Turn everyday outdoor objects into a trio of tasteful household tables.

At Your Service
For years, this hardy cart weathered the elements on a patio serving the hungry hordes. After a primer-and-paint facelift, it moved indoors and stands ready to offer gracious, sofa-side service. The wheels enable it to be easily dawn up close for an intimate tea service and moved to the corner when not needed. If the cart will take on long-term residence next to the sofa, add a lamp and take advantage of the space on the lower shelf for items you'd like to have close at hand.

Bedside Manners
Once water and sun-drenched, this statuesque plant stand is now a book-laden bedside table. A plant stand's typically tall height is a perfect match for the height of today's beds with thicker mattresses. The timeworn wood adds charm, so resist the temptation to buff up the finish unless you have small children who might come in contact with the paint. Then, apply several coats of clear polyurethane to make the surface safe but keep the look. Stack your favourite bedtime reading material on the lower shelf and keep the surface clutter-free so reading glasses and the book or magazine currently being read have a daytime place.

Earning Its Keep
The bloom of youth may be off this bent-around-the-edges urn, but there's an ageless dignity in its classic shape. Relieved of garden duty, this urn now shines inside the house as a coffee table base. A piece of 8mm glass becomes the table surface. The glass should be 15 to 20cm wider than the diameter of the urn for stability. For a clean look, leave the urn's interior empty; the items you put on top will cover the space. Or, put an interesting item or silk greenery inside the urn before placing the glass on top.