So, what is such a procedure as restoring an old table, what are the methods and materials for restoring its appearance? In general, how to return this piece of furniture to its youth?
General principles
When the table is restored, the object not only returns to its appearance. Its functions must be restored as well. Therefore, before proceeding directly to the renewal process, you need to carefully check the integrity of the item: in what condition are its legs, are they broken, are the fittings in place. And think about whether it is worth doing it at all. Indeed, it is unlikely that an updated rickety table, sparkling with new paint, will bring satisfaction to the owner. So first assess the scope of work, think about their feasibility, and then, if you come to a positive decision, fix all the breakdowns first. And then start updating the look.
Restoring the desk
As a rule, there is not much hassle with this piece of furniture. Usually, due to its bulkiness, it always stands in one place, throughout the apartment, to hang curtains or remove cobwebs, no one drags it. And the countertop suffers from time most of all. How to revive it? It's very simple. The restoration of a desk is a simple procedure that does not require any special material or physical costs.
Work description
First, find the right wallpaper that best suits your interior. Then paint the entire table to match their color. After it dries, wallpaper the countertop using PVA glue, and then cover it with glass. The latter can be ordered from the store. Instead of wallpaper, you can take a poster, or make a custom-made photo according to the size of the countertop, or even buy a beautiful dense fabric of the desired color and also paste over the surface with it. In general, you need to fantasize. Table restoration is a creative business, so get creative, come up with your own options.
What can you do with an old coffee table?
If this piece of furniture, albeit inexpensive, but so beloved and convenient, has already, to put it mildly, not very attractive, arm yourself with paints and a brush to update it. Restoring a table by painting it is not difficult work. However, the method that we want to propose will take time. First paint the table white. This will be the foundation. Then, when it's dry, paint the countertop in stripes of different colors and different widths. To make them lie flat, paint the surface gradually, and use tape to determine the boundaries of each.
Decoupage
Table restoration is perfect for those items that do not come into contact with water very often. That is, with its help, you can update the written and magazine described above, as well as For this, first, the selected item must be tidied up, painted and allowed to dry. And then glue images from a napkin or special decoupage paper to the surface using PVA glue. When the pictures are dry, the entire surface should be covered with acrylic varnish. And preferably more than once.
How to upgrade a kitchen table
The easiest option is to paste over the surface of the countertop and paint the legs and side surfaces. Or, for example, paint them in different colors. And pull up a dense beautiful oilcloth and fix it at the bottom with a stapler. If the countertop is already falling apart completely, there are two options. Replace it with glass, and build a backlight under it. Or do not throw it away, but cover with ceramic tiles, such as mosaics. And then carefully seal up all the seams with grout. In general, the restoration of the kitchen table has such a mass of available options that it will definitely not be difficult to carry out it competently.
Wooden tables
But what if a table made of solid wood has acquired an unsightly appearance over time? It is also possible to put it in order, but, of course, the process will be quite long. If your table was at one time only varnished and has no defects, then the procedure will be quite simple. It is enough just to carefully grind it (it is advisable to use a special machine for this), and then varnish it several times. Moreover, the varnish must be taken several shades darker than the original coating. Well, if the table literally asks for a landfill, but it's still a pity to throw it away, then you need to prepare for a lengthy renewal procedure.
Restoration of a wooden table
First, we carry out the preparation, as mentioned above. Let's think about replacing the loose legs with new ones. If a positive decision is made, go and buy. If not, we process the old ones in the same way as all the other parts of the table. We take a sander and carefully remove all the old coating. First, we work with coarse grain discs. When all paint or varnish has been removed, take a fine-grained disc and smooth the surface. Now we close up all defects, even the smallest ones. We use it for this When the patches are dry, we also clean them.
The whole procedure must be done very carefully, as even the smallest chips and scratches will be noticeable. Then we degrease all surfaces using a special compound that can be bought at any hardware store.
Remember: each stage takes time, before applying any next composition, wait for the previous one to dry. After degreasing, apply a primer. And not the first one that came across, but acrylic. When the soil is dry, we grind the surface again, but by hand, gently and accurately. And you can start painting. You can choose varnish or paint as a topcoat. Today there is a very large selection of all kinds of compositions, the main thing is that they are of high quality. So buy varnish or paint only from a trusted manufacturer, you should not save on the coating. Also, be careful when choosing a brush. Poor quality will shed and leave behind hairs, which will definitely not add to the beauty of the surface.
It is advisable to apply three layers - with a break, of course - varnish or paint. When all the elements of the table are completely dry, proceed with the application of a protective coating. As a rule, wax is used for these purposes. It is applied to a cloth and carefully rubbed into the surface. In order for the renewed table to serve you for a long time, wait until the final solidification of the wax. This will take a week.
Conclusion
As you can see, table restoration is a creative process and sometimes, unfortunately, quite lengthy, but nevertheless satisfying. However, and not only. After all, if everything is done correctly, then you can save yourself from unnecessary spending on the purchase of a new piece of furniture.
Old-made furniture should not be scrapped if damaged or minor flaws appear. It is better to undergo restoration, which will allow it to serve for many more years. Consider how to restore an old table at home without a lot of effort and expense. Naturally, the types of restoration work will depend on the initial quality of the product, its design and your design imagination, so it is impossible to foresee absolutely all the subtleties of future activities. Therefore, we will confine ourselves to a description of the most common methods of restoration.
To cover the table, you will need two different colors of solvent enamel and a clear varnish.
Required materials and tools
To carry out all the necessary procedures, you may need:
- sandpaper of various types;
- paint brushes;
- furniture varnish;
- polish or furniture mastic;
- stain or stain;
- impregnation for wood;
- felt;
- putty for wood;
- rubber spatula;
- joiner's glue;
- jigsaw;
- veneer.
It should be recalled that restoration implies bringing the product to the state as close as possible to the original version. This is where the main principle of restoration comes from, which prohibits changing the design and color scheme of the product.
Before the start of the restoration work, the old table has to be disassembled (although many restorers do not resort to such an operation, arguing that reassembly will lead to a violation of the integrity of the table and will certainly harm its strength). Each detail has to be cleaned of the old coating (veneered products are cleaned only from varnish). Cleaning is done with ordinary emery paper in a circular motion over the surface of the part. Rough processing is done with paper with a coarse abrasive. Fine sanding is done with "zero" (paper with the finest abrasive layer). Next, you have to thoroughly clean all the elements of the table from wood dust and thoroughly ventilate the room. Such a measure is necessary for the reason that the dust settles gradually and during the period of further actions it can fall on the not yet hardened varnish, which is highly undesirable. Restoration does not tolerate a superficial attitude to work, therefore, little things cannot be neglected.
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Preliminary work, primary impregnation
The prepared parts must be impregnated with a special solution, which will significantly extend the service life of the entire product and protect it from wood pests and fungal diseases. The impregnation must dry in a dark and well-ventilated area for at least a day.
The impregnation will protect the surface of the wooden table from rotting and various types of mold.
After that, the parts are thoroughly visually inspected for damage to the wood or veneer. Cracks up to 3 mm are filled with a special filler. If large damages are found, they must be repaired with veneer. To do this, a thin layer of any watercolor paint is applied around the damage and a sheet of paper is applied on top. The part of the sheet that remains unpainted is the ideal stencil for the patch. It is to be glued to a veneer sheet and using a jigsaw to cut along the resulting contour.
We make a control measurement for the compatibility of the obtained veneer part and the place of damage. If they match, then you can start gluing the part with wood glue. It is better not to use modern adhesives, as this will violate the effect of real antiquity. We remind you that the parts should be pressed tightly against each other and left in this position for gluing for 10-12 hours. After gluing, it is necessary to wipe the joints of the parts with the same fine sandpaper. Even a table with veneer inlaid on the surface can be restored using the method described above.
We will assume that minor cosmetic repairs of all parts have been completed, but the restoration has not yet been completed. The table is to be assembled in its initial state and to check the strength of its position on a horizontal surface. We use the old old-fashioned way for this: threads are pulled on the opposite legs of an inverted table. For the stability of the table, it is necessary that these threads touch each other (but have no deflections at the points of contact!).
It is necessary to apply varnish only after the previous layer has completely dried.
Aligning the table legs in one plane, you can continue to restore the product. The restoration of an old table means covering it with varnish. But first, you need to cover all the details and the entire surface with a stain.
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You will have to tinker with the choice of color, since you want to achieve the initial color, but the range of coloring pigments is not so wide as to satisfy the desires of all consumers. It is believed that you first need to experiment with different shades on any wooden surface. Through trial and error, you can get a color close to what you want, although it will take a lot of time. For this reason, the restoration of an old table is a lengthy process.
Probably, almost every home has this type of furniture such as a coffee table or writing table. These tables are very convenient, they can be placed in the living room, in the bedroom, and in the nursery.
It is desirable that it fit into the overall interior. Therefore, if you have a modern renovation at home and the old coffee table does not fit the general appearance of the room, do not rush to throw it away. We invite you to show your imagination and repair the old table with your own hands. Moreover, the process is very exciting and you should not have any special difficulties.
We will describe the restoration process using an example made of natural wood and varnished with furniture.
For the restoration, we decided to use the decoupage technique, since this is the most suitable for coffee tables and desks. As a result of using the decoupage technique, you will receive an original thing at home, which no one of your friends and acquaintances has anymore.
1. Any kind of restoration or repair begins with an inspection. We examine the table and identify defects.
2. Next, we need to clean it from the old varnish coating. To do this, we need a sanding paper of different grit numbers. It is very good if you have a sander. It will help you grind the table much faster and better. It is better to sand along the grain.
If you sand across the grain, scratches will remain on the surface.
The grinding process is carried out in three stages. First you need to use the most grit sandpaper. Then they take medium-grain sandpaper, and at the end all remaining irregularities are sanded with zero sandpaper.
It is best to wear a respirator when sanding because wood dust can damage the upper respiratory tract and lungs.
After sanding, wipe the table with a damp cloth to remove any remaining dust.
3. Then we proceed to the putty. It is needed to hide defects in the form of cracks, scratches, chips. For this we need a rubber spatula and the putty itself. We carefully rub in all scratches and cracks.
Leave the putty to dry completely. After drying, remove all excess with a zero-polish sandpaper. Here is the base of the table and ready.
Stages of restoration using decoupage technique
If we decide to restore the coffee table with our own hands, for decoupage we need the following tools and materials:
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Napkins with pictures or special pictures for decoupage (in our version these are photos)
- Polyethylene file
- Brushes of different thickness
- PVA glue
- Acrylic primer
- Furniture paints (in our version, acrylic white and black)
- Stencil (but you can do without it)
- Finish acrylic varnish
Table restoration process step by step
1. Now we can start decorating the coffee table. First, we need to apply some soil to the surface of the table. For this we use an acrylic primer. It is needed so that the paint that will be applied in the future is more evenly distributed on our product.
Primer gently with a brush and wait about half an hour for the primer to dry.
3. Now we take the drawing. In our version, this is a photograph. Dip the drawing in a bowl of water for 30 seconds.
It is very important not to overexpose the drawing, as the paper may be damaged. We take the photo out of the water and put it face down on a plastic file.
4. Since our photographic paper is thick, we carefully remove excess layers of paper so that the picture remains intact. Then with a brush we apply PVA glue to the photo.
5. Now carefully turn over the file with the photo stuck to it, put it in the right place on the tabletop. Smooth the drawing through the file so that it lies evenly. And only after that we remove the file.
6. We take white acrylic paint and with a brush with stiff bristles draw the fields along the contour of the drawings. We try to keep the brush at one angle, as the bristles leave streaks. Then leave the table to dry for about 1 hour.
7. We decided to additionally decorate the corners of our table with a stencil. To do this, you need to attach the stencil to the corner of the tabletop and use a brush with black acrylic paint to go over it. We hold the brush in an upright position so that the paint does not flow under the stencil and does not smear.
8. The stencil can now be removed. We leave the table until the drawing dries for 1 hour.
9. And finally, after the paint has dried, you can apply a finishing acrylic varnish to secure the drawings. We also apply varnish with a brush.
10. Finally, the restoration of the table is coming to an end. The table must be dry to use it. Dry in a well-ventilated area for 24 hours. After the expiration of this time, use it to your health!
Now you know how to update a coffee table with your own hands, the photos presented above demonstrate what kind of masterpiece you can create yourself. Do not throw away old furniture, give obsolete items an opportunity to please you for some more time, give them a second life!
Video: restoration of the bedside table using decoupage
An old table, if it is still functional, can easily be converted into a new one. The result may even exceed your expectations, because the new table will be brighter, more original and, most importantly, positively charged with your creativity. Stock up on inspiration, simple materials and go ahead, embody ideas!
A note before starting: in almost all cases, the table needs to be prepared for the transformation. Wipe it with a sandpaper, clean it from dust and degrease it with alcohol or special means.
Paint in stripes
Painting is one of the fastest and most effective techniques in furniture decor. To make it more interesting, we suggest making the table striped. Masking tape will help you to do the job: paint the table in the main color, and then glue strips of adhesive tape and apply a couple of layers of a different color. Peel off the tape - the effect is ready. Can be repeated many times to make stripes of different colors and widths. Do not forget to cover everything with varnish for reliability. TIn the same way, you can create zigzags, for example.
Paint with slate paint
The table painted with a special slate paint will be laconic black or dark green. But now you can leave notes and draw with crayons right on the table. And how much more convenient it is to play board games where you have to write down points! The table itself can serve as a field for tic-tac-toe or a gallows.
Cover with foil
The film also may not be simple, but slate or even with the effect of a white marker board. Above a table with a pattern of triangular pieces of film, as in the photo below, you will have to tinker a little longer, but the result will be very stylish!
Stripes with multi-colored tape
A striped table can be made not only by painting. Lines of decorative tapes or electrical tape of different colors and patterns will make the table bright, shiny and elegant. This is perfect for a nursery or add a touch of mischief to an adult interior.
Tile
Ceramic tiles or mosaics will make the countertop not only beautiful, but also very practical, because the tile is not afraid of moisture and is easy to clean. The principle is the same as with walls: tile adhesive plus grout. You can take the whole tile, or you can beat it for the effect of the Spanish mosaic. You will find more creative ideas from the remnants of tiles.
Paste over with pages of books
Pick your favorite book and give it a second life: glue each page to the table with PVA glue. Several layers of varnish (preferably from a spray can) will make the surface smooth and ennoble the color. It is a good idea to take dictionary pages or sheet music.
Romantic lace
A simple technique will help to make the countertop more elegant - coloring through lace. To do this, you need to take a lace napkin or tulle, which you do not mind ruining, put it on the table on top of a base layer of paint and apply a different color on top. It is better to use a sponge or spray paint so that the image is not smeared by the movement of the roller.
Photos: californiahomedesign.com, homedit.com, shelterness.com, lovemaegan.com, allthingsnewagain.net, baeditions.com, crafthubs.com, hellolidy.com, getcreativejuice.com
To add gloss, exclusiveness and chic, to make an unusual accent in the interior, you can use the original table. Moreover, no one will guess that this piece of furniture used to be an unprepossessing ruin.
Restoration methods
There are many ways to improve, decorate, and refurbish an old table. But before starting work, it is necessary to prepare the future "canvas" - remove the old coating, sand it, screw in all the nuts and screws (so as not to stagger or dangle), putty, stain (if necessary) or varnish. Then start decorating. Conventionally, all methods of decorating a wooden table can be divided into two groups:
Surface painting, including self-painting, painting through a stencil or using stamps;
Surface gluing special materials - wallpaper, self-adhesive film, decoupage with napkins or interesting clippings, overlaying, photo printing, the use of mosaics or tiles.
The glass table will have to be updated a little differently. It is quite possible to glue it with wallpaper, film or make decoupage from the inside.
You can also paint the glass surface with special paints and get an interesting design.
How to upgrade a glass table?
A beautiful glass coffee table is quite common in modern apartments. As a result of improper care, the glass tabletop loses its attractive appearance.
The legs are loose, chips and scratches appear on the glass. If there are scratches on the tabletop, in which a nail can fit, then it is better to give the table to a special workshop, dispose of or replace the glass with a new one.
If the damage is not so terrible, then you can try to reanimate this piece of furniture.
You can save a glass countertop from scratches at home both with improvised (toothpaste, soda, transparent nail polish) and with special means (GOI paste, car polishes, precious metals polishing agents).
First you need to clean the surface, then gently rub in or apply the composition to the scratch. Do not overdo it, otherwise you may get several more instead of one scratch. Wait a little for the compound to set and clean the glass again.
To get rid of scratches, use the most common non-gel toothpaste. Soda is dissolved with water to a state of gruel, approximately in a ratio of 1: 1. GOI paste must be used proven, real. Transparent varnish will not completely eliminate the problem, but only partially. At a certain angle of illumination, it will be noticeable that there were scratches in that place.
Loose table legs are also subject to repair. Usually, the table legs are attached with special glue. This glue can dry out over time. It can be removed and replaced with new adhesive. If the legs are attached to screws, self-tapping screws, then they can be unscrewed and replaced with new ones.
Now the table can be given a completely new sound using various decorating techniques:
Paste over the table from the seamy side with decorative foil. Do not bubble when wrapping the table. It is better to glue the film a little, gradually pushing back the substrate. If bubbles do appear, then you can pierce them with a needle and smooth them out;
Make decoupage. To do this, you need pictures (for example, from napkins or on rice paper, or images specially prepared for this), PVC glue or special for these works, brushes, a file, varnish for decoupage. The necessary equipment can be purchased in shops for creativity and scrapbooking;
Paint with stained glass paints. Acrylic contour, stained glass paints, cotton swabs and napkins, alcohol for degreasing the surface, a sketch of a drawing, scotch tape - this is a set of items that will be needed for this work;
Fix the lighting, LED strip around the table perimeter;
If the design allows you to make a mini-garden, an aquarium or a bright composition of stones, shells. When the table has a small box, which is covered with a table top on top, then you can put a pallet on its bottom and plant succulents (plants that do not need frequent watering) there. Or decorate the box with shells, stones, or other items.
How to restore a wooden table?
A wooden table can be made from MDF or chipboard, or from solid wood. In any case, the restoration of the old table at home will take place in several stages. Let's take a look at all these steps.
Preparatory- check all fasteners, disassemble the table and re-fasten, clean the surface.
Removing the old coating. Sometimes for this you may only need a special composition that removes varnish and paint. But most often you also have to use coarse-grained and fine-grained sandpaper, a sander. It is necessary to sand along the grain to avoid the formation of new scratches.
Sealing cracks and chips. To do this, you need a putty for wood or a polyester analog. After filling, re-sanding. At this stage, you can stop and not carry out further work (except varnishing), cover the wood with wood stain, which will give the table a new color and look. For example, turn an oak table into an imitation of wenge or another type of wood. But when the damage is significant, the next step is necessary.
Primer and subsequent puttying. Without a primer, the varnish will lie poorly and unevenly. An alkyd or shellac primer is suitable for wood.
Giving the final design. At this stage, painting, pasting of the table is carried out. If the table is painted, the paint should be applied in at least 2 coats.
Final coating with varnish or wax. Varnish and wax should be covered in several layers.
This refurbished polished table will last for years to come.
Written or magazine, children's or toilet - regardless of its purpose, it will become an interior decoration, because you spent so much time on it and put your soul into it.
How to recolor?
Table staining is the most popular restoration method. What could be more laconic than a white table? Only black. Therefore, the choice of paint (acrylic or oil, enamel) is very important. How long the restored table will serve depends on what paint the repair was made, or rather on its characteristics.
To choose a paint, you need to understand where and how the table will be used, what materials it is made of.
Water-based acrylic paint suitable for heated rooms, withstands moisture well. Dries quickly. Can be washed off with water during application. But after drying, it does not lend itself to water. Alkyd compounds are considered more reliable.
Oil paints are losing their popularity due to an unreasonably high expense.
Wood enamels attract with their glossy surface and high performance. In addition, nitro-enamel paints set quickly.
The paint was selected and purchased; further repair of the table presupposes its coloring.
The surfaces must be pretreated, cleaned, removed the old coating, removed scratches and chips, putty, primed, protect decorative inserts, for example, made of glass, with tape. And only after the primer has dried can you paint.
To give an even color, the paint is applied in several layers. The first layer is actually rubbed into the surface.
Two or three layers are enough for a rich color to show through.
To apply an additional pattern to the countertop, you can use pre-prepared stencils or the most common tulle. When the base color has dried, the tulle (or stencil) is fixed and the pattern paint is applied. You can do this with a brush, but it is better to use a sponge or spray paint. The finished product is varnished to make it more aesthetically pleasing and to strengthen the surface.
To give a graphic pattern (lines, zigzags, rhombuses, squares), you can use scotch tape. Mark the future drawing with adhesive tape, apply the first color with paint. If necessary, repeat the procedure with other colors. Varnish the finished worktop.
If it is necessary to achieve the effect of aged wood, then first a special composition is applied to the treated surface (cleaned, sanded and primed).
Patination can be done with a dark stain. Then the first coat of paint is applied to the wood. Then a second layer of lighter and more liquid paint is applied. When the paint is dry, we go over the surface of the sandpaper. The desired effect has been achieved.
The table is ready for finishing with varnish.
We update the plastic table
Many are afraid to start decorating a plastic table because of its material. In fact, a plastic surface is a more rewarding material for restoration. It does not require preliminary and lengthy processing.
The maximum is getting rid of scratches and chips. Well, if the surface is flat, then it is enough to only sand it a little to roughen it, paint or soil could adhere better, or degrease it for further work - gluing film, wallpaper, tiles, mosaics, eggshells or decoupage.
To decoupage a plastic table, you will first need to process the table top. Sand it, put acrylic primer. Then think about how you will arrange the pictures. Make small sketches of their future location. Usually napkins or drawings on rice paper are used for decoupage, but for these purposes you can use any clippings and even pictures printed on a printer.
At the end of the work, the tabletop is varnished.
For a spectacular decoupage, you can use fabric. For decorative purposes, cotton material with a bright pattern is suitable. The decoupage procedure is the same, only PVC glue is applied immediately to the entire fabric.
Decor options
The restoration and subsequent decoration of the table is a very time-consuming process. But the result is worth it, because you can get an exclusive designer item with which memories are already associated. Furniture decor can be completely original and at the same time very organically fit into the concept of using the object and the room.
A laconic design is suitable for a book-table or folding table. It can be dyed one or two colors. And you can give nobility and accentuate the natural structure of the tree.
The sliding table can be decorated with drawings that may appear only when the tabletop is disassembled as much as possible. And of course, if this kind of table is used as a dining table, you can use kitchen themes in its decor - images of food, fruits and vegetables, cutlery. The kitchen table can be decorated with tiles and mosaics. This will be a very practical solution.