How Much it Really Costs to Make a DIY Fluted Table
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Let’s be honest: as much as I love DIY projects, sometimes I question whether I’m really saving money or just pretending I am. This thought always lingers at the end of a project when I’ve poured my time and energy into crafting something, only to realize I might’ve spent more than if I’d just bought it ready-made. So today, I decided to put this debate to the test with a project that’s been in my head for a while: a fluted side table inspired by this one fromJoss and Main for $599.
Let’s see if I come out on top financially—or if I’m just lying to myself.
The Materials Hunt
I already had a few items on hand, but I needed more supplies, so off to the store I went. My first challenge? Choosing between an 8-inch and 12-inch concrete form for the base. The 8-inch was cheaper, but it looked too small once I compared it to the tabletop I had in mind. So, despite the higher price tag, I grabbed the 12-inch form. Yes, it was $11 more, but the proportions felt just right.
For the tabletop, I dug through a stack of pre-cut wood circles to find the smoothest one with the least knots. I grabbed a few other supplies- foam brushes and construction adhesive. Luckily, I already had leftover pole wrap at home from another project to give my base that fluted, high-end look.
Cutting the Base to Size
Back in my garage, it was time to start building. I wanted the table to be two feet high, so I marked off the concrete form and found a clever trick to get a straight cut. By wrapping my tape measure around the form and adjusting for its thickness, I drew an even line all the way around. Then came the hard part: cutting.
I could have used my power saw, but I wanted to stay budget-friendly. So, I grabbed a handsaw, put some muscle into it, and voilà! A surprisingly level cut. I added the tabletop on top to check, and everything looked good to go. It was good and level on the first try!
Adding the Fluting
Next up: applying the pole wrap. This stuff is a DIY lifesaver—it’s designed to wrap around basement poles but works perfectly for creating that fluted furniture aesthetic. After measuring and cutting it to size, I wrapped it around the base and secured it with construction adhesive. There was a small gap where the ends met, but it wasn’t noticeable once I added the tabletop.
Prepping the Top
The tabletop was pre-cut but far from stain-ready. I sanded it down with a progression of grits—starting with 80, moving to 120, and finishing with 180—to smooth out the surface. Once prepped, I used construction adhesive to attach it to the base. Spoiler alert: it didn’t hold. Plan B? Wood glue. After letting it dry overnight with some weights on top, it was finally secure.
The Finishing Touch: Staining
Here’s where things got tricky. The tabletop was pine, and the base was oak, meaning they would stain differently. To tone down the pine’s yellow undertones, I used a water-based whitewash stain after applying a pre-stain conditioner. For the oak base, I skipped the conditioner and went straight to staining since oak absorbs stain beautifully on its own.
I chose this Behr water based stain in the shade white wash pickling because I thought it would do a great job of cancelling out some of the yellow tones in the natural wood.
I decided to add a coat of this water based gel stain as well to the top of the table to try and get a better match between the top and the bottom of this table. The result? A cohesive, natural wood finish that made the table look professionally crafted.
The Final Product
After all the sanding, staining, and assembling, I tallied up the costs. Between the concrete form, wood circle, pole wrap, adhesive, and stains, I spent slightly more than I anticipated with a total out of pocket cost of $67. If I didn’t have any of the tools and supplies needed for the project, the out of pocket cost could be as high as $351, which doesn’t seem necessary. You can purchase similar styles of tables brand new from Amazon, Wayfair, and Walmart for under $200.
So, are DIYers liars? Not always. While DIY isn’t always the cheapest route, it’s often the most rewarding. Plus, there’s nothing quite like looking at a piece of furniture in your home and thinking, I made that!