Any, even the most durable and expensive furniture, wears out over time and loses its aesthetic appeal. Quite often it is a pity to throw away such a thing, especially if warm memories are associated with it. We invite you to look at 14 easy but very beautiful ideas - how to decorate an old table with your own hands to breathe new life into it!
1. Decoupage
The simplest but most magnificent idea is the decoupage technique. To do this, you need to purchase napkins with patterns that will match the interior design. Multi-layer napkins need to be separated so that the material is as thin as possible.
The surface of the table, if it is wooden, must be thoroughly cleaned, sanded and made absolutely smooth. If the table is metal, it should be washed and degreased. Next, cover the surface with acrylic paint.
The design is applied quite simply: grease the tabletop with PVA glue, apply a napkin and smooth it, expelling any air bubbles that have formed. After finishing work, the table should dry well, then apply a protective layer of varnish, which will prolong its service life for a long time.
2. Paint and stencils
Using paints, you can completely restore an old table, including the legs, which often have scuffs. If you are good with a brush, the work will be simplified - it will not be difficult for you to depict the desired design or pattern. If you have problems with drawing, use stencils that are easy to buy in craft stores.
First, you need to thoroughly clean the table, paint it with background paint and wait until it dries completely. Now you need to mark where the patterns will be located, you can also draw a light sketch with a pencil. Next, take stencils and apply images to your taste. When the decorated table is dry, cover it with a protective layer of varnish.
Another original solution for DIY decor is to use regular patterned tulle instead of a stencil: cover the tabletop with it, apply paint and then carefully remove it. You will get an original openwork table!
3. Craquelure
If you want to give your table the look of an antique canvas, you should pay attention to a special cracking varnish - craquelure. It comes in two types: one-step and two-step.
One-step craquelure is used to add a vintage feel to plain tabletops without patterns. The varnish is applied in one layer and when dry it creates a “network” of cracks.
Two-step varnish helps create a stunning aged effect on the painting. Therefore, it should be used for a table surface with a pattern or made using the decoupage technique. In this case, two mixtures are used, which are applied one after the other. The desired effect manifests itself when they interact.
4. Self-adhesive film
Another great solution is to decorate an old table with self-adhesive film. Moreover, the modern market has a huge assortment of it - from simple monochromatic to mirrored, luminous and imitating natural textures.
To cut the film correctly, you need to use the centimeter markings located on the back side of it. It is important to thoroughly clean the surface of the table, since the self-adhesive will instantly reflect all the flaws.
Glue the film slowly, pressing it tightly and at the same time smoothing it with a soft towel so that no air bubbles form.
5. Ceramic tiles
At the end of the renovation, there are often excess tiles left in the kitchen or bathroom, which can be safely used to decorate the table. In this way you can beautifully decorate an old dining table in the kitchen or on the open terrace.
Patchwork tiles in the patchwork style look great, as well as decorative tile panels and borders with patterns. No less impressive will be a tabletop made of tiles that imitate stone or expensive wood.
6. Decor under glass
To decorate an old table using the following method, you will have to work hard, but the result will be well worth the effort!
If the wooden tabletop is thick, cut out a recess inside and fill it with themed decor. You can, for example, decorate the seabed by laying shells, pebbles, sand, artificial seaweed, or even colorful Christmas tree decorations for the Christmas holidays. Finally, the finished “filling” must be covered with transparent glass.
If the tabletop is thin, just fill the edges with bars and paint them the same color as the table, then lay down the decor and also cover with glass cloth.
7. Photo collage
Select the best family photos, place them on the table and cover them with transparent glass. Such a photo collage will remind you of pleasant events in your life during a meal or tea party.
If you wish, you can change the selection of photos and add new interesting pictures. Pay attention to the glass - its edges must be sanded to avoid cuts.
8. Epoxy resin
The main secret of epoxy resin is that it hardens quickly in the open air, creating the effect of an icy or amber surface.
If your old table has deep cracks, fill them with resin - it will look amazing! You can also add some decorations, for example, shells or sea pebbles.
9. Covering with leather or dermantine
You can breathe a second life into an old coffee table, making it stunningly original, using regular leather or dermantine. Choose a material with large embossing, for example, crocodile leather or bright gold, which will certainly attract the eye.
Use a piece of dermantine to completely cover the top surface of the table top. The material should be pressed tightly and smoothed, getting rid of air bubbles. The final touch will be upholstering the sides of the table with nails with a wide head, which will be similar in color to leatherette.
10. Twisted rope
This method of decorating an old tabletop is perfect for a round table. You will need any thick rope made of natural fabric (hemp, jute) and an adhesive gun.
Fix one end of the rope with glue in the center of the tabletop. Then, moistening the rope with adhesive, move around the circumference, winding circles around the center. Each next row should fit tightly to the previous one.
11. Chalkboard paint
The advantage of this wonderful coloring composition is that it creates a surface on which you can draw with crayons. Such table decoration can save your wallpaper and other furniture when the little artist in the child awakens.
Another secret - before covering the table with slate paint, apply a thin layer (2-3 mm) of magnetic primer. Sticky magnets will bring even more joy to your child.
12. Mosaic
Decorating an old table with mosaics is not only a great way to make a tabletop incredibly beautiful and original with your own hands, but also a rather exciting process in which you can involve a child.
Mosaic elements can be bought in a store or made from scrap materials, for example, broken mirrors or tiles. Draw a sketch of the design on the tabletop, pick up some glue and start creating your masterpiece!
13. Wood stain
A wooden table can be successfully decorated using stain. Using this tinting liquid, you can give the wood a new rich shade. It is noteworthy that after processing the wood texture is perfectly preserved. In addition, the tabletop will be protected from moisture and ultraviolet radiation.
The stain should be applied parallel to the grain. At the final stage, the surface must be covered with several layers of varnish.
14. Multi-colored tape
You can make a fun table if you decorate it with decorative tape of different colors. The striped “thing” will instantly turn into an accent spot against the background of any interior.
The tape can be applied to any surface. The metal countertop needs to be thoroughly cleaned. If there are small areas of rust, try to get rid of them with vinegar or a special product - moisten the surface and then treat it with a scraper. It is also advisable to degrease the canvas with an alcohol solution. The wooden tabletop needs to be sanded thoroughly.
You can completely cover the surface of the table with ribbons of multi-colored tape. But if you avoid excessive diversity, then initially paint the table white, black or any other color, and then make a design with a ribbon of one contrasting color.
Photo gallery
Our photo gallery also presents many successful examples of decoration. Take any of them as a basis and, with a little imagination, turn your old table into a unique piece of furniture!
The kitchen is a place where apartment residents spend quite a lot of time: they cook here, eat food, but often also have get-togethers with friends. Therefore, naturally, you want the room to look attractive.
A favorite cozy kitchen becomes a place for family communication, a room in which they often spend most of their free time
The countertop is classified as that part of the kitchen set that, due to regular use and increased susceptibility to various types of damage, loses its attractiveness most quickly. If the damage is minor, then it is worth repairing the countertop - the options depend on the material used in its manufacture.
The countertop used in the kitchen is subject to various loads during its operation.
If the surface is no longer subject to restoration, then it is worth thinking about a more radical method - replacing it completely. Let's take a closer look at the options for updating your kitchen countertops with your own hands.
A homemade table with ceramic tiles looks unusual
The result of replacing the countertop and the view of the kitchen before and after
They update an existing countertop in different ways - the end result here largely depends only on your imagination. However, there are three main options that are most popular.
Transformation of the kitchen after replacing the countertops and facades
In first place in terms of creativity and prevalence is tabletop painting using a stencil. This method allows you to implement any ideas, being also the least expensive in terms of money. The desired pattern can be found on the Internet, printed, then you only need to cut out the stencil itself (thick cardboard or thin plastic is used), and it’s time to get to work.
Using stencils you can bring almost any idea to life, and this method will not be expensive
In addition to the stencil, you will also need acrylic paints in the desired colors, a brush, and a foam sponge. Before you start painting, you need to prepare the surface: wash it, degrease it. Next, the tabletop is covered with the main color, then, using a template and a sponge, the selected pattern is applied. To ensure that the paint does not flow under the stencil and the pattern is clear, experts recommend applying a thin layer of paint to the sponge. If you doubt that you can apply the image accurately with a sponge, use a brush.
Stencil painting goes well with decoupage. This method is not recommended for use on the surface of a work area that is regularly used and cleaned with chemical detergents, but, for example, a dining table or a bar top in a studio apartment can be safely decorated this way.
You can make a creative thing with your own hands if you use the decoupage technique
The main thing is not to overdo it with the number of drawings, choose the right combination of pictures for decoupage and the painting pattern, otherwise it may turn out sloppy.
Tools and material costs will also be required here to a minimum. Ready-made decoupage pictures are sold in all art supply stores, but you can save money by cutting out pictures from napkins, magazines, and newspapers. The work is carried out in several stages:
- clean and degrease the surface;
- dilute PVA glue with water (ratio one to one), moisten the pictures with this solution;
- carefully glue the images to the tabletop, smooth them out to remove air bubbles from under them;
- After complete drying, the surface is varnished in three, or better yet, four layers (each layer must dry before applying the next).
The second option for updating the working surface of a kitchen unit with your own hands is to cover it with decorative tiles. This option is suitable for plastic, wooden tabletops, as well as those made of fiberboard/chipboard. Even ordinary ceramic tiles are suitable for this, but mosaic tiles look much better.
It is advisable to combine the tiles on the countertop in size and shades - this way the design will be more original
When choosing the color scheme for the future coating, experts recommend taking into account the style of the apron located above the work area. A more original design will be obtained by using a combination of tiles that differ in size and color.
Also, tiles can be combined with mosaics in the form of large tiles, which greatly facilitates and speeds up the decorating process.
To update with tiles, you will need the tile itself, glue for it, and grout. The sequence of actions when performing work is similar to the previous method of restoring a tabletop: the surface must be washed, dried, then applied glue, laid tiles. When everything is dry, grout is applied over the tiles.
The most expensive method of repairing a countertop is the third one - using tempered glass. But the result looks correspondingly expensive. The set of actions is standard: cleaning, degreasing the surface, painting, after drying - laying, securing the glass sheet.
A painted tabletop with glass will look presentable and very rich
For a more impressive appearance, instead of a plain coat of paint, apply some kind of design to the tabletop. For this purpose, stencil painting or the same decoupage are often used. Tempered glass will protect the pattern from abrasion and give greater strength to the table itself (unless, of course, you are chopping meat here with an ax). Experts also recommend that such a structure be removed from the stove.
You can place glass directly on an untreated surface with any texture
Cannot be restored
Sometimes repairing an old countertop is more expensive than buying a new one. Here the choice is obvious - it is better to replace it. There are a huge number of options today, so you can choose one for every taste, color and budget. Also, when choosing, you should take into account the overall style of the kitchen unit.
There are five types of tabletops:
- from fiberboard/chipboard;
- wooden;
- metal;
- stone;
- glass.
Tabletops made of fiberboard or chipboard, covered with a layer of plastic on top for greater resistance to moisture and elevated temperatures, are the best option in terms of price-quality ratio. They are also distinguished by a wide variety of textures, their care is extremely simple, and their resistance to various types of damage is quite high. Joints coated with a high-quality water-repellent sealant will significantly extend the service life of the surface and will also retain its original shape. Disadvantages of plastic - scratches and stains may remain.
Worktop with a plastic outer layer - a modern composite in the kitchen
Stone planes are divided into two subtypes: artificial stone or natural. Their distinctive features are high strength, resistance to any external influences (moisture, temperature, etc.), and attractive appearance.
Kitchen countertop made of natural stone
A practical and less expensive option is an artificial stone countertop.
The main disadvantages are heavy weight, high cost, and in addition, if any part of the tabletop is damaged, it will have to be completely replaced.
Metal tables are made of stainless steel and are used primarily in professional kitchens. They are resistant to mechanical and chemical influences, they are not afraid of moisture and high temperatures, and the price is also not bad. This material has no particular disadvantages, but some are inclined to argue that it contributes to the loss of beneficial properties of products cut on such a table.
Stainless steel production table
Wooden countertops are preferred by lovers of everything natural, environmentally friendly, and aesthetically attractive. However, it is worth taking into account the fairly rapid “wear and tear” of the material, plus it can fade from the sun or under the influence of high temperatures, and if the varnish coating is damaged, it can become deformed, so it requires special care. In addition, the price of the surface is quite high.
For solid wood countertops, high-strength ash, oak, maple, cherry, walnut or bamboo wood is used
As for glass kitchen surfaces, they are not suitable for every design - for example, in an old Khrushchev-era building with a “grandmother’s” renovation, such a surface will look at least strange, but it looks ideal in a modern, spacious kitchen. The advantages of a glass tabletop are impact resistance, resistance to high humidity, high temperatures, and a large selection of colors. Disadvantages include high cost and the need for special care.
Glass table with chrome legs in a modern design
We change it efficiently and correctly with our own hands
The replacement process does not require any special skills, but it will be useful to first figure out how to update the kitchen countertop. This way you can do everything correctly and avoid mistakes that could affect the life of the surface.
Among the tools you will need a drill with drills, a jigsaw, files, sandpaper (preferably fine-grained), sealant, spatula, for marking and taking measurements - a pencil, tape measure, pattern, square.
Tools and materials you will need to replace your countertops yourself
When everything you need is prepared, get to work. First you need to turn off the water and other communications, remove the sink and hob, and then dismantle the old countertop. Experts recommend dismantling carefully; it is advisable to preserve the parts that attached it - perhaps you will need some corners or some screws from an old set.
After dismantling the countertop, it is necessary to remove the remains of the old sealant at the joints with the wall
Having dismantled the old surface, it is necessary to thoroughly wash the place where the new one will be installed, paying special attention to the joints. If there are no holes for the hob and sink in the countertop yet, now is the time to make them.
We use the old tabletop as a stencil for cutting out a new one; we attach pads along the edges to prevent moisture from getting in
In the case of glass, stone or wood, if you are not sure that you can do everything correctly with your own hands and thus not spoil the expensive material, it is better to entrust the cutting of the appropriate holes to specialists.
We make markings for the sink and hob, carefully cut out the holes
Cover with sealant and insert the sink into the new countertop
Next, the tabletop is placed in its place. Before attaching it to the wall and the rest of the headset, you must make sure that it lies strictly horizontally. When all fasteners are installed, the tabletop is ready for use.
We mount the top profile onto the locking mount, then connect the siphon to the sink and install the mixer
The only thing else that can be done is to cover the joints with corners for greater aesthetics and at the same time reliability of use.
Cover the joint between the tabletop and the wall with a decorative plinth and install corners
Video: Masterclass: decorating a table with mosaics
If you have an old table that needs updating, or you bought a table that looks very boring and you want to decorate it with something, then the tips below are just for you!
In fact, changing the appearance of a piece of furniture such as a table is quite easy. And there are many ways exactly this can be done.
Adhesive tape
Let's start with the simplest method - using self-adhesive film. You've probably seen this kind of film in stores. It is usually sold in rolls, like wallpaper.
At the same time, it has a smooth surface that is easy to clean and which simply cannot be damaged or deformed in any way.
First, take measurements at home - exactly how much of this film you will need to purchase. Take it a little in excess so that there are no unsightly joints on your table.
The process of using self-adhesive film is very simple - there is no need to prepare the furniture beforehand. You simply peel the film off the paper and apply it to your table, gently pressing it onto the surface.
The table doesn't even have to dry. It will be immediately ready for use in its updated form.
Paint and stencils
If you are ready to bother with a little more than gluing a self-adhesive film to your piece of furniture, you can, armed with paints and a brush, appear in the guise of a graphic designer.
The most important thing is to come up with a theme for your table. Think about what you would like to depict on it? It can be anything you want. If you have the makings of an artist, you can start drawing right away, with or without a sketch.
Note! Decorative wood in the interior - 75 photos of design ideas for residential premises
But if you’re into art, don’t despair! Stencils will come to the rescue. You can purchase a stencil at an office supply store or make it yourself.
To do this, it is enough to cut out a picture from a magazine and use it as a kind of pattern, according to which this picture will be transferred to your furniture.
Or trace any of the objects you like with a pencil on a sheet of paper, cut it out and, placing it on the table, paint over the space of the cut out stencil with paint. By removing the stencil, you will see the design on the table.
If you find this method difficult to implement, you can seek help from a professional artist, for whom performing this type of work will not be difficult.
True, the artist’s services will need to be paid for and this method can no longer be called budgetary.
As for the paint that should be used, it must be moisture resistant. Acrylic paint is considered the best option. It is odorless and dries very quickly.
In addition, acrylic does not fade in the sun and is resistant to water and high humidity in general.
We can safely say that a table covered with acrylic paint will last you a century, and this will not be an exaggeration.
Decoupage
There is another way to decorate a table, which is very similar to using stencils. This method is simply called decoupage. What is it?
Any fragments of drawings from magazines, napkins, and various albums are taken. These could even be photos from your personal archive or just pictures you like from the Internet.
In general, anything. You cut out the elements you are interested in and place them on the tabletop. First, see if it looks nice. If you like the option and are ready to decorate the table with these fragments, then you can get to work.
The piece of furniture must be thoroughly sanded, paint removed or varnish removed. The table surface must be clean, dry and perfectly flat. In general, it should return to its original appearance.
After this, you take previously prepared elements or photographs, cover the back side with PVA glue and place them on the tabletop.
Such manipulations must be done with each photograph. Then you should cover all the superimposed pictures with varnish.
The varnish will prevent your table from unwanted damage, scratches and other types of deformation. Your photos (decoupage) will be under reliable protection. At the same time, decorating the table will not only update it, but will also delight your eyes!
There are many options for table decoration. Most importantly, don't be afraid to experiment! And you will definitely succeed.
Photos of table decoration ideas
It is not uncommon for a favorite piece of furniture to lose its original appearance, and there is simply no financial means to buy a new one. In such cases, furniture restoration can help. Let's take a closer look at how to restore a table at home, what is important to take into account and what steps should not be skipped.
Methods
There are quite a lot of methods for restoring furniture, ranging from light “cosmetic” decor to a complete overhaul of the product. Restoring an old table with your own hands is not so difficult if it does not have any serious damage. In this case, it will be enough to sand and paint the old piece of furniture to make it shine in a completely new light.
Repairing glass tables at home can be more labor intensive, and also a very costly process. If the glass surface breaks, it may be necessary not only to repair it, but also to purchase a new one, since not every glass deformation can be eliminated by gluing and grinding.
The greatest scope for creativity opens up when restoring a wooden table. After all, various painting and patterning techniques, including the “decoupage” technique, are perfectly applied to furniture made from solid wood. It is worth noting that painting and various decorative techniques are most applicable to small tables. This can be used to decorate, for example, a small desk or a compact coffee table. But for the restoration of an oak folding model, additional resources may be needed. Since the table has a large continuous surface, finishing its parts with materials such as MDF and chipboard is quite acceptable. Securely secured and carefully processed, they will not only give the table a new life, but also give it a completely different appearance.
A plastic table can be restored using the same painting, but this can only be done if the piece of furniture does not have serious cracks. Plastic is a rather capricious material, and when exposed to high temperatures, the glued seam may fail, which will lead to a new breakdown.
Computer tables made from chipboard and laminated chipboard are often peeled off, which is why their appearance becomes sloppy and careless. To repair such models, special adhesive tapes and films that imitate a wooden surface are suitable.
The kitchen table-book must be reconstructed as carefully as possible, using exclusively environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic materials. Since the countertop quite often comes into contact with food, care must be taken to ensure that the materials used to finish its surface are not toxic or harmful to health. The same goes for the children's table.
Restoration of a polished dining table can be done by grinding the surface and applying a new layer of decorative varnish to it. This way the surface of the furniture attribute will again acquire a glossy shine.
Sometimes it may be necessary to increase the height of, for example, a dressing table if its legs break. In this case, special extensions or new legs of the required size are constructed from wood material. To update any model, you can use classic hand painting. This technique is also suitable for sliding tables that do not have any critical surface damage.
Materials and tools
The restoration process may require various materials and tools.
Let's take a closer look at their list and purpose:
- To restore tables with a wooden surface, you will definitely need a sanding machine or coarse sandpaper. Using these tools, you can make the surface smooth, removing all roughness;
- To give the surface a fresher look and a different color, you will need completely ordinary paint. It’s quite easy to find out which variety you can paint a table with, since the scope of application is almost always described on the packaging of any manufacturer;
- It is best to apply various patterns and ornaments with acrylic paint, since it is very durable and will stay on the surface of the furniture for a long time.
To repair any individual parts of the table, you may need various construction tools:
- For example, using a hammer, screws and simple nails, you can firmly secure the table legs;
- To attach panels made of plastic and MDF, you will need to acquire a special glue, which is also called liquid nails and is often used in repairs;
- To work with wooden parts, you need to have a small saw or jigsaw with you, with which you can cut the necessary part from a piece of solid wood.
We must not lose sight of various small details that greatly simplify the restoration process. So it’s better to have a large ruler or tape measure, a bright marker or pencil, construction tape, brushes to remove dust and sawdust, protective equipment and a damp cloth.
Upgrade process step by step
Repairing a piece of furniture at home entirely, in the form in which it is, is an almost impossible task, since many details require an individual approach. For example, it is better to remove the tabletop while finishing the remaining parts in order to protect it from causing even greater damage.
Do-it-yourself restoration of even the smallest table can become a very labor-intensive process if you approach the matter incorrectly, skipping important details and steps. It is for the timely completion of each stage of work that it is necessary to draw up an action plan.
Damage Inspection
Before starting restoration, it is necessary to carefully examine the front of the upcoming work. Very often there are products with serious damage, which cannot be dealt with only through cosmetic finishing. For example, if a table leg has fallen off, painting will not fix it.
The first step is to disassemble the table, if the model allows it, and carefully examine the surface of each part for serious damage. If there are none, you can proceed with further actions depending on the planned restoration work.
If the surface of the parts has fairly deep cuts, severe chips or serious damage, it will be necessary to take measures to eliminate them. If the damage cannot be easily repaired, you may have to resort to replacing some part of the furniture attribute.
Only after a thorough inspection and identification of all the “weak points” of a piece of furniture can you draw up a further action plan and proceed directly to the process of restoration work itself. Maintaining consistency is very important in this matter.
Grinding
In any repair process, after determining the “front of work,” the stage of cleaning and smoothing the surface follows. Restoring tables is no exception and, regardless of their types, polishing individual parts is an essential part of the entire process.
If you do not have a special device at hand for grinding the surface, you will need to use sandpaper. To remove the remains of the old surface, you will need a type with a coarse-grained surface.
If it is possible to use a belt machine for sanding surfaces, you should opt for it, as it will help speed up the process. But you should know that the machine is only suitable for processing spacious, flat surfaces, and small parts will still have to be processed manually.
If the coating has been completely removed and you just need to make the surface smooth, you should use fine-grained paper. This way, roughness will be smoothed out without damaging the surface. Under no circumstances should you sand the surface across the fibers, as they are quite damaged and scratches of varying depths are formed. Processing is carried out exclusively along the location of the fibers. It is also worth using a respirator or a special mask to avoid dust and small wood particles from entering the respiratory tract.
putty
As previously mentioned, if there is severe damage and deep scratches, it will be necessary to get rid of them. The simplest and most affordable method is putty. In addition, even the largest holes can be sealed with putty, so replacing the part may no longer be necessary.
It is necessary to use only special putty for wood, since the usual composition for other repair work is not suitable and will not adhere to the wooden surface.
If the surface of the product has only shallow cracks, you can use stain and then apply several layers of protective varnish. In this way, the fibrous structure of the wood elements will be preserved and beautifully designed.
After applying the putty and before applying the final coating, the surface must be thoroughly primed and sanded again. The primer will help degrease parts of the furniture attribute, and repeated sanding will smooth out the remaining unevenness.
Painting
The final and very important stage, which requires special attention, is the process of painting the surface. It is important not only to choose the right paint, but also to carefully apply it without various formations, lumps, irregularities and protect the freshly painted surface from small particles of wool, dust and hairs.
Dark shades are best applied in several thin layers. This way the paint will adhere better and the color will be more saturated.
To create the effect of antiquity and scuffs, the painted surface of the table will need to be sanded in certain places.
You should carefully select shades and apply the paint very carefully, since if you are dissatisfied with your work, it will be quite difficult to repaint the table; you will have to do all the labor-intensive work again, starting from the stage of grinding the surface.
To make the surface shine beautifully, you should treat the surface with a layer of varnish, and after it dries, with a protective layer. Most often, to protect the surface of furniture, various polishing compounds are used, as well as wax mixtures, which, when rubbed into the surface of the table, will give it a glossy shine and protect it from dirt and large accumulations of dust.
You can see how to update an old table in the following video.
Finishing and decoration
After painting or during the painting process, if desired, you can further decorate the surface of the table, giving it a lighter, more relaxed and informal look. Let's look at the most common and beautiful ways to decorate restored tables.
We use only fabric and paint to decorate the table. You see the result. Like?
To begin restoration, you need to clean the surface of the table. It is advisable to do this work with a grinding machine, but in the absence of one in the arsenal of tools, you can really get by with sandpaper, only in this case you will have to work hard.
By sanding the table, we get rid of varnish and paint, which, in fact, spoil the appearance of this piece of furniture. The cleaned surface is treated with wood putty. This step cannot be skipped, because otherwise the surface will not be perfectly flat. We repair cracks and chips.
Since we did not want to repair the mechanism that made the table expandable, and there was no need for larger furniture, the sliding structure was abolished. We simply fastened the table securely, and sealed the gap with putty so that nothing gave away the fact that the table had once been extendable.
You don't have to do exactly what we did, especially if the furniture's sliding parts are in good working order. But if you want to simplify the restoration, take note of our idea.
We cleaned the putty surface with a grinder, and for reliability, we applied an additional layer of putty to some parts and repeated the sanding step again.
Here we have a perfectly flat, but outwardly unsightly table. To change it beyond recognition, you need to decorate all surfaces of the table.
What prospects do not open up for a master who has a table like the one in the photo. How to decorate - there are a lot of options, from simple painting to decoupage and other designer tricks.
We decided to decorate with fabric. This is because we couldn’t find drawings of a large enough size among the options for blanks for decoupage. And the plan was to select large sketches. Luckily, we came across a fabric with an interesting floral theme and decided to use it in business.
First of all, we primed the surface of the table. Then they painted it with white paint. White, because this is the color that imposes on us the interior of the room in which the table will be installed. Therefore, you choose the paint color according to your case.
Now we cut out a piece with a pattern from the fabric, which will become the decoration of our table. The fabric is simply glued to the surface using the appropriate type of adhesive. Make sure the fabric lies smoothly. That is why we leveled the table surface so carefully.
The result is the same decoupage, but our design also guarantees that the connected and masked gap from the sliding lid will not crack, because the fabric will hold the surface together even more strongly.
The final stage will be treating the table with varnish intended for wood.
After drying, the craft is ready. Agree, the result is a very beautiful piece of furniture, which, despite its venerable age, will serve for several decades until a new restoration.