How to Make a Patio Side Table From an Urn Planter

Add form, function and fun to your patio space with this easy urn planter side table. One side of the tabletop is finished solid while the other side is painted with a classic tic-tac-toe game.

Step 1: Prep Two-Layer Tabletop

The tabletop is comprised of two different sized wood circles nailed together. The smaller one needs to fit snug inside the opening of the urn and the other one will overhang the opening of the urn by a couple of inches. For our urn, the two wood circles measure 12” and 18”.

Begin by sanding the larger project board all over with fine-grit sandpaper. Sand just one side of the smaller project board. Do not sand the thin edge. Wipe any sawdust away with a damp paper towel.

Step 2: Find the Center Points

Lay each circle on newsprint or craft paper and make an outline of each with a pencil. Cut the outlined circles out of the paper. Fold each paper circle in half and then in half again. Snip off just a bit of the tip. Lay the big circle on the big board and line up the edges. Make a mark in the center hole created by snipping the tip of the paper. Remove the paper.

Place the smaller paper circle on the big board, lining up the hole in the center with the mark you made on the big board. Hold the paper in place and outline it with a pencil on the big board. Use the outline to place the smaller board, with the sanded side up. Use finishing nails to secure the board in place. Sink the nails just a bit, fill with wood putty and sand.

Step 3: Paint + Add Stripping

Paint the two joined boards with spray paint, masking off the thin edge around the smaller board. Apply two coats or more if necessary. Allow the paint to fully dry between coats. When fully dry, remove the masking tape and replace it with adhesive door seal/weather stripping. This will give your tabletop a snug fit and prevent unwanted creatures from living inside the urn.

Step 4: Make Tic-Tac-Toe Board

Fold an 8-1/2" x 11" piece of paper or cardstock in thirds like a letter. Position the paper in the center of the small board. Draw a line on both long edges of the paper. Turn the paper 90 degrees and make two more lines, creating a tic-tac-toe grid. Use black acrylic craft paint and a small paintbrush to paint over the grid you created. Allow the paint to fully dry.

Step 5: Make Game Pieces

Paint only one side of the Xs and Os with the same color spray paint as the tabletop. Add additional coats as needed. Allow paint to dry between coats.

Use a hot-glue gun to attach the painted letters to the tops of 10 black river rocks. TIP: Try to find river rocks that are similar in size and as flat as possible.

Step 6: Weigh Down the Urn

Fill the urn about 2/3 full with pea gravel.

Add the finished playing stones to the pea gravel for storage and add the lid. With the playing board turned down, this works as a useful side table for drinks and snacks. When you’re ready to play, simply flip the lid and grab the playing stones.