The price on outdoor side tables can be a little overwhelming. Less expensive wood and plastic options don't have much longevity, and modern concrete and metal tables can break the bank. Try making your own with a simple paving stone from the hardware store!
The folks over at camp Martha are great at making something that looks lavish out of inexpensive items. This simple paving stone was placed on top of a terra-cotta planter to create a quick side table on the cheap.
If you're worried about things tipping over, you could easily fill it with a few rocks, or just make sure the table top touches a chair or balcony for extra stability. To cut costs even more, ask your local garden center if they have any planters with chips (which happens frequently in shipping) that would go unnoticed in this situation. It can save you up to 50%!
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(Image: Martha Stewart)
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Top heavy, accident waiting to happen...sorry, but that's what I see...perhaps my clumsy self invites clumsy friends.
I like the look though!
This works, I've got two in my garden now, you do have to fill the pot with rocks or sand to keep it stable but then it's solid as a rock (except in the event of something like a major quake of course and then everything's up for grabs).
That same method also helps if you have birdbaths, to keep the base stable, otherwise cats like to jump into the waterbowl! Yikes. I had two broken birdbaths until I figured out this method. Now I stabilize the base and then attach the waterbowl, if it's separate from the base, with adhesive.
I can see it - your having a garden party, your drunk and/or clumsy neighbor is looking for a spot to sit, spots the table, sits down - and lands on the ground. He won't get hurt of course because he's drunk and everybody will have a good laugh. That is if the kids or dogs don't knock it over first.
Rocks in the bottom won't help with the fact that the top isn't attached.
Adhesive works wonders!
If you didn't want this to tip over, couldn't you get a wide planter or a smaller paving stone?
Heck you could even make this into a cute little stone seat :)