric! I am so happy that Lyla has a new throne! She is the Queen after all! Correction, she is the Princess, you are the Queen!! I get that mixed up sometimes, LOL! It turned out so cute, and I am happy for her with that new Throne! She is the sweetest kitty ever!
Christy says
Thank you, my friend! No, she really is the queen around here lol! We’re the only girls in this house, so we stick together. I’m so thrilled I was able to reuse those parts and she loves her new throne! Have a fantastic week! XOXO
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces says
How sweet is Lyla? And your bed suits her. 🙂
Christy says
Thank you, Larissa! She is the sweetest! XOXO
Jeanne says
Love it! So different for you…love Lyla too!
Christy says
Thank you, Jeanne! Lyla loves it too! XOXO
Janice Redden says
Christy, it’s so absolutely adorable; now my kitty wants one! At first I thought you were going to make it a 4-poster bed but what you did is perfecf and she clearly loves it, and small enough you can move it to every sunny spot….
Christy says
Thank you so much, Janice! Ha ha yes! They sure do love that warm sunshine. I’m so glad she approves! XOXO
Kathy W says
Good morning, Christy!!
Very impressed with your use of power tools!!!! Lyla’s new bed is so cute!! What a great idea for what was left of the table!! As cute as it is, I think Lyla stole the makeover in this one!!!! She is adorable!!!!! Sweet dreams, Lyla!! oxox
Kathy W
Christy says
Aww thank you, Kathy! One day about a decade or so ago, I got tired of waiting on my hubby to cut something for me ha ha! I haven’t looked back. Lyla sure did steal the show on this one…I didn’t even have time to properly stage it before she hopped on up, but she is all the props we needed lol! XOXO
Gina says
That just makes me want to run out and get my own kitty. Her bed is very beautiful and so is she.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Gina! She is super sweet! XOXO
Joni Gonzales says
I can’t get enough of you repurposing furniture and finishing with a simple white paint job! Glad sweet Lyla has such a fashionable bed 🙂 Merry Christmas, Christie!
Christy says
Oh yay, thanks, Joni! I am still amazed at what white paint can do. Lyla’s Christmas came early lol. Merry Christmas to you too, my friend! XOXO
Charlene says
What a cute idea, and it looks like it made Lyla a happy cat! You amaze me so much with the visions you have for turning trash into treasures. First thing I do when I get up on Tuesday and Thursday mornings (well, I pee first! haha) is go to my desktop computer and look for your email! Hope you and your family will have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2025! Maybe you can show us your decorations?
Christy says
Bahahaha! *I pee first* hahahaha! That is so funny, and I LOVE it, Charlene! Thank you so much for the chuckle! Lyla loves it for sure. I wish you a very Merry Christmas as well, and I may just share them this year…we’ll see! XOXO
Gayle McCowin says
“Lights out!” you crack me up. I love this idea. You definitely inspire me to get out there and use the power tools, they can be so intimidating. Thanks for all of the great ideas.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Gayle! Power tools can be intimidating, but just be very careful and start small. It is so nice to not have to enlist the help of my hubby anymore! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
You continue to amaze me, Christy. I’m sure they sell corner blocks at Home Depot, it would never occur to me to cut them but you don’t let anything hold you back! Very snazzy, I think you could have a career of just making cat beds if you wanted. That table seemed irredeemable to me, with the horrible 70s design, but now it looks so good. And it’s Lyla- approved (I’d use that in a tagline for the cat beds ????).
Christy says
Aww I appreciate that so much, Marcie! Thank you! Funny that it never even occurred to me to look for corner blocks at Home Depot ha ha! I don’t know that I’ll be starting a cat bed business anytime soon, but Lyla definitely approves! XOXO
Deborah Mealus says
You never cease to amaze me. You took a piece that was certainly destined for the trash heap and made a gorgeous kitty bed! Lyla is adorable and I love that she stays close to you while you work. Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent and your beautiful kitty Lyla!
Christy says
Aww thank you, Deborah! I am so glad I was able to use those leftover parts for something so fun for Lyla, and she definitely approves! Y’all always make it a pleasure to share!! XOXO
Sheila DelCharco says
That was definitely trash but you really did make it into treasure! We’ll done!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Sheila! I’m glad I was able to turn it into something useful! XOXO
Cecilia says
A great use for the rest of the table! Lyla does look like she approves of it. I think it’s so sweet how she keeps you company and now she has the perfect perch to do so!
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! Lyla definitely approves lol, and I love having her nearby! XOXO
Cyndi says
Wow. That was a lot of work, but it turned out so well! I love pretty AND functional! And it was so good to see sweet baby Lyla again! 🙂
Christy says
Thank you so much, Cyndi! It was definitely worth it for my sweet girl! XOXO
Susan says
I love that you gave her her own coordinating artwork! ???? This turned out so cute! For those w/o a kitty, it wd also make a great footstool! ????
Christy says
Ha ha, right? I hope she likes a coastal look! And yes, my thinking in keeping it a bit taller is that if she didn’t take to it, I could then sell it as a foot stool. I think she’s claimed it though! XOXO
Denise - Salvaged Inspirations says
Oh my goodness, Lyla IS seriously the cutest!!! I love this makeover and the fabric with the piping is such a gorgeous detail. I love all your sewing projects tho… me jelly that you’re so darn good at sewing!???????? Pinned my friend! XOXO
Christy says
Aww thank you, my friend!! She is the sweetest kitty! And girl, I used to quilt back in the day…waaaaaaay back in the day. That’ll teach you some skills ha ha! XOXO
Michele M. says
Oh sweet girl. She is so the cutest. Look at her on her new bed. TOO DARLING!!!! You are so clever. So – what’s in the drawer? Cat nip? Cat treats? Kitty toys? Well done, Christy. You passed the Skeptical Kitty Test.
I am smiling so big right now!
Christy says
Thank you, Michele! She is such a sweet girl! The drawer is totally fake lol…it’s just a handle on the front. It would be awesome if it had a drawer though! I’m so glad this made you smile today! XOXO
gloria says
Oh, wow! You really surprised me! Starting out, I thought surely you would flip that leftover table upside down and make it into a 4-poster bed, complete with canopy, for Princess Lyla.
My 2 cats prefer snuggling down into a soft “cavity” to lying atop something. So they have baskets lined with cushions (fitted with removable “pillowcases” made of bath towels) in several places all over the house. One large, fairly deep basket has a low handle, so I draped another towel over it, open in front but closed in the back. They love that “kitty cave” effect, especially at night when I’ve turned the furnace way down.
Christy says
Hi Gloria! My thinking was that if she didn’t care for it, it would make a fine foot stool. Turns out, she loves it! I decided to make this for her because every time I upholster a new chair, it sits here in my office before taking it to my booth and Lyla makes it her favorite resting place until I do lol. So, why not make her one she can have all to herself? She does have a a super snuggly bed for nighttime though! XOXO
Carolyn says
Christy your creativity never ceases to amaze. Great repurposing for a very lucky cat!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Carolyn! She is a lucky girl! XOXO
Lazy K says
Brilliant! And I think Lyla just MAY be a bit spoiled!
Christy says
Ha ha thank you, Lazy K! You might be right! And I just popped over to your blog…your work is AMAZING!! XOXO
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
That is so creative, Christy!! Love the fabric too. And I don’t even think you needed that throw…so sweet just like that! xoxo
Christy says
Thank you so much, Nancy! Ha ha yes, Lyla is all that was needed! XOXO
Linda says
What vision!! Add a pet and you get comments galore. I loved the progressive photos of her, so clever. The photo of her in front of the sailboat painting is a beautiful vignette, wow.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Linda! Ha ha yes, the pets get all the comment love. She loves her new bed! XOXO
Addie says
Good one!!! Maybe you should make some for the shop. Of course
you can add pics of Layla enjoying hers. I hate waste and I love the way you find a way to use it all!!! Good job!!!….A++
Christy says
Thank you so much, Addie! I try to save it all ha ha! XOXO
Cheryl Atkinson says
So sweet! Lyla is precious
Christy says
Thank you, Cheryl! XOXO
Elena says
Wow Chrisy, so sweet! Lyla is precious!
Christy says
Thank you, Elena! She is such a sweet girl! XOXO
Janina says
I was travelling back when you originally posted this, Christy, and only just saw it. Oh my goodness, those photos of Lyla enjoying her new bed are so precious! What a sweetie. And that photo of her on the basket on your desk was so cute too. What a lucky kitty!
I spent last winter pet-sitting in Mexico, and I’ll be doing it again this coming winter. Both my dog and cat died, so it’s lovely to have time with other people’s pets. I originally wanted to go to improve my Spanish. It was an inexpensive way to do that AND spend the winter away, and I totally fell in love with Mexico and its people.
The smoke from wildfires up here in Canada is just awful, and were having to lock ourselves up indoors. What a way to spend summer. 🥴
Christy says
Yes, Lyla LOVES her catbed! I am so glad she actually uses it, although we have moved it to the kitchen. Otherwise, she likes to lay on the mat right in front of the sink…need to wash dishes? She doesn’t care ha ha. Now she finds her bed instead. I’m so sorry to hear your babies are no longer with you, but it’s so nice that you get still get to love on some fur babies. Spending the winter in Mexico seems like a dream!! XOXO