Today it is expensive to buy a new coffee table. Especially when it comes to a coffee table, which should be not only functional, but also elegant and beautiful. Therefore, experts are developing more and more ways of how a table can be restored with their own hands.
Before restoring the table, you need to clean its surface of old paint and repair all cracks and chips.
There are many methods. It is conventionally accepted to divide them for different types of tables according to their purpose. But with the same success, you can apply to the coffee table the methods that are usually used to decorate kitchen or dressing tables. As practice shows, it looks very original.
Surface preparation
Before starting to consider the individual decorating methods, it is advisable to study how to prepare the surface. After all, this step is the same for all tables, regardless of which method of restoration you choose in the future.
The old coating must be removed first. It is risky to use solvents as they can damage the wood fiber. This is especially true for valuable antique pieces of furniture. In this case, it is best to use a coarse sandpaper and a sander.
As for the legs, if they are carved, you need to carefully sand them with special pieces of sandpaper for hard-to-reach places. It is strictly forbidden to rip off the old coating with screwdrivers, chisels and knives. These tools can damage the finish.
To level the surface of the table, cover it with a layer of primer.
If the legs are still quite problematic to clean because of their shallow relief, then you can use a thin wire mesh. And if that doesn't work, you can use a little thinner. Only it is necessary to work with it very carefully, wrapping a bandage on a match and dipping it in a solvent.
When all the old coating has been removed, all cracks and flaws need to be well sealed. To do this, you need to use wood putty. But first, the entire table is covered with a primer, which will protect the wood from damage, and will subsequently give better adhesion to the putty and finishing material. When the primer is absorbed, you can work with the putty.
A small spatula is used for work. The putty can be used both ordinary white and special colored - here everything will depend on how you intend to restore the table further. After the putty has dried, sand everything again with a weak sandpaper and re-coat with a thin layer of primer.
The table is ready.
Consider two main options for restoring a coffee table with your own hands.
They are considered the easiest for beginners and not so expensive in terms of money, which is especially important in conditions of limited resources.
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Table restoration with paint and varnish
The first option is to cover the surface with paint or varnish. So, the paint must first be stirred well. Then take a soft brush and paint slowly along the grain of the wood. Note that the upper part is painted over first, after which you should gradually go down. This is very important to observe, because otherwise it will simply not be possible to avoid non-decorative smudges.
The paint must be applied in two thin layers so that the putty does not shrink and is not visible under the paint. When you apply the paint, wait until it dries, and then cover the table as described above, but only with a transparent varnish. If you want to see a sparkling gloss, then the varnish is applied in two or even three layers. If you want a more natural matte surface - just one layer will be enough.
Do-it-yourself table restoration is possible not only with paint, but also with varnish, as well as with special solutions that give a silver, gold or bronze hue. And it looks very elegant, especially on antique tables.
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Mosaic restoration
The second option is to cover the table top with mosaics. Mosaics are now available in different types. For a coffee table, which will be located in a classic-style living room, you can choose a mosaic with some kind of ancient or city landscape. If you want to place a table in your bedroom, you can choose more tranquil romantic patterns such as flowers, hearts, angels or cute birds and animals.
So, first, the table is covered with a base, which will be the paint of the selected color. It is important to choose a shade contrasting with the future mosaic - either very dark or very light. This will make the pattern look brighter and more natural.
After the paint has dried (and this is at least 2 days), it is necessary to stir well the PVA glue or special tile adhesive for mosaic. After that, you immediately need to press the mosaic strictly according to the instructions so that the drawing is correct. For greater fidelity, you can coat the mosaic on the reverse side, only the glue layer in this case should be very thin.
About a day after the mosaic has set, grout should be done. For this, a special agent is used in the form of a powder or paste, which matches the pattern. You can also use a contrasting color grout, which in some cases looks good.
Before grouting, experts recommend using masking tape to glue the edges of the tiles so that they do not get very dirty. The very same grout is done either with a small spatula or a sponge. It all depends on which remedy you have chosen. After finishing the work, wait until the grout dries, remove the adhesive tape from the mosaic and remove any residues that have accidentally gotten onto the mosaic with a cloth.
The legs in such a table can simply be painted with paint or varnish, since the mosaic will no longer be appropriate here. The color of the legs is selected according to your taste. But it is best if it will differ favorably from the main drawing. You can simply cover them with tinted varnish, which will highlight the naturalness of the wood.
So, two ways to restore a coffee table are considered. Of course, there are many more options: this is a decoupage technique, and wallpapering, and decorating with oilcloth. But the methods described above are basic. Once you learn how to do them, doing the rest will be easier.
If you have an old dining table that is dear to you as a memory, or you just want to save reasonable money on buying new furniture, then you have an interesting job as a restorer or decorator.
Keep in mind that restoring a kitchen table with your own hands is not the easiest thing and, in some cases, not justified, because not every table can be repaired, and it is better to entrust antiques to professionals. But more often than not, the right "upgrade" can bring your old friend back to life and transform him beyond recognition.
In what ways can the table be updated?
To update your kitchen table with your own hands, you can use one of the following proven technologies:
- Traditional painting - we will consider this method in detail in a step-by-step master class.
- An interesting way of decorating and painting furniture is painting through tulle - the table top is painted through it, and a lace pattern is formed according to the principle of a stencil.
- Ceramic tiles will allow you to decorate a dilapidated, badly damaged countertop and make it more practical - you can put hot on such a surface and wash it in any way.
- You can update the old table using decoupage technique. We will also talk about it in more detail.
- An easy way to modify a table with your own hands quickly and on a budget is to paste over it with self-adhesive film.
- Burning out will renew the undamaged wood surface.
Master class - 6 steps towards a new life
In this workshop on simple do-it-yourself dining table restoration, we will update, repair and repaint such an old veneered table with a moderate number of defects.
So, to update your kitchen table you will need:
- a sander or sandpaper of coarse, medium and fine grit, as well as glasses, a respirator and gloves;
- alkyd enamel paint of the desired color (or another desired coating, for example, wood stain), as well as a flat, non-fading paint or art brush;
- wood primer and small roller / brush for priming;
- wax paste or varnish.
Step 1. Inspect and repair parts
We carefully inspect all fasteners in the structure and defects of the countertop - how much the veneer has delaminated or the wood has been damaged.
If the table is a little loose, then you just need to tighten all the screws. If it requires a more serious restoration, then you need to completely disassemble the table, re-fasten all the parts, or clean and sand all the grooves and joints so that the new glue better seizes, fix the glued parts with clamps or self-tapping screws, and then remove them after 15 hours, when the glue is completely dry.
- Sometimes the underframe requires replacement, not only because its parts are badly dilapidated, but also because the legs can completely modify your old table. For example, if earlier the legs were simple, now you can replace them with beautiful carved balusters.
- When disassembling furniture, do not forget to mark the installation location of each of the parts, so you will not get confused and will cope with the task faster.
Step 2. Remove the old coating
Now put on your safety goggles and prepare 2 types of sandpaper: coarse for initial processing and fine for smoothing. Get ready for long and laborious work - removing old paint or varnish is not easy.
Step 3. Close up cracks and chips
After sanding, thoroughly clean the table from dust, inspect the tabletop and look for defects. Keep in mind that even the smallest damage will be visible after painting. All chips and cracks must be locally repaired with wood putty or polyester putty, and then the entire surface must be sanded again when the patches are dry.
Note - covering the table with stain:
- if the countertop does not have severe damage, then you can not hide the natural beauty of the wood and cover it with stain, and then varnish, shellac or wax. The photo below shows an example of a restored table with a stained top in Bleached Oak.
Step 4. Primer and sand again
We continue to work. Now we need to not only clean the table, but also degrease it. And after the table is dry, we proceed to the primer. This stage is mandatory, since without it the paintwork will lie unevenly and quickly be damaged. You can use an alkyd or shellac wood primer. In this master class, the universal alkyd primer Zinsser Cover Stain (pictured below) was used, which dries in just 1 hour, protects the tree well and prepares it for painting. It costs about 500-600 rubles, but is not sold everywhere. The table can be primed in 1-2 layers using a small sponge roller, each layer should dry completely.
When the primer is dry (within 1 day), sand the countertop again with sandpaper or a medium-grit sanding sponge to smooth the primed surface and prepare it for painting. And don't forget to put on your respirator again!
Step 5. And now we start painting.
It is very important to choose the right paint and its color. Avoid cheap paints, because this is a dining table, which means that the tabletop should withstand frequent washing, wiping, bumps, and more. In this case, a premium water-based alkyd enamel paint with a satin finish is used, but you can opt for a more sustainable acrylic-based enamel. Also, be fond of choosing a quality brush so that it doesn't fade in the process. A large flat art brush is perfect, not a paint brush.
The paint must be applied in 2 thin layers, while it is better to leave the finishing layer to dry for 3-4 days.
- If you chose a dark paint color, then it is better to apply it in 3 thin coats;
- To create shabby chic scuffs, the paint can be sanded in some places, for example, at the ends of the table;
- Also, to create the effect of "antique", the table can be patched.
Step 6. Apply a protective coating
As we said, you can protect the table surface with a varnish such as a water-based matte polyurethane (pictured on the left is a great varnish from Varathane). It should be applied evenly in 2-3 thin layers, lightly sanding each layer before applying the next layer of varnish. Of course, all layers must dry completely before sanding (4 hours).
The second option is protection with wax, which will make the countertop matte and can be rubbed to a shine. To do this, the wax must be rubbed gently into the wood with a cotton cloth, then let the first layer dry for at least 1 hour. Then polish the surface in a circular motion and repeat the procedure 2 more times within one day. Well, now be patient and leave the table for 1 week so that the surface has acquired the necessary performance properties.
Well, that's all - the restoration is complete and the old table has found new life in a trendy white color.
And here is another interesting video from the program "Cheap and Angry" on the topic of tabletop restoration at home from improvised means.
Updating the countertop with decoupage
If you do not want to be satisfied with what has already been achieved, or your table does not have serious damage, but just needs a small update, then you can decorate the table with drawings: paint it with acrylic paints by hand, use stencils and stamps, or update the table using decoupage. Perhaps, we will consider this very popular decor technique in more detail, because decoupage will allow not only to budget and quickly transform the table or, for example, stylize it like Shabby chic (as in the photo below), but also hide some defects of the dilapidated surface.
As you know, old tables and chairs are often just thrown away because they look gloomy and old-fashioned. But this is not very advisable at today's prices for furniture products.
By the way, furniture of the old (sample), for example, Soviet, is made very well and, having brought it into a divine form, it will last for more than a dozen years.
Let's take a look at what the master needs to carry out the restoration? And we will also carefully consider all the stages of the work carried out.
Materials
1.the subject of restoration (table)
2.sandpaper
3.paint silvery with lilac sheen (spray can)
4.fittings
5.plywood
6.Screws
7. rags
9.polishing
10 varnish
Tools
1.drill
2.sandpaper
3.brush
4. screwdriver
5.chisel
6.hammer
7 hacksaw
The process of restoring an old table with your own hands.
And so, an old table was taken as a basis, which lived a very long life, inherited by the author from his grandmother. At first glance, it looks very inconspicuous and even depressed, in places the plywood has peeled off, there are many scratches and chips, the varnish has burnt out from the sun and time. But the general appearance is still stately, for this reason the master decided to revive him.
To begin with, all the boxes were removed and a visual assessment of all the more problem areas requiring urgent restoration was carried out. In almost all boxes, the bottom is peeling; the plywood should be replaced with a new one.
He removes the old plywood and screws on the new one, making the bottom according to the old dimensions.
Also, all old fittings are removed from the table, because the author will subsequently install a new one, suitable for the new style. The old one should be left, "it will come in handy on the farm."
Then the table is taken out into the open air, because the work will be quite dusty, as well as contact with paints and varnishes, or painting should be carried out in a well-ventilated area. Oilcloth was spread under the table so as not to litter in the yard.
Next, it is necessary to remove the old coating of varnish or paint, for which various washes and solvents are used today, and you also have to work well with sandpaper so that not a trace remains of the old coating.
The work is time consuming and you need a lot of patience in monotonous work.
And now the long-awaited moment has come (painting). The master will paint his table with a spray can of paint, of course you cannot paint the whole table with one spray can, you will have to fork out for 2-3 cans. The author paints with a thin layer so that the drawing of the tree is slightly visible.
If you have a puller, it will be much easier and more economical for you to paint the restored furniture.
Painting should be carried out at a certain distance and evenly distribute a stream of paint from a spray can over the surface to be painted in order to avoid smudges.
After the table has been painted and a certain time allotted for drying has passed, the master applies an additional layer of varnish, just as easily you can rub it with a special composition based on wax, so that the product shines and shines playing with color in the sun.
In place of the old fittings, a new one is screwed in, suitable for the new style of the table. Here, everyone should have their own choice and preference.
Here's a look at what beauty came out in the end.
If you have an old table that has lost its presentable appearance, do not rush to take it out in the trash. It has served you for many years, and rest assured, it will serve you even more, provided you give it a little time. The restoration of the table can be carried out in such a way that it will compete with any designer item. New life can be breathed in using completely different methods and techniques. Let's take a look at the most popular methods.
Options for how you can transform an old table
To restore an old table with your own hands, you can resort to one of the following options:
- Veneering (pasting over an old wooden surface with veneer).
- Painting.
- Pasting with self-adhesive film.
- Decoupage (application of the table top with drawings from napkins, banana or rice paper).
- Painting using stencils (through paper or fabric stencil).
- Facing with tiles.
- Decor using leaf (foil, which is glued in the form of patterns).
Materials and tools for the restoration
To return your old table to its former beauty, you need the following:
- Sandpaper.
- Sander.
- Paint for wooden surfaces.
- Impregnation.
- Primer.
- Primer roller.
- Varnish (colorless and colored).
Also, do not forget about personal protective equipment:
- Respirator.
- Protective glasses.
- Work gloves.
Restoration
To restore an old table with your own hands, you need to adhere to the following stages:
- First, inspect the table for scratches, cracks and other defects. If there are any breakdowns, be sure to fix them. Check all bolts on the table top and legs and tighten them.
Important! The best option would be to disassemble the table into separate parts, clean them of dust and dirt, and then reassemble it. When assembling, for better fixation, you can add glue to the attachment points and wait until it is completely dry (at least 15 hours).
- Next, sand the table with a machine or sand it by hand. This will make it possible to align all problem areas that were not previously visible. Removing old varnish and paint is quite time consuming and laborious. Sand the surface with medium-grained and then fine-grained sandpaper.
Important! Try to sand the wood along the grain. If improperly processed, defects can arise that are very difficult to eliminate later.
- Fill up any deep scratches and cracks with a putty. Let the patches dry completely, then sand and sand the surface.
- Degrease the table with acetone and prime the surface. For these purposes, you can use a universal primer. Instead of impregnating, prime the countertop 2-3 times, completely drying each layer.
- Sand the table surface thoroughly again.
- If there are no cracks, chips or scratches on the countertop, then you can treat it with a water-repellent impregnation, and then cover it with several layers of varnish or stain. This gives the surface an unmistakable fresh wood effect.
- In the event that the surface condition is unimportant and the table is subsequently planned to be decorated, then it must be painted. For these purposes, it is better to use water-based paint. Apply it with a large brush. When the paint is dry, apply a second coat. Application should be quick, thin layers. Dry the table for at least four days.
Important! It is advisable to apply dark paint in two or three layers to avoid ugly gaps.
How can you decorate your countertop?
Restoring the table is, of course, good. But in order to create a real work of art, the countertop should be decorated. To do this, you can choose one of the following methods.
Painting
Painting is one of the most popular techniques for interior decoration and hotel household items. There are several options for painting furniture items:
- Artistic painting with thin brushes.
- Painting with stamps.
- Painting with stencils (templates).
Important! For glass countertops, airy and bright painting with stained glass paints will be ideal.
Painting with tulle or some other lace looks incredibly beautiful. To apply an openwork pattern to the surface of the table, you just need to attach the tulle to the table top, fixing it with tape, and paint the table in the same way as through an ordinary stencil - using a roller, foam rubber sponge or a spray paint can. It is advisable to select the color of the paint in contrast to the color of the surface.
Important! On a glass tabletop, the painting should be applied from the seamy side, while the front side should remain smooth.
Tile decor
You can update the countertop by decorating it with tiles. The use of tiles on the table opens up a lot of room for imagination, since today its choice is really huge. For these purposes, you can choose:
- Mosaic tiles.
- Ceramic tiles.
- Plastic composite tiles.
Important! It is very convenient to work with mosaic tiles. Such tiles are simply cut with a knife. Thus, unnecessary parts are removed without any problems.
The whole workflow will be creative and simple:
- Table restoration begins with surface cleaning and degreasing.
- Then, using a special glue, the tile is fixed on the table.
- After a few hours, the joints between the tiles are overwritten using grout or special joint paint for this purpose.
Important! A mosaic of pieces of tile looks very interesting on the table.
Potal
Potal is a very thin sheet of various metal alloys used to imitate any surface like silver, bronze or gold. The gilding technique is often used when decorating pieces of furniture, along with other decorative techniques and techniques:
- First, draw a stencil, on which the gold leaf will be glued later.
- Then apply glue to it with a fine brush.
- Carefully place the glazing sheets over the glue.
- With a soft brush, very carefully remove unnecessary parts of the sheet.
- The thicker the brush with which you apply the glue, the thicker the gold leaf pattern will be.
Important! Particles of leaf glaze, which remained from the design of the countertop in this style, can be collected and used again in powder form.
Painting in different colors
You can restore an old table with your own hands by painting it in different colors. This is a very interesting technique that many modern designers use:
- First, cover the entire countertop with a single color.
- After the paint dries, apply masking tape, creating a stencil from it for the rest of the colors.
- Using a brush or roller, apply all other colors one by one.
- After the paint has dried, remove the masking tape.
Important! On a colored background, you can glue or draw various pictures.
- Finally, cover the table with two or three coats of clearcoat. This will add strength to the decor and protect it from mechanical damage.
Important! The varnish can be either matte or glossy - at your request.
Decoupage
You can update an old table using the decoupage technique without even having special skills. Learning to create masterpieces using this technique is not difficult at all.
To restore the table using decoupage technique, you will need the following:
- Pictures for decoupage - you can use ordinary napkins with your favorite design or even images from magazines.
- PVA glue.
- Acrylic varnish (it is better to buy varnish in a spray can).
- Napkin.
- Acetone or alcohol.
- Brush.
The sequence of work is as follows:
- Clean the table from old paint, dirt. After that, degrease the surface by wiping it thoroughly with a cloth with alcohol or acetone.
Important! If the surface is poorly cleaned, the decor will turn out to be sloppy.
- Pick up pictures and make the necessary composition from them. Any images are suitable: for the kitchen table, you can pick up motives of vegetables and fruits, of various colors. The table with the motives of ancient buildings looks very interesting.
Important! If you use special decoupage pictures, then you do not need to do anything with them - just stick it by removing the top layer.
- Place the cut pictures on the table. Mix PVA with water in equal proportions and glue the pictures to the surface at the selected places. To prevent bubbles from forming, smooth the pictures with a napkin, expelling excess air from under them. Then leave the pictures to dry.
- After the decoupage is completely dry, varnish the surface of the table with pictures. Apply varnish in several steps, waiting for the previous layer to dry completely.
Restoring a table can help transform an old, unwanted item into a true work of art. In order to decorate a piece of furniture, you can choose any decor option convenient for you. As you can see, this does not require a lot of money, effort or skills - even a beginner can cope with this task.
Do not rush to throw out the old table. He has served you for many years and will serve you more if you give him a little attention.
The table can be decorated in such a way that it will compete with any designer thing.
New life can be breathed in using completely different methods and techniques.
Let's consider the most common methods.
In contact with
Classmates
Ways to transform the table
- painting;
- veneering (pasting an old wooden surface with veneer);
- pasting with self-adhesive film;
- (application of the table with drawings from napkins, rice or banana paper);
- facing with tiles;
- painting the table using a stencil (through a fabric, paper or plastic stencil);
- decor with the help of leaf (foil, which is glued in the form of a pattern).
We will look at some of the decoration methods in this article in a little more detail. In addition, you can turn an old table into a modern and original design element using a regular LED strip. fits perfectly into any interior.
Materials and tools
To return the old table to its former beauty, we need the following:
- sander;
- paint for wood;
- impregnation;
- primer roller;
- varnish (colored or colorless);
- brushes for each type of coating.
As well as personal protective equipment:
- protective glasses;
- respirator;
- work gloves.
Restoration
The best option would be to disassemble the table in detail, clean it from dirt and dust, then reassemble it. You can add glue to all attachment points and wait until it dries (at least 15 hours).
Step 2. Next, you need to grind the table with a machine or sand it by hand. This allows you to identify all problem areas that were not previously visible.
Removing old paint and varnish is a very laborious and time-consuming process. We clean the surface with fine-grained and medium-grained sandpaper.
Note! The wood should be sanded along the grain. Incorrect processing results in hard-to-remove defects.
Step 3. Any cracks and deep scratches found must be repaired with. Dry the patches completely. Then we clean and grind the surface again. 
Step 4. We degrease the table with acetone and prime its surface. For this, a universal primer is suitable. Instead of impregnation, we prime the tabletop 2-3 times, completely drying each layer.
Step 5. Grinding the table surface again.
Step 6. If the countertop has no scratches, chips or cracks, you can treat it with a water-repellent impregnation and cover it with several layers of stain or varnish. This will give a unique fresh wood effect.
Step 7. If the surface condition is unimportant or the subsequent decoration of the table is planned, it is necessary to paint it. Choosing a water-based paint. Apply with a large brush (it is better if it is not a painting, but an artistic one). When the paint is dry, apply a second coat. Application should be quick, short strokes, thin layers. We dry the table for at least 4 days.
Note! Dark paint should be applied in two to three coats to avoid light gaps.
Countertop decoration
Painting
For a glass countertop, an excellent solution is a bright and airy painting with stained glass paints.
Painting with tulle or any other lace looks very nice. To apply an openwork pattern to the surface of the table, you need to attach the tulle to the table top (it is advisable to fix it with tape from the back side).
We paint the table in the same way as through a regular stencil, using a sponge, roller or paint can. We select the color of the enamel contrasting with the color of the surface. 
Note! On the glass tabletop, the painting is applied from the inside out, the front side remains smooth.
Mosaic
First we lay out the frame mosaic elements with tile glue. We try to make the most identical seams. Then, from the center of the table, we begin to lay out the tiles (or pieces of tiles). Laying tiles of different colors would be an interesting solution. From above, the tiles are covered with a special grout. To avoid showing the ends of the tiles, you can attach plastic corners to the edges of the table in the color of the tile grout.
In the mosaic technique, you can use not only tiles, but also other materials and a wide variety of objects - shells , pebbles, pieces of glass, eggshells, etc.
Potal
To begin with, draw a stencil on which the leaf will be glued. Then we apply glue on it with a thin brush.
We carefully put the sheets of potted on the glue. With a soft brush, carefully remove unnecessary parts of the sheet.
The thicker the brush with which we apply the glue, the thicker the gold leaf pattern will be.
Note! The particles of the sheets that are left over from decorating the countertop can be collected and used again in powder form.
Painting in different colors
All other colors are applied one by one using a roller or brush. After that, the masking tape is removed.
On a colored background, you can draw or glue various pictures.
Finally, the table must be covered with two coats of clear varnish. This will add strength to the decor and protect it from external influences. The varnish can be glossy or matte.
How to restore an old table with veneering, see the video:
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