Table Furniture Projects

Putting a personal touch on your furniture is as easy as visualizing what you want it to look like. Refinishing a table, though time consuming, is a rewarding project. Being able to look at your newly finished end table or coffee table and know that you did it yourself is a feeling that you can't purchase at any designer store. Does this Spark an idea?

Refinishing

Refinishing a table isn't a complicated process provided you have the right tools. Whether you're changing shades of stain or removing old paint, a stripping agent will easily take off the previous layers with minimal effort on your part. Simply follow the instructions on the container, apply your stripper, wait the appropriate amount of time, and then wipe it off. To apply a new stain to your table, begin by sanding the table down with a light- to medium-grained sandpaper. Apply your stain, wait for it to dry, then lightly sand again. When you reach your desired color apply wax or gloss, sand, and repeat until you reach the desired look.

Painting

Furniture paint makes painting a table simple. Most furniture paints can be applied over the top of previous finishes, though a coat of primer may be necessary on slick laminate surfaces. Paint is a good way to rejuvenate old furniture to match the rest of your dcor. If you have a black and white theme, and a brown laminate table, it's not going to fit with the rest of your design scheme. A simple coat of black or white paint can bring new life to old furniture that would otherwise be thrown away.

Decoupage

Decoupage is the process of creating a custom art collage on the surface of a table, frame, plate, or practically any surface. Decoupage uses a glue or decoupage solution found at any craft store to attach images to the table. You can also make your own decoupage solution by mixing three parts school glue with one part water. Decoupage is applied over the top of the artwork as well to create a smooth, glossy flat surface that seals the images in. To decoupage a table, begin by lightly sanding the wood surface filling in any nicks or cracks with wood putty. Use a paintbrush to apply your solution to the back side of your images and to the table. Several coats are applied over the finished collage, being sure to sand between coats.