New Take on a Design Standard

Not just rustic: A picnic table comes indoors, in style.

No design is too simple to be upgraded with a little imagination and basic craftsmanship. Take the classic picnic table - a familiar fixture in parks and backyards everywhere. Just a few boards bolted together, a picnic table is usually rough-cut and rustic, the central gathering spot for casual outdoor living. But look what can happen when you rethink its role for indoor living, as with this elegant oak dining table.

The straightforward design of a picnic table makes it easy to build yourself - this table was made from plans bought online. The oak table was sanded smooth, then prepped with Minwax® Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner to help it absorb stain evenly. The next step was two coats of Minwax® Wood Finish™ Red Chestnut, which penetrates deeply into the pores for rich, long-lasting color. Finally, the project was completed with three coats of Minwax® Fast-Drying Polyurethane in a satin sheen for a clear, durable finish that reflects the sparkling chandelier above.