A drink station is just the upcycle we need to welcome friends and family to backyard BBQs all summer long!

It could also be just what you need for the upcoming Canada Day celebration. But if you celebrate 4th of July (or any other patriotic day), switch it up with something symbolic of your own country!

This upcycle will work indoors or out year round too! It will even work as a potting table if you choose to use it as outdoor furniture. Or I could see this sporting Mums in the Fall right on the porch! When you see the reveal, you may even want to adapt this as a bathroom vanity.

How to Make a Drink Station from an Old Sewing Table

Hubs started a new hobby when the pandemic hit and is now restoring vintage sewing machines. However, oftentimes, people don’t want a table when they purchase a sewing machine after restoration. Especially when they’re in as rough as shape as this one is!

At first glance, it doesn’t look too bad for its age.

But when you open the lid, you can see the sewing machine opening is not as it should be!

There are also huge holes cut out of the back panel (where you can see the brick peaking through below). Someone did a real hack job on this poor vintage piece! However, we see all of these setbacks as opportunities for improvement!

Before we get into the tutorial, don’t forget to get your DIY mojo on at Birdz of a Feather and subscribe! You can also follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

 Watch Our Drink Station Video

Watch the video or proceed to the tutorial below:

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How to Make a Drink Station

Like we mentioned earlier, with its maple leaf design, this fits right in here – but get creative with your own design too!

Step 1: Make a Template

Whether you use an old sink, or Ikea’s Trofast storage bin like us, draw out a template. We using an old file folder here. Measure the distance from the lip of the container to the sides and redraw a line with that measurement inside the first one. Be sure to account for the ‘V’ shapes supports if you use the Trofast.

Step 2: Remove all pieces and hardware

So our first order of business is sand all the old finish and remove the part under the table that catches oil drips from the sewing machine.

Step 3: Make Repairs

Cut a new panel to cover the holes and add glue to the table. Spread the glue evenly.

Then clamp the new board (1/8″ Masonite) in place and let dry overnight.

Step 4: Cut Opening for Drink Bin

Once dry we proceed with cutting out for the drink holder. I make a template:

First, trace around with a marker so the lines can be seen.

Then, use a jigsaw to cut. 

A perfect fit! The bin we’re using for our drink station is a Trofast storage bin from Ikea – meant to be used for toy storage. At only $3, this plastic container is affordable and will work great to hold the drinks for our drink station.

Step 5: Glue Down Loose Veneer and Fill Gaps

Because the table was so mangled, there’s still a gap after cutting out the template shape, so we glue a piece of the cutoff to fill the gap. As you’ll see on the video, you can pin nail right through the green tape that holds the piece while the glue is drying.

While that sets up, we prep the rest of the table for wood filler. You can see below how we tape around the hinge area we no longer need.

We also glue down and clamp any loose veneer.

Step 6: Add Wood Filler

There are two types of wood filler we use to fill gaps. One is Famowood Wood Filler. It can be used straight out of the container. We use it for smaller areas.

For the small chips in the veneer you see below, Famowood is great.

The other filler we use is Minwax Wood Filler. It’s a two part epoxy you have to mix first.  

Two part epoxy is great for larger areas, like those left by the hinges and edges that will get a lot of wear.

Apply with a putty knife and let dry.

 Tip: If the epoxy putty dries on the knife, just sand it off before it hardens too much.

Step 7: Sand drink station

As soon as the wood filler is dry, sand it smooth with a palm sander.

Below is the gap we filled with a piece of wood and wood filler. Once painted, you’d never know there was ever a chunk of wood missing.

Some parts, like the routed edges, you will have to hand sand. 320 grit sandpaper is what we use here.

Step 8: Add Patriotic Decor

When I first removed the front door from the cabinet, the proportions remind me of a flag. With Canada Day coming up, it’s perfectly timed!

So I cut out a maple leaf using adhesive vinyl from the dollar store.

And I stick it onto the front of the door. The vinyl is clear – you can see the shiny contrast of the leaf against the wood below. Tape off the sides with Frogtape. It will ensure you don’t get any bleed through! You can use cheaper tape beyond that.

Then I dry brush brush white paint onto the middle section, covering up the leaf.

Peel off the vinyl sticker to expose the maple leaf.

There are some areas you can still see the wood filler. So I touch up with a stain marker (use a colour that matches your wood). Unfortunately my camera failed so I didn’t capture that process on the video. Here’s before the touch up:

And after. Doesn’t this front panel look cool sporting a jaunty maple leaf?! You could easily change this up; for instance, an American flag for Independence Day. Just add stars and stripes instead :).

Now to prep for paint!

Step 9: Prep for Paint

I decide I want the legs to remain a light colour so we tape them up. Use Frogtape where you want to prevent bleed through.

Masking tape can be used to hold on the special coated paper can that covers the rest of the legs.

Before painting, I cover the hinge are (for the hinges we ARE keeping) with tape to prevent paint buildup. Additional layers of paint can affect the fit of the hinges. An X-ACTO knife is great for trimming away excess tape.

Here is how it looks cutting away the excess tape. 

Step 10: Paint

Whenever we can, we tint our primer to match the paint colour. That’s because if the finish ever gets scratched, or we miss a spot when spraying, the same colour will show through instead of glaring white.

The paint colour is Benjamin Moore’s Silver Lining. However the topcoat is PPG Breakthrough. We love how fast it dries and how durable it is outside.

For the first time, we’re testing out a new sprayer found at Princess Auto (you’ll find a similar air spray gun on Amazon.

Start with the table upside down to get the inside painted first. 

Then we flip it right side up and spray the rest.

Now we can start on the top.

You can’t just flip it to spray the other side while it’s still wet, unless you have an invaluable tool!

The most indispensible tool when spray painting are these Painter’s Pyramids. They allow you to spray one side and then flip it to coat the other side. 

Once the top is sprayed, we can let it dry to the touch. Then flip it and set it on top of four Painter’s Pyramids.

Pour left over paint back into the container between coats.

Then clean the sprayer.

For the best paint finish, be sure to strain both the primer and the paint first with a mesh paint strainer. Lumps can clog the paint cup. But straining will take care of removing those before they can throw a wrench into your flawless finish!

Once the top coat is dry, we’re ready for a clear coat on the unpainted surfaces.

See how crisp the paint is when you remove the Frogtape? Worth.every.penny!

I didn’t feel like taping off the freshly painted surfaces so I brush on the clear coat with an angle brush (I love this one from Wooster).

However, we sprayed the clear coat on the now decorative front panel:

Step 10: Reassemble

Let all the pieces dry at least 48 hours. Then the drink station is ready to reassemble!

Look how dull, boring and lacklustre the front panel looked before!

I’m so happy with how the ‘flag’ turned out.  It actually looks as if it was re-stained, but nope! With just a little sanding, the addition of the Maple Leaf and clear coat to finish, it looks so bright and cheerful now. That maple leaf really pops!

The little cubby goes back on the door. It’s just the perfect space to store a bottle opener.

The hinge space can now be revealed again.

And the hinges screwed back on.

Pop in the Trofast bin.

Patriotic Drink Station

Are you ready to party?

I think we all are!

Just add ice and a few choice beverages. When you’re done, remove the bin to drain the water and close it back up again.

I love how versatile sewing machine tables are. We’ve done a coffee table,  a Singer Sewing Table Makeover, a tiered plant stand DIY, this Pallet DIY, and this Hudson’s Bay Point Blanket Inspired Upcycle. I thought the latter one was my favourite, until I tried my hand at how to hand paint furniture designs. The only thing we haven’t done is turn one of these sewing tables into a bathroom vanity. But I can see this design working in a cabin or cottage, can’t you? The Canadiana vibe would be perfect.

Other Uses

This upcycled sewing machine table/drink station would make a great end table if you wanted to keep it indoors. Or instead of a drink station, you could use it as a planter table. You could either plant right in it or the flip open lid would be idea for potting plants too! Speaking of planters, if you’re curious to see our planter ideas, check out these amazing upcycled planters!

It generally takes a month for paint and clear coat to cure completely. So if a national holiday is just around the corner, you’ll need to be careful when your use it. But by Fall, our drink station will be good to go and just as relevant sporting its maple leaf and a real convenience around Thanksgiving! Speaking of Fall, check out our Craft Ideas for Autumn.

Pin Drink Station

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Creative Craft Hop

Today we’re taking part in the Creative Craft Hop, hosted by us (Birdz of a Feather). If you’re dropping in from Terrie at Decorate and More with Tip, welcome!  Don’t forget to check out the other projects below. And be sure to drop back in throughout the week to visit them all!

Now go check out Jenna’s Painted Placemats. Then pop back in to visit these other talented bloggers for more creative craft projects:

• How to Create a Layered Summer Wreath
• How to Stencil Tile Coasters for Home Decor
• Dollar General Little Truck Revamp
• Painted Placemats
• DIY Bee Door Arrangement with an Upcycled Prime Envelope
• DIY Woven Yogurt Jar Hager
• Patriotic Mini Wood Home Sign
• DIY Nautical Rope Wreath Dollar Tree Craft
• DIY scrap plywood flag