Epoxy looks cool, but honestly, I prefer natural oils or wax finishes. Easier to fix mistakes and way less hassle with bubbles or uneven surfaces. Driftwood tables do sound tempting though...maybe I'll reconsider sometime.
"Epoxy looks cool, but honestly, I prefer natural oils or wax finishes. Easier to fix mistakes and way less hassle with bubbles or uneven surfaces."
Yeah, totally get what you're saying about epoxy. I've done a few epoxy projects myself, and while the results can be stunning, the stress of getting it just right is no joke. Driftwood tables do have a certain charm though—especially if you can find a piece with a unique shape or texture. Ever thought about combining driftwood with other natural elements, like stone or moss, for a more organic feel?
I see where you're coming from on the epoxy challenges—it's definitely not the most forgiving material. I've had my fair share of headaches dealing with bubbles and uneven curing too. But I gotta say, when you nail it, the visual depth epoxy can bring out in natural wood is pretty amazing. Still, I'm totally with you on the charm of driftwood and more natural finishes.
Your idea of mixing driftwood with other elements like moss or stone actually reminds me of a project I worked on a couple years back. We had this client who wanted a super organic, nature-inspired look for their sunroom. Ended up using reclaimed driftwood for shelving and accent pieces, then incorporated river stones around a small indoor fountain. Honestly, it turned out pretty awesome—felt like stepping into a forest clearing every time you walked in there.
If you're going for a fully natural vibe, another thing I've seen work really well is using live-edge slabs for tables or benches, finished simply with tung oil or beeswax. It's durable enough for daily use but still feels authentic and easy to maintain. Plus, if it ever gets scratched or scuffed, a quick sanding and reapplication of the oil usually does the trick—it’s way less stressful than epoxy repairs, for sure.
One thing I'd caution about though, when adding moss or plants indoors, is moisture control. Moss walls and terrariums look incredible, but without decent airflow or proper humidity management, you can end up with mold or mildew issues. A buddy of mine learned this the hard way—had to redo an entire wall because he didn't plan for ventilation properly. So, just something to keep in mind if you're thinking along those lines.
Anyway, I think combining driftwood, stone, and moss could be a really smart move—just make sure to plan ahead for moisture and maintenance, and you'll have something unique and low-stress that'll age beautifully over time.
Your driftwood and moss idea reminds me of when I tried to DIY a coffee table using a big slab of wood I found on a hike. Thought it'd be super easy—just sand it down, oil it up, and slap some legs on. But man, nature had other plans... turns out the slab was home to some tiny beetles or something. A week later, I noticed little piles of sawdust appearing underneath—yep, bugs were munching away inside my new "rustic" furniture.
Ended up having to ditch the whole thing (sad day), but it did teach me a lesson about checking for critters before bringing outdoor stuff indoors. Now I'm curious though—how do you make sure driftwood or reclaimed wood doesn't have hidden surprises? Do you treat it somehow first?
Also, good call on the moisture issue with moss walls. I was thinking about doing one in my bathroom, but mold is definitely not the kind of nature vibe I'm going for...
"Now I'm curious though—how do you make sure driftwood or reclaimed wood doesn't have hidden surprises? Do you treat it somehow first?"
I learned the hard way too when I brought home some driftwood for a wall hanging. After noticing tiny bugs crawling around, I started treating any reclaimed wood by thoroughly cleaning it, then baking smaller pieces in the oven at a low temp (around 200°F) for a couple hours. For larger slabs, sealing them completely with a clear polyurethane finish usually does the trick. Haven't had issues since...
