Create inspiring home décor with a DIY concrete coffee table

(BPT) - Concrete is a beautiful, durable and dynamic alternative to granite, marble, steel, glass, wood, tile and other popular materials used in contemporary home design and furnishings. It’s not only less expensive than most of those other materials, concrete allows homeowners to customize their home with one-of-a-kind elements that truly reflect their style and personality. For example, incorporating a concrete coffee table into the décor of a living room will not only make a visual impression when entertaining family and friends, but also serve as a functional focal point of the home year-round.

Of course, buying a concrete coffee table from a designer or a home furnishings store can be costly and impersonal, so why not make it yourself. In addition to being inexpensive, concrete offers a blank slate for an endless array of creative ideas involving color, stains and textures when making a concrete coffee table. While a project of this scope can be intimidating, with proper direction and materials, including specially-formulated concrete mix like QUIKRETE Countertop Mix and a form kit, most homeowners can create a completely unique and attractive concrete coffee table without the help of a professional.

Here’s how you can make a personal concrete coffee table:

Note: when working with cementitious products, always wear eye protection and gloves.

* Cut four 2x2 wooden spindles into 12-inch length pieces and another four into 18-inch length pieces. Clean and smooth the edges of the cut, wooden spindles with sandpaper.

* Layout the 18-inch x 36-inch x 1.5-inch coffee table top by configuring the wooden spindles with a T-square on top of a flat piece of melamine. Construct the concrete form using the scrap wood as braces for screwing the melamine together based on the layout. Remove the wooden spindles from the form and seal the edges with latex or silicone caulk.

* Mix the concrete countertop mix according to directions on the bag and pour into the form. Tap the outside of the form with a mallet to consolidate the concrete and allow to cure 48 hours.

* Remove the form from the concrete and smooth any rough edges with sand paper.

* While the raw concrete is popular, for a more decorative look, apply stains or high-gloss sealers to the coffee table top.

* Build the coffee table base by connecting two, three-tiered anchors made of 12-inch 2x2 wooden spindles to a series of longer wooden spindles running between the two ends to provide support.

* Place the concrete coffee table top on the wooden base. While the top is heavy and shouldn’t move, construction adhesive or screws can be used to affix it to the base.

Liquid color cement and/or aggregates can be incorporated into the concrete countertop mix to further customize the concrete coffee table. For how-to video instructions for a making concrete coffee table, visit QUIKRETE.com.