How To Make A Table Protector 

If you're looking to replace a broken/scratched table, or purchase a new glass table top, t's worth considering acrylic furniture protectors. Acrylic table tops can offer an extra layer of protection to any furniture item. Available in both clear and an array of coloured materials, acrylic (perspex) can act as an alternative to glass or give you a whole new look! 

Here at The Plastic People, we are suppliers of clear acrylic furniture protectors - cut to any size or shape. They are one of our most popular products as this plastic offers a range benefits over glass and other traditional furntiure materials. Click here to check out our range of clear, coloured and mirrored furniture protectors. 

In this blog, we are going to discuss the perks of choosing acrylic for your home and garden decor, and also provide you with the knowledge you need to install your own DIY table protector! If you need any extra information on acrylic, furniture protectors, or anything else to do with plastic, get in touch with our customer services team today. They can be emailed at service@theplasticpeople.co.uk. 

Why use acrylic for a DIY table protector? 

There are several perks and benefits associated with choosing acrylic (aka perspex/plexiglas) over other traditional furniture materials such as glass and wood/veneers. Here are our top three:

• Price: Acrylic is the cheapest way to replace or add a table top to any furniture item. What's more is, we do all the hard work for you, cutting the plastic to the correct size and shape, so all you have to do is attach it. With such a wide range of colours and finishes available, it's hard to see why you wouldn't opt for acrylic! 

• Strength: Acrylic is an incredibly durable material. It is ten times stronger than glass and shatterproof, meaning that instead of breaking into lots of small and sharp pieces, acrylic snaps into larger and easily disposable chunks. Acrylic is also incredibly hygienic - can be wiped clean - and safe around children.

• Usability: Finally, acrylic is an easy material to work with. It is half the weight of glass, and so simple to transport and move around your home. This means that any one can install an DIY table top with ease. Acrylic is a forgiving material too, you can remove scratches and other chips from the surface to keep it looking brand new. Make sure to check out our blog on maintaining acrylic if you are interested, click here to read more. 

• Dining Tables 
• Side Tables (including bedside tables)
• Coffee Tables 
• Desks 
• Garden Tables
• Children's furniture

Acrylic DIY table protectors are also especially useful for events and celebrations such as birthdays, weddings, Christening receptions, Christmas and New Year when the table is a key focus – dressed to impress, adorned with arrangements and decorations.  

Acrylic table protectors are a stylish way to protect the table from the inevitable damages, spills and chips. Should the festivities get out of hand, acrylic will not break and shatter like glass!

If you are not sure which thickness to choose for your table cover or table protection, then typically start looking from 3mm acrylic upwards. For an acrylic table top or desk top which is supported by a frame look from 10mm acrylic upwards. It will depend on the overall size of your table top or desk top – the thicker the acrylic you choose, the more rigid the acrylic table top will be.

Acrylic can be cut to any size and shape so whether you have a round table and need an acrylic disc or a rectangular or square table you can use acrylic. Simply measure the length and width of your furniture – or diameter for circular tables – and order acrylic to these sizes in order to cover the top of your table or piece of furniture. You can get an instant quote via our website's personalised calculator. Click here to check it out today. 

To secure the acrylic panel on your table and prevent it from moving, we recommend using self-adhesive rubber stops. One at each corner of your table will ensure complete stability. Remember to add a pack to your order when checking out our store! 

For a premium look, go for a reasonable thickness of either 4mm acrylic or 5mm acrylic.  Have the edges of the cut to size acrylic well-polished and you will have an instant shine and sheen. When placed on your table top, the acrylic will look just like a protective glass top but a better choice, we think, because it is much lighter than glass and much stronger than glass.  

DIY table protectores in the garden 

Acrylic can also be used as protection for outdoor furniture. Most wood and metal garden furniture requires some maintenance/cleaning every year - and protection throughout harsher winter weather. Common advice is to store your garden furniture indoors over winter, but if you are not able or don’t want to do that, what solutions exist that will protect your furniture? 

Solutions people turn to typically include applying protective paints and treatments which vary depending on your choice of garden furniture. Metal furniture needs to be protected from rusting and applying a rust preventing paint around every two years can maintain a barrier to weather. Wooden garden furniture needs to be protected from rotting and dirt build up.

We, however, recommend using an acrylic table top to protect your garden furniture from the elements all year round. The plastic top stops rain, debris and other items from damaging your furniture and requires very little upkeep. Any scratches can be buffed out and it's easy to keep acrylic looking brand new by using plastic polishes, such as VuPlex. 


That brings us to the end of this guide on acrylic and protecting your tables/furniture from everyday wear and tear! If you need any further advice, get in touch with our customer services team today. You can contact them via our website - click here. 

We love to see our customers' photos of their brand new and installed table protectors! Feel free to reach out via email with your images, or message us on social media. We are @barkstonplastic on Twitter and Instagram, or you can click here to reach our Facebook page.