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Garden and Outdoor Decor

How to Make Patio Side Table from Old Umbrella Stand

A heavy metal umbrella stand outlives the umbrella it came with. Set a short wood post in the pole tube, screw a round top onto it and paint it with bold nautical stripes. The weighted base keeps the table steady, and it's just the right height next to a patio chair.

  • Time About 3 hours, plus drying
  • Skill Moderate, needs a drill and a saw
Drawing of a round wooden side table with navy and white stripes on a short post, set in a heavy metal umbrella stand, with a potted plant and a glass on top.
An old umbrella stand, a post and a striped top.

What you'll need

  • An old metal patio umbrella stand with a pole tube
  • A wood dowel or closet rod that fits snugly in the tube
  • A round of 3/4 inch exterior plywood or a ready-made wood round, 16 to 20 inches across
  • A flat metal mounting plate (a closet rod flange) and exterior screws
  • A drill and a hand saw
  • Sandpaper
  • Exterior primer and paint in two colors
  • Painter's tape

How to make it

  1. Clean the stand. Scrub the base with soapy water and a wire brush. Sand any rust spots smooth so the paint can grip.
  2. Cut the post. Slide the dowel into the pole tube and mark it so the finished table sits about 22 to 24 inches high, counting the top. Cut it straight with the hand saw.
  3. Attach the top. Center the flange on the underside of the round and screw it on. Screw the post into the flange, or glue it in with exterior wood glue.
  4. Paint the stripes. Prime everything. Paint the top the lighter color, let it dry, then tape off wide stripes and paint them in the second color. Pull the tape while the paint is still a little wet.
  5. Paint the base. Give the stand two coats of rust-resistant spray paint in a color that matches the stripes.
  6. Set it up. Drop the post into the tube and tighten the stand's thumb screw against it, so the top doesn't spin.

Make it your own

  • Skip the stripes and stencil a compass or an anchor in the middle for a stronger nautical look.
  • Screw a small cup hook under the edge to hang a lantern or a bottle opener.

Care and storage. Recoat the top each spring, and lift the post out in winter so water doesn't sit in the tube.

Rust dust, paint residue and the face wash after the umbrella stand

Turning an old umbrella stand into a side table is a messy afternoon outside. The wire brush and sandpaper knock rust into fine dust, the spray can leaves a mist of rust-resistant paint, and by the end there's residue on your hands, your forearms and usually your face, mixed with sweat.

How you clean up is a skin decision. The American Academy of Dermatology advises a gentle fingertip wash after sweating, and warns that washcloths, sponges and other scrubbing tools irritate skin. Hands that keep wandering to the face can make acne flare, it adds (American Academy of Dermatology, acne tips).

  1. Wash the rust and paint off your hands first.
  2. Then wash your face once, with a mild cleanser and fingertips.
  3. Leave the wire brush for the stand.

Clean hands and a gentle wash are where how to get rid of pimples begins; the guide below has the rest.

The full guide, from howtogetridofpimples.org

How to get rid of pimples, whiteheads, blackheads and acne cysts

How to get rid of pimples depends on the kind: adapalene for clogged pores, benzoyl peroxide for red bumps, a warm compress then a dermatologist for deep lumps. Per the AAD, one product needs 6 to 8 weeks.

Last reviewed · based on 5 dermatology sources

How to get rid of pimples, step by step

  • Whitehead
  • Blackhead
  • Papule
  • Pustule
  • Nodule
  • Cyst

    1. Wash gently

      Wash your face up to twice a day and after sweating, using your fingertips and a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser. Scrubbing irritates the skin. After sports, wash as soon as you can.

    2. Treat the whole area

      Spread a thin layer of one product over all acne-prone skin, not just the spot: benzoyl peroxide, adapalene or salicylic acid. For adapalene, a pea-sized amount covers your whole face, every other night at first.

    3. Cover it

      Put a hydrocolloid pimple patch on an open pimple. Worn overnight, it can speed up healing and calm irritation.

    1. Hands off

      Don't pick, pop or squeeze. It makes acne take longer to clear and raises the risk of scars and dark spots.

    2. Deep, painful pimple

      Hold a clean, warm, damp washcloth on it for 10 to 15 minutes, three times a day, to bring it to the surface. Then use a thin layer of one acne product. If it won't go, a dermatologist can treat it, for example with a steroid injection.

    1. Be patient

      Give one product 6 to 8 weeks. If it works, you should see some improvement in 4 to 6 weeks; clearing can take 2 to 3 months. No change after 6 to 8 weeks? See a dermatologist.

      Once it clears, keep using it. Staying on it is how to get rid of pimples that keep coming back.

What to put on a pimple

An over-the-counter pimple treatment is an acne product you can buy without a prescription. It means you can start tonight with one active ingredient. The strength of each product is printed on the label; use it as often as the label says, since too much dries skin out.

Pimple treatments you can buy without a prescription
IngredientWhat it doesBest forStrengthHow long
Benzoyl peroxideKills acne-causing bacteria and reduces inflammationRed, inflamed pimplesWashes and creams6 to 8 weeks
Salicylic acidRemoves dead skin cells, cuts oil, unclogs poresPapules and pustulesWashes and leave-on products; follow the label6 to 8 weeks
AdapaleneA retinoid: unclogs pores and reduces oilinessBlackheads and whiteheadsGel without a prescription; stronger with oneA few months before trying stronger
Azelaic acidOne of four acne-fighting ingredients dermatologists nameA deep pimple once it surfacesSold without a prescription6 to 8 weeks

Using more than one or two products at once can irritate your skin. For a single spot, an acne spot treatment dabbed only on that pimple keeps the rest of your face calm.

How to get rid of pimples by type

A pimple type is the kind of acne blemish you see, from a clogged pore to a deep cyst. It means each type needs a different treatment, so knowing yours tells you how to get rid of pimples of that kind. The depth of a pimple decides whether you can treat it at home. A sore lump that sits deep and never forms a head may be cystic acne, which is one for a dermatologist to see early.

Whiteheads
Closed, clogged pore
A pore clogged with oil, bacteria and dead skin cells that closed up: a tiny white or flesh-colored bump.Adapalene plus a benzoyl peroxide wash.
Blackheads
Open, clogged pore
A clogged pore that stays open. The dark dot isn't dirt, so don't scrub it.Adapalene plus a benzoyl peroxide wash.
Papules
Small, red, hard bump
Small, red bumps that feel hard. Lots of them can feel like sandpaper.Wash twice a day with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.
Pustules
Red bump, white center
Like papules, but with a white or yellow center.Benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid wash; don't pop.
Nodules
Deep, hard, painful lump
Deep under the skin. They often leave scars.A warm compress, then a dermatologist.
Cysts
Deep, filled sac
Deep, painful lumps you may feel more than see. They often scar.See a dermatologist early: fewer scars.

What to skip

  • ScrubbingWashcloths, sponges and scrubs irritate acne-prone skin and make acne worse.
  • PoppingIt slows healing and raises the risk of scars and dark spots.
  • Toners and astringentsThey can dry your skin and make acne look worse. Look for "alcohol-free" on the label.
  • Switching every few daysNew products too often irritate your skin and cause breakouts.
  • TanningTanning damages skin and can worsen acne. Use a non-comedogenic SPF 30+ sunscreen.

When to see a dermatologist

A dermatologist is a doctor who treats skin, including acne that home care can't clear. It means you get prescription treatment, such as tretinoin, and procedures like chemical peels, light therapy or steroid injections. Go if you have:

  • Painful lumps under the skin (nodules or cysts)
  • Scarring
  • No change after 6 to 8 weeks of products you bought yourself
  • Acne that hurts your mood or confidence

Your questions, answered

Straight answers to what people search for most.

How do you get rid of a pimple overnight?

You can't make one disappear by tomorrow. Nothing works that fast. What helps tonight: a pimple patch on an open pimple, worn overnight, and keeping your hands off it.

For the full routine by type of spot, see our page on how to get rid of a pimple overnight.

Do pimples heal faster popped or unpopped?

Unpopped. Popping makes acne take longer to clear and raises your risk of scars and dark spots.

Do pimple patches really work?

On an open pimple, yes. The hydrocolloid in them absorbs fluid and forms a protective gel. Worn overnight, they can speed up healing and calm irritation.

What kills pimples best?

There's no single winner. Benzoyl peroxide kills acne-causing bacteria, adapalene unclogs pores, and salicylic acid unclogs pores and eases inflammation. The best one is the one that fits your pimple type.

What is the #1 cause of acne?

Clogged pores. Extra oil and dead skin cells block a pore, and bacteria grow in it. Hormones, genes and things around you play a part too.

Sources

  1. American Academy of Dermatology. 6 skin care habits that can clear acne.
  2. American Academy of Dermatology. Treating deep, painful pimples.
  3. American Academy of Dermatology. Acne: types of breakouts.
  4. American Academy of Dermatology. Acne: tips for clearer skin.
  5. MedlinePlus. Salicylic acid topical. medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a607072.html

Last reviewed

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. See a dermatologist if you have painful lumps (nodules or cysts), scarring, no change after 6 to 8 weeks, or if acne affects your mood.