Tree stump ideas – 8 fun and creative ways to give them a new lease of life

If you love entertaining al fresco, then you'll know that you can never have too many tables. If you have a large tree stump, then this offers the perfect opportunity to create a rustic table that will have guests asking about the table as much as the delicious food and drink you've placed upon it.

Robert Johnson founder of Sawinery, talks us through the steps to create a table from a tree stump:

- Let your stump dry out for at least a month. You can dry the stump outside for a few months, then either cover or bring it inside for 2-3 weeks. This waiting process will loosen the bark.

- Remove the bark. This step may be a bit tricky depending on your stump. Bark is easily pulled off an oak while you will need tools such as a hammer and prybar for a walnut stump.

- Sand it to remove all the little hairs and slivers. You can use different sandpaper grits to sand it until you can run your hand over the stump and it feels smooth. Then, wipe over it with a damp, lint free cloth or a tack cloth to get rid of wood dust.

- It is important to seal your stump to prevent it from drying out and to keep it from getting marked on top when you put things down on it. Seal the whole stump 2-3 times. Seal the sides and underside again 1-2 more times while you may need up to 6 coats on the top because it is more susceptible to damage. Because of the open grain, the finish soaks into the top a lot more and requires more coats. Always let your finish dry the recommended amount of time in between coats.