Upgrade Your Cheap Furniture With Simple Stone Slabs

With creative vision and a bit of DIY magic, you can elevate cheap furniture to look like something out of an interior design magazine. You would be surprised how much you can transform the look of a piece with just a minor adjustment. Incorporating stone slabs is an amazing way to upgrade furniture you already have for a new look or spruce up a piece of new or thrifted furniture. You can actually have stone custom cut to precisely fit the top of a shelf or dresser. This custom stone upgrade paired with some other minor adjustments can take a piece from outdated and cheap looking to showstopping.

For this project, you'll need to start by measuring the top of the furniture you're updating. Once you have the dimensions, it's time to shop for your slab. There are tons of stone slab options to choose from. Some of the most common varieties used in homes include quartzite, marble, limestone, and soapstone but there are an abundance of other materials to choose from too. These stones come in a range of colors all featuring different degrees of natural veining and patterns. A lot of stone and tile companies offer custom cut stone slabs. You can also find custom slabs on Etsy. For a cheaper option, check out your local stone yard. They collect remnants from stone fabrication shops and sell them for a discount. Once you have your stone slab, it's time to upgrade your furniture.

Before you attach your stone slab, you may want to update the body of your cheap furniture. For instance, if you're working with a thrifted dresser, the wood might be a bit scuffed up. Take this time to sand and stain your piece. You can also paint it if you prefer. This is also a great opportunity to change out the hardware. Consider unlacquered brass or brushed nickel to complement your natural stone. 

Once you're satisfied with how the body of your shelf or dresser looks, you can move on to adhering the stone. Start by cleaning off the top of your piece, assuring there is no residual oil or dust. Next, evenly apply a heavy-duty stone adhesive. Now move the stone in place. Firmly press down or leave something heavy on top of the stone until the adhesive dries and that's it! Whether you're updating a new piece or taking on a thrifted furniture flip, adding a stone slab to furniture instantly elevates it from basic to elegant.

This isn't the only way to elevate your home with stone slabs. You can easily craft high-end looking furniture with scrap stone. For instance, you can transform stone slabs into a simple yet chic side table by gluing a slab on top of sturdy table legs. If you find a cheap round stone slab, you have the bare bones for an expensive looking sculptural piece. With three gazing balls and some heavy-duty glue, you can craft a statement marble table suspended on spherical legs.

These pieces look great in any home if you're intentional and mindful of how to effectively blend different elements and styles. It's not enough to just place one statement piece in a room and call it a day. You're trying to craft a visual story throughout your space. Luckily, stone accents lend well to a variety of popular interior design trends from warm minimalism to organic luxe. It offers a layer of lived-in, natural texture, breathing life into a space. But with anything, you should factor in the surrounding elements to create a cohesive visual flow.

If your DIY stone top furniture pairs green marble with brass hardware and walnut wood, you can carry these textures throughout your design. But since the green marble is so striking, it might be better to lean on this texture as more of an accent. The deep brown of the walnut can tie in the accent throughout the room as a sort of visual anchor. This is just one example of how you can blend upcycled wood furniture into a modern home. Ultimately, the key is to incorporate a healthy blend of different textures into your home. Don't be afraid to blend the old with the new. Get creative and always seek out ways to make a cheaper piece look just a bit more luxurious. When you approach your entire interior design in this way, you'll naturally achieve a more elevated home.