There’s something special about bringing natural elements into furniture—wood with its warmth and history, flowers with their fleeting beauty, and epoxy resin that captures it all like a moment frozen in time. This project was about making a coffee table that felt alive, where deep-toned wood and delicate blooms came together under a glass-like resin finish.
Choosing the Wood and Flowers
I started with a slab of dark walnut—its rich, chocolatey grain would be the perfect backdrop for bright flowers. The wood had a few natural cracks and knots, but that only added character. For the flowers, I picked dried hydrangeas and small wildflowers, their soft pinks and purples contrasting beautifully against the wood’s deep brown.
Preparing the Wood
First, I sanded the slab smooth, feeling the texture change under my hands from rough to almost silky. The cracks needed stabilizing, so I filled them with a thin epoxy mix to prevent leaks later. Then, I laid out the flowers, playing with different arrangements until it felt just right—like a little garden growing out of the wood.
Sealing the Flowers in Resin
Working with epoxy resin is always a mix of excitement and patience. I mixed the two-part resin slowly to avoid bubbles, then poured a thin layer over the flowers to lock them in place. Watching the resin flow and settle was mesmerizing—it deepened the wood’s color and made the petals look like they were floating. After the first layer cured, I poured a second to build up depth, then sanded everything smooth once it hardened.
The Final Polish
The last step was polishing the surface until it shone like glass. As I ran my hand over it, the wood felt cool and sleek, the flowers perfectly preserved beneath. The edges got a light sanding to keep a natural, organic feel—I didn’t want it to look too perfect.
Why This Combination Works
The dark wood grounds the piece, giving it weight and warmth, while the flowers add a touch of softness. The resin doesn’t just protect them—it turns the whole table into a kind of living artwork. Every time the light hits it differently, the colors shift, and you notice new details in the grain and petals.
This wasn’t just about making a table; it was about capturing nature in a way that lasts. And now, it sits in my living room, a little piece of the outdoors brought inside.