The Journal

From Petals to Tabletop: Crafting My Sunflower Epoxy Table

By Solomon Ficklin May 20, 2025 3 min read

Round wooden table with a sunflower design embedded under a clear epoxy resin top, set on a patterned rug surrounded by woven cushions and dried plants in a sunlit room.

This one started with a bold idea and a big mistake I almost made: trying to use real sunflowers. Turns out, sunflowers don’t cure well in resin. They hold too much moisture, brown out, and rot. But I didn’t want to give up on the vision—so I switched to high-quality faux sunflowers, and I’m glad I did. They kept their color, shape, and gave me everything I loved about the real thing—without turning into compost mid-pour.

Inspiration Strikes: The Allure of Sunflowers in Home Décor

How a walk through a blooming sunflower field sparked the idea for a unique epoxy table centerpiece.

There’s something magnetic about sunflowers. They’re bold without being loud. Bright without feeling cheesy. I’d always loved the way they made a space feel warm and full of life—and I wanted to bottle up that feeling inside a piece of furniture. If you’re drawn to bolder projects, check out my red epoxy table experiment too.

Rectangular wooden coffee table with a central panel featuring embedded sunflowers in clear epoxy resin, surrounded by natural wood grain planks and supported by black metal legs.

Gathering Materials: Selecting the Perfect Sunflowers and Wood

Choosing vibrant faux sunflowers and a complementary wood slab to serve as the foundation for the table.

I went with a clean, golden-toned maple slab and realistic silk sunflowers that had the right weight and texture. For anyone making a sunflower resin table, faux is the way to go. You avoid rot, trapped moisture, and the heartbreak of watching your flowers turn brown after curing. For more floral builds, here’s what happened when I used dried flowers in resin.

Preserving the Beauty: Faux Wins This Round

Why faux sunflowers were the better choice for this epoxy project.

Real flowers may seem like the more “natural” pick—but with something as bulky and moisture-heavy as sunflowers, they just don’t hold up in resin. Faux blooms, if chosen carefully, keep their vibrancy and structure—and honestly, no one could tell the difference in the final piece.

Round wooden coffee table with a sunflower design encapsulated in epoxy resin on the tabletop, placed on a woven rug in a cozy, sunlit room with textured cushions, a macrame throw, and decorative vases.

Designing the Layout: Arranging Sunflowers for Maximum Impact

Strategically placing the faux sunflowers on the tabletop to create a visually appealing design.

I kept the layout loose and natural—like the petals had just scattered across the table in the breeze. Some were full blooms, some just leaf accents. That’s the beauty of working with faux—you get consistency and flexibility without worrying about decay. You can see a similar vibe in my river rock epoxy build.

Building the Mold: Crafting a Secure Frame for the Resin Pour

Constructing a mold to contain the epoxy and ensure a smooth, even pour.

Standard melamine board and Tyvek tape did the trick. I sealed every edge tight with caulk, clamped the wood in place, and tested for leaks with a quick water pour before mixing the real stuff. With flowers involved, any leak can shift your whole layout—so I double-checked everything. Depending on your dimensions you can also choose to use a mold which can make things easier!

Clear resin tray with embedded yellow and dark brown sunflowers and small white flowers on a wood cutting board surrounded by small tools and containers on a wood surface.

Mixing and Pouring Epoxy: Encasing the Sunflowers in Resin

Steps to mix and pour epoxy resin over the arranged faux sunflowers, capturing their beauty forever.

I poured in layers, slowly. First a clear base, then the flower layout, then the final layers of resin on top. That kept the blooms from floating or shifting. I used a heat gun between pours to chase bubbles and let it rest between coats. Watching the flowers lock into place was the moment it all clicked. If you want a deeper breakdown, I shared more on layering technique in this underwater epoxy build.

Finishing Touches: Sanding, Polishing, and Sealing the Table

Techniques for achieving a glossy finish and protecting the table for long-term use.

Sanding started at 120 grit and went up through 600, then I polished the resin to a high-gloss finish. I used Rubio Monocoat to seal the edges of the wood—satin feel, natural look. The contrast between soft wood grain and crystal-clear resin made those faux blooms feel real. I talk more about finishes in my epoxy topcoat breakdown.

Rectangular wooden dining table with a clear epoxy resin section in the center containing colorful pressed flowers, surrounded by six light gray upholstered chairs, set in a bright room with large windows overlooking a scenic fall

Reflections: Lessons Learned and Future Projects

Sharing insights gained during the project and ideas for incorporating floral elements into future woodworking endeavors.

What I learned:

Faux flowers > real ones for long-term resin pieces
Resin depth matters—layering helps preserve the dimension
A looser, more organic flower layout feels more natural than a rigid design

This floral epoxy table taught me that epoxy’s not just for river tables—it’s for memories, too. And that you don’t always need fresh flowers to capture a feeling. This epoxy table with sunflowers ended up being one of my most complimented pieces. It brings warmth, color, and a bit of nature into a space—even if the nature part is technically silk.

Faux flower epoxy tables have become some of my favorite builds to date. If you want a custom piece or hit a wall building your own, feel free to drop a comment or reach out—happy to help. Have a blessed day!

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