How To Transform An Antique Clawfoot Table Into A Coffee Table

Last Updated on January 15, 2026 by Stacy Averette

Sometimes a piece of furniture has served its original purpose, and it begs for a makeover. Such was the case with a round table that Eric and I purchased many years ago at a second-hand store when we lived in Tennessee. Many family dinners have been enjoyed and birthdays celebrated around this simple round table.

As our family grew, we replaced it with a long farmhouse-style table (thrifted, of course) and used the round one downstairs in the school room.

Recently, I decided I wanted a round coffee table for the living room. I looked at all my favorite places — okay, I looked at 2 places — T.J. Maxx and the thrift store, but I couldn’t find what I wanted or afford what I found. Since “making do” is one of my superpowers, I decided to use the old round table and just shorten it! Easy peasy, right?

Except that I decided to do it in the middle of Christmas decorating, and while the refrigerator sat in the dining room due to a leak that damaged the kitchen floor. Remember when I mentioned my scatterbrained creativity? Here you have it!

I measured, and they cut the pedestal. The guys worked really hard to get it level and sturdy.

I gave it several coats of chalky paint and added 2 coats of Minwax water-based polycrylic.

The DIY round coffee table turned out even better than I’d envisioned!

So what do you think?