Terrazzo Table

The minimalist piece of furniture is built for durability and style, easily used for indoors and outdoors. Ours is a modern, upcycled twist that incorporates cement and crushed colored glass.

DIY terrazzo table

This idea comes from our friend Marwa Hayat of Enthralling Gumption. "What personally draws me towards it is the confetti-like look that it has except that I don't have to clean it up as it's permanent," she says. "It makes for a perfect side table for entertaining your guests this summer."

What You'll Need

Materials

  • 11 pounds white cement
  • Crushed stained green glass
  • IKEA "Gladom" tray table, $30, ikea.com
  • 18" trowel
  • Disposable plastic container
  • Dowel for stirring
  • 100-grit sanding block
  • Water
  • Heavy-duty gloves
  • Goggles and dust mask
  • Optional: Vaseline

Instructions

  1. DIY terrazzo table step 1

    In a disposable container, mix cement and equal amounts of water with the help of a dowel to achieve a gooey consistency. (Tip: If your mixture comes out watery or dry, you can easily adjust by adding more water or cement accordingly.)

  2. DIY terrazzo table step 2

    Add one-third of crushed glass to the cement mixture and stir to combine.

  3. diy-terrazzo-table-step-3_vert

    Separate the tray from its stand. (Tip: Lightly coat the surface of the tray with vaseline so to make the process of removing the table top from it easy later on.) Pour cement mixture to the prepped tray and uniformly sprinkle the rest of the glass on top.

  4. diy-terrazzo-table-step-4_vert

    Level top of cement mixture with the help of a trowel. (Tip: At this point, glass pieces should be visibly settled beneath a thin layer of cement, which is the safe way to make terrazzo.) Place your tray in an open air to dry for at least 24 hours.

  5. diy-terrazzo-table-step-5_vert

    Once completely dry and solidified, polish the cement. Wearing safety gear working in a well-ventilated area, sand the surface of the cement in a circular motion. (Tip: An orbital sander will speed up the process.) As you sand, speckles of glass will appear, but avoid sanding too deep lest you expose too much glass. You can stop at this point like me if you are looking for the natural matte look. However, you may proceed to use a sealer of your choice for better durability and a polished finish.

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