Once upon a time there was a rather boring wood and metal table to be had for just $22 at Thrift Town. With the Fourth of July being one of my favorite holidays (and Memorial Day and Flag Day coming up before that) I’d been wanting to do something with a patriotic theme. I’d already scored three star-shaped dishes and with the three separate wood sections on the top of the table, I could definitely see Red, White and Blue!

A bit of sanding, a coat of spray primer, and three small, inexpensive cans of spray paint from my local craft store and I was in business. It was easy to tape off whichever two sections I wasn’t working on and ended up having to do only one tiny section of touch-up. Viola! Operation Patriotic Patio Table was a success. It’s not too late to get your patriotic on! Find a tray or serving piece, a side table or coffee table, or anything else that grabs you and grab some paint…or stickers…or glue and some bling, and get busy.

I’m going to love having this table throughout the summer for backyard events. It’s super sturdy and I suppose I could repaint it if I take a mind to but I don’t anticipate that happening any time soon. Thanks, Thrift Town, for inspiring an easy DIY makeover just in time for summer.

Stephanie F. is a dedicated thrifter whose mantra is, “Buy used – there’s just too much stuff in the world!” She became hooked when she found a pair of sock hop saddle shoes in junior high that she could actually afford with her allowance money (hey, it was a RETRO sock hop!). Today she lives and works in Texas’ capital city doing her part to “Keep Austin Weird.” She’s the author of an Austin blog – The Thrifty Snicker – which lets her prowl local thrift stores while telling herself that it’s not shopping; it’s research.