OMG! This easy DIY centerpiece for an umbrella table is SO SIMPLE to make!!
Are you like me and have an umbrella patio table?
I love my table ~ because of the umbrella. Our backyard faces south and that wonderful umbrella provides much-needed shade.
But that dang pole in the middle of the table makes it hard to create a cute centerpiece. In fact, practically impossible to have an outdoor dining table centerpiece.
And I’m ALL ABOUT centerpieces on tables.
So making a patio table umbrella centerpiece that could fit around that dang pole was a no-brainer for me.
The key piece ~ using a bundt cake pan for the centerpiece. After all, the middle of the pan looks like a perfect place to slip through a patio umbrella pole.
And it looks SO CUTE!
Check out how easy it is to diy umbrella patio table centerpiece…
Supplies for Easy DIY Centerpiece for an Umbrella Table
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- Bundt cake pan
- Dremel rotary tool
- Spray paint
- Newspaper or drop cloth
How to DIY an Umbrella Table Centerpiece
This diy project requires using a Dremel or other rotary tool. It’s great for all sorts of craft and small diy projects. If you don’t have one, consider getting one as it’s not that pricey. Or, I bet, you have a friend that has one and borrow it for this project.
*Tip: You can find super-cheap, barely used, bundt cake pans at your local thrift store or neighborhood garage sales. Which makes this a fabulous upcycle bundt pan diy.
Step 1: Prep for making an umbrella centerpiece
You will be using the grinding tool to remove the top of the middle section of your bundt pan. Since there is a possibility of small metal flakes flying, you will want to wear safety goggles.
Also, consider doing this outside, or over a solid work surface. Not glass or a surface that can easily get damaged.
I don’t anticipate anything happening, but better safe than sorry.
Placing newspaper over your worksurface is always a good idea, too.
Step 2: Removing the top of your bundt cake pan’s middle piece
The nice thing about patio umbrella poles is they’re all the same diameter. So you just need to see how far down you need to cut the middle of your bundt pan.
The easiest way to do this is to see how far down the inside of the pan your umbrella pole will go. Then mark that location.
For my pan, I needed to just cut off the very top, because it had a lip that faced the middle and prevented my pole from going through.
First, I attached the grinding wheel to my Dremel.

Next, I started at a low speed and gently held the Dremel along the top of the middle piece. I found that at a higher speed the rotary tool would bounce off the metal pan and was hard to control.
*Tip: you need to be patient and take your time cutting off the top of the middle section. It’s not a super-fast process.
As the Dremel started cutting through the metal pan, I would move to the next section to cut through, until I had cut around the whole middle piece.



Step 3: Removing any rough areas of your diy centerpiece for an umbrella table
Since you have just cut through the metal bundt cake pan, there are sure to be rough metal edges. Edges you don’t want to get cuts from.
To smooth those rough areas, add the sanding attachment to your rotary tool. Then slowly sand the edges that you just cut until they’re smooth to your touch.

It shouldn’t take too long to sand them down.


Then slide it on the base of your pole to confirm it will fit.

Step 4: Painting your diy patio umbrella table centerpiece
Most likely the outside of your upcycle bundt cake pan isn’t a color that matches your patio table. The easiest option is to spray paint it.
Since my patio table is white, I opted to spray paint the outside of my diy umbrella table centerpiece white to match.
As always, lay down newspaper or a dropcloth to protect your work surface before spray painting. If you can do it outside, that’s best. Otherwise in a well-ventilated space.
Before I spray painted, I used painting stir sticks to elevate my upcycled bundt pan from sticking to the newspaper. They’re typically free from your local paint store.

Then apply a few thin coats of spray paint until your diy centerpiece for an umbrella table is completely covered.
If the inside of your bundt pan is ugly, you can spray paint it too. My pan appeared to have never been used, and I liked the silver color, so I kept it as-is.

Step 5: Put your easy diy centerpiece for an umbrella table to use
OMG! Wasn’t that easier than you expected?
If you’ve never used a Dremel, you probably thought it would be hard to cut through that metal bundt pan, but the rotary tool makes it SO EASY!
Isn’t this a great upcycle bundt pan diy project?
And now you have a SUPER CUTE centerpiece for your umbrella table.

Just slide it onto your umbrella pole and then put the pole into your patio table. Then fill the diy umbrella table centerpiece with whatever you like.
I filled mine with pebbles and mason jars vases containing yellow flowers.



Other ideas for this upcycle bundt pan diy are to add votive candles or mason jar bug repellant luminaries.


Note: if you want to use the diy patio table centerpiece as a planter, be sure and drill a few drainage holes in the bottom.
Shop the diy supplies:
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Super cute, Nicole! And very creative!
Thank you! I appreciate hearing that!!