How to restore an old round table. How to restore your old table with your own hands

If you own an old table that needs to be updated, or you have purchased a table that looks very dull and you want to decorate it with something, then the tips below are just for you!

In fact, changing the look of a piece of furniture like a table is quite easy. And there are many ways in which this can be done.

Adhesive tape

Let's start with the simplest way - this is the use of self-adhesive film. Surely you have seen such a film in stores. It is sold, as a rule, 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.

To get started, take measurements at home - exactly how much you will need to purchase this film. Take it a little with a margin so that there are no ugly joints on your table.

The very process of applying self-adhesive film is very simple - there is no need to prepare furniture before that. You simply separate the film from the paper and apply it to your table, gently pressing it against the surface.

The table does not even have to dry. It will immediately be ready for use in an already updated form.

Paint and stencils

If you're willing to go a little further than sticking a self-adhesive film onto your piece of furniture, armed with paints and a brush, you can pretend to be a graphic designer.

The most important thing is to come up with a plot for your table. Think about what you would like to depict on it? It can be anything you wish. If you have the makings of an artist, you can start painting right away, with or without a sketch.

Note! Decorative tree in the interior - 75 photos of design ideas for living spaces

But if you are “on you” with art, do not despair! Stencils will come to the rescue. You can purchase a stencil at an office supply store or make your own.

To do this, it is enough to cut out a drawing from a magazine and use it as a kind of template, according to which this drawing will be transferred to your furniture.

Or draw any of the objects you like with a pencil on a sheet of paper, cut it out and, putting it on the table, paint over the gap of the cut out stencil with paint. After removing the stencil, you will see the drawing on the table.

If this method seems difficult to you, you can seek the help of a professional artist, for whom this type of work will not be difficult.

True, the services of the artist 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, 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 the table, which is very similar to using stencils. This method is simply called decoupage. What is it?

Any fragments of drawings from magazines, napkins, various albums are taken. It can 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 put them on the countertop. First, see if it looks nice. If you like the option and you are ready to decorate the table with these fragments, then you can get to work.

A piece of furniture must be carefully sanded, removed paint or get rid of the lacquer coating. The surface of the table must be clean, dry and perfectly flat. In general, it should return to its original appearance.

After that, you take pre-prepared elements or photographs, cover the back with PVA glue and put them on the countertop.

Such manipulations must be done with each photo. After that, you should cover all the superimposed pictures with varnish.

The varnish will prevent your table from unwanted damage, scratches and other kinds of deformations. Your photos (decoupage) will be under reliable protection. At the same time, table decoration will not only update it, but will also delight your eyes!

There are many table decor options. Most importantly, don't be afraid to experiment! And you will definitely succeed.

Photo ideas for decorating the table



One of the most important pieces of furniture in many homes is the large wooden dining table where the whole family gathers in the evenings. It can stand in the kitchen or dining room and differ in various design features, but, as a rule, it is always used regularly, as a result of which it quickly loses its presentable appearance. In this case, you can use the method of restoring the table with your own hands, removing the top layer with the help of special substances and devices, and then polishing the surface, while maintaining the original structure of the wood. The other option is .

Any abrasions, scratches of varying degrees of depth and minor chips can be completely eliminated by updating the countertop. To do this, you need to spend several days of time, as well as stock up on certain materials, chemicals and special tools designed for woodworking.

Do-it-yourself step-by-step instructions for restoring the table with your own hands

To update the surface of the table, you will need the following:

  • a piece of dense canvas or synthetic fabric;
  • protective gloves;
  • non-toxic gel for removing the top layer of polish;
  • flat and wide brushes;
  • plastic scraper;
  • disposable paper towels;
  • small nylon brush
  • small brush with metal wire bristles;
  • White Spirit;
  • 3 clean cotton rags;
  • circular grinder;
  • 120-, 220- and 400-grit sandpaper;
  • wood primer;
  • oil-based stain;
  • oil based polyurethane finish.

The sequence of actions should be like this:

1. First of all, it is necessary to spread a protective canvas or synthetic fabric under the table legs so that aggressive chemicals do not get on the floor during work. To dissolve the top coat, apply a sufficient amount of special gel to the countertop with a flat brush and leave it for at least 30 minutes. With a thick varnish or polyurethane coating, it is better to leave the gel for a longer time, covering the entire countertop with construction or cling film. If it is good to “seal” the gel under the film, then it will retain its active properties for 24 hours.

2. If plastic sheeting has been used, carefully remove it from the table top. Using a special plastic scraper, remove the gel layer together with the dissolved top coat, moving in the direction of the wood fibers. To make the procedure more efficient, periodically clean the scraper with disposable paper towels. For hard-to-reach areas and the edges of the countertop, it is better to use a small nylon brush, which makes it easy to clean out gel that has clogged into the recesses with a softened layer of finish. In order for the restoration of a wooden table to be successful with your own hands, you need to additionally process the edges with a small metal brush that can completely get rid of the remnants of the gel.

3. After removing the special gel with dissolved polishing, it is necessary to treat the surface of the countertop with white spirit, soaking the prepared cotton rags in it. The wood must then be allowed to dry for at least 24 hours.

An important nuance! After removing the top coat, the surface of the wooden tabletop should be grayish or light in color, completely dry and smooth to the touch. If the wood was originally treated with several layers of lacquer, it may be necessary to repeat the second and third steps one or two more times until the optimum surface condition is achieved.

4. The prepared table must be taken out into the yard or transferred to a garage, barn, summer kitchen and similar rooms with good ventilation. Attach 120-grit sandpaper to the sander and sand the entire countertop. You need to move in the direction of the wood fibers, otherwise small scratches may occur, which will be noticeable only after applying a new protective layer to the surface.

An important nuance! When using dark sandpaper, small particles from it may remain on the countertop after processing. They must be removed with additional grinding.

5. Stubborn dark stains on wood can be removed by moving the sander back and forth across the table surface until the stain disappears or at least becomes lighter. In the future, you need to achieve the most light color of the wood, but it is important not to overdo it. Slight darkening is easily hidden during the final processing. After most of the stain is removed, switch to a softer 220-Grit sandpaper and sand the surface of the countertop with it, moving the sander in the same directions. This should be done until the wood is smooth to the touch.

An important nuance! When removing darkened spots in the process of restoring a table made of wood with your own hands, it is important not to overdo it, since too much pressure on the grinder or using sandpaper with a large degree of graininess can lead to severe abrasion of the wood, its thinning and loss of a beautiful structure.

6. Using a cotton cloth, apply a special primer to the surface of the countertop, designed to even out the structure and color of the wood. To make the shade of the countertop as uniform as possible, rub a suitable oil-based stain into the stains of different colors, moving in the direction of the wood grain. Leave for 10-30 minutes until the surface is painted in the desired tone, and wipe off the excess with a clean cloth made of natural fabric. Allow surfaces to dry thoroughly in a well-ventilated area for at least 8 hours.

7. Pour directly onto the table or apply a generous amount of polyurethane polish to a lint-free cotton cloth and rub it into the table surface in a circular motion. At the final stage, rub the coating with “smoothing” movements in the direction of the wood fibers. Allow the surface to dry completely for 8 hours and then sand it lightly with 400-Grit sandpaper. Wipe the table with a clean cotton cloth, apply another layer of polyurethane coating and let it dry again for 8 hours. If necessary, you can repeat this cycle 2-3 times, each time sanding the countertop a little with fine grit sandpaper and wiping it with a clean cloth. This will allow you to achieve the most durable and beautiful satin finish.

Once the last coat of polish has dried, the table can be returned to the kitchen or dining room. This updated table will look like new and will fit perfectly into a classic or rustic interior.

Buying good furniture can sometimes be expensive. If you have an old table that you don’t use because its appearance has deteriorated over the years, we will tell you some simple ways to restore its former beauty with your own hands, and, perhaps, make it a highlight of your interior.

Before decorating the table, in one way or another, you need to inspect it in order to assess its condition, then do the necessary repairs with your own hands, and then prepare the surface for decoration.

How to prepare the table surface?

Surface preparation - essential restoration step. It is produced in the following sequence:

Option 1. Coating with paint and varnish

This option great for beginners, it does not require any special knowledge or skills from you.

Sequencing:

A simple do-it-yourself table restoration for beginners is completed.

And since there is many different technologies for the restoration and alteration of furniture, we will consider other options.

Option 2. Mosaic cladding

If a table top in use was scratched, or dents appeared on its surface, you can veneer it with your own hands with a mosaic that will hide all defects and return the table to its former beauty.

Prepare for work:

Repair order:

  1. Check if the legs are holding well. If necessary, secure them properly with self-tapping screws.
  2. Degrease the surfaces of the tabletop and legs with alcohol or acetone.
  3. Sand and sand surfaces.
  4. Places that cannot be sanded, putty, and then sand.
  5. Cover all surfaces with a coat of paint. Leave until dry. For work it is better to use paint in an aerosol.
  6. Apply glue in a good layer on the surface of the table.
  7. Mosaic cut and glue mesh down. Press the mosaic and smooth. Postpone work until the adhesive has completely hardened.
  8. Carefully seal the painted edges with adhesive tape and grout the mosaic.
  9. Wipe the surface of the table with a damp sponge.
  10. After a day, wipe the table with a small amount of vegetable oil.

Our table, lined with mosaics with our own hands, is ready.

Option 3. Decorating with a pattern

If a the tabletop has no obvious defects, then it is quite possible to get by with decorating the surface with drawings.

We will need:

Work order:

  1. We grind the old surface, sand and putty.
  2. We cover the countertop with base color paint.
  3. Let's draw a picture. You can use a special stencil, apply asymmetrical multi-colored splashes or depict an elaborate ornament. You can make multi-colored stripes by sticking tape in even lines on the countertop and painting over the stripes between the tape.
  4. After the pattern has completely dried, we varnish the finished tabletop and leave to dry.

A table decorated with do-it-yourself drawings can be used for its intended purpose.

Option 4. Wallpaper decoration

One of the most easy, low cost ways restoration of the furniture surface - pasting the table top with wallpaper.

For this you will need:

Procedure:

  1. Degrease the countertop.
  2. We cover the surface with paint and leave to dry.
  3. We measure and cut a sheet of wallpaper to the size of the countertop.
  4. We glue the wallpaper, carefully smoothing it to avoid the appearance of bumps and bubbles.
  5. We bend the ends of the wallpaper under the countertop and glue it.
  6. On top of the wallpaper, if desired, you can apply a frame or some kind of pattern.
  7. We fix the wallpaper along the contour with nails.
  8. Coat the product with varnish and leave to dry.

Decorating the tabletop with wallpaper with your own hands is completed.

Option 5. Decoupage

Decoupage technique is great suitable for restoration old furniture. On sale there is a huge variety of napkins and applications for decoupage. Using this technology, you can decorate not only the table top, but also the sides and even the legs.

Prepare for work:

  • Decoupage napkins
  • PVA glue
  • tassel

If napkins for decoupage you could not find, instead of drawing from them, you can transfer an image from newspapers or magazines to the surface of the table.

Procedure:

  1. Prepare the surface of the table.
  2. We transfer the drawing with glue to the countertop and other surfaces. We are waiting for everything to dry.
  3. We cover the table with varnish.

It remains to wait for complete drying and the design of the table using the decoupage technique is ready.

Option 6. Restoring with varnishing

If your the table is not too damaged by time, however, its appearance is no longer very good, and the varnishing needs to be replaced, you can do this:

A week later, our restored table is ready.

Other ways to restore old tables

  1. Stick a self-adhesive film on the surface of the table.
  2. Cover the countertop with oilcloth, nailing it under the table with a construction stapler.
  3. If the table top cannot be repaired, you can replace it with glass and install a beautiful backlight from below or cover the table surface with ceramic tiles.

As seen from practice table restoration process does not tolerate fuss. A lot of time can pass between the start of work and the receipt of the finished result. But if you approach the matter with all responsibility and thoroughness, your table will turn out no worse than a new one.

From a natural tree - perfectly gives in to restoration. Assessing her condition is quite simple. First of all, you need to inspect the product for the presence of rot and rotten elements. This is a common occurrence for furniture that has been stored in improper conditions. Moisture quickly destroys wood, making it unrepairable.

Pay attention also to the frame of the product. If the parts are intact and made of natural wood - great news for you. Old plywood, sheet materials covered with peeled veneer can be removed. But the frame will become a reliable support for the entire restoration process.

In addition, remember that the paintwork is of great importance if you are evaluating the product as a subject for further restoration. Furniture varnish is difficult to remove, and even then, mainly on flat areas with a flat surface. The processing of small figured elements requires special equipment and a large number of consumables. It is better not to mess with such furniture if you have no experience.

Finally, paint is not a sentence for a restorer. On the contrary, be prepared to run into several layers of old paint. There are several ways to get rid of it. Building hair dryer and solvents are the most gentle of them. Then the product is polished and after that it is ready for restoration.

Let's see what is needed in order to restore the old desk from this master class:

Materials:

Wooden curly legs - 4 pcs;
- a small pine board to strengthen the frame;
- tabletop according to the size of the frame;
- thin wooden boards no more than 15 mm thick for decorating the side panel of the table;
- primer on wood;
- resistant paint of a light shade;
- paint with a loose coating for a decorative side panel - 2-3 shades;
- glue for woodworking;
- self-tapping screws and furniture screws;
- fittings for fastening the reverse side of the table to the wall;
- plastic handles for drawers;
- wood putty.

Instruments:

grinder;
- sandpaper;
- paint brushes and roller;
- screwdriver;
- screwdriver;
- electric drill;
- construction roulette;
- hacksaw for metal;
- putty knife.

Step one: preparing the table for restoration work

The table for restoration went to the author free of charge. By the way, as many as four tables. However, his countertop turned out to be completely unusable, so he borrowed another one from a neighbor - with a countertop suitable for the project. All this pleasure cost him $ 35. And part of the money went to the purchase of figured legs and paintwork materials. It turned out to be quite economical.

The author cleared the table of dust and began to re-equip it. To do this, he took out all the drawers. On the side, there are usually levers that should be pressed from both sides. Then the box is easily removed from the cell.

He also removed the sidebar of the table. It was fastened on furniture screws and it turned out to be too difficult to unscrew them. Therefore, the author used a hacksaw and cut the screws along the line between the panel and the frame.

To keep the frame of the countertop rigid, he reinforced it with a small wooden board screwed on and planted with glue. Always use glue when assembling furniture if you can. This significantly extends the service life of fasteners.

The author removed the bottom panel of the table under the drawers. In order for the plywood not to crack, he preliminarily pasted the tape along the cut line. The hand saw did the job just fine. For the same purpose, you can use a jigsaw.









Step Two: Refurbishing the Desk

Since the table had lost its support and side panel, they had to be replaced with something. But the decision was already made. The author purchased four curly legs in a supermarket. Three of them he filed on the machine. They will be located under the part of the table where the drawers are located. One leg will partially replace the removed side panel.

The second fixed the short legs under the panel with drawers with screws from the back. Glue is also needed here. Remember that excess glue should be removed promptly, otherwise it will affect the quality of the coloring of the product. This is done with fine sandpaper.







Step three: painting the old table

Before painting, the surface of the product should be carefully sanded. Small elements and hard-to-reach places are usually sanded with sandpaper or disassembled.

He then applied two coats of white paint. The author used acrylic paint. It is not very durable, but it has its advantages. For example, acrylic paint is non-toxic and does not have an unpleasant odor. Therefore, all work can be carried out in a residential area.

Acrylic paint often needs varnishing. Alkyd, oil and nitro paints are more resistant, but even when using the latter, furniture should be varnished. This will prolong the life of the paintwork.


Step four: setting up the table

You probably noticed that the table lacks legs. It's all right, you're right. The author used only four supports, instead of six. This is because the table is designed to be used in one specific place - in the corner where the old desk used to be.

And since the table was not planned to be moved from place to place, the author decided to save a little and fix the frame permanently to the wall. He started this work before installing the countertop.


Step Five: Installing the Countertop and Final Preparations

The author also replaced the plywood side panel with drawers. Instead, he used several tinted boards that fit perfectly into the overall picture and turned into a highlight of the product. Such toning is carried out using materials that have a loose coating. Their choice among acrylic paints is huge. A similar effect can be achieved with some decorative oils.

Finally, the author fixed handles made of black matte plastic on all drawers and varnished the countertop with a glossy varnish. When choosing a varnish for countertops, pay attention to the degree of durability of the coating. If you have the opportunity to compare samples of materials, then a good furniture varnish should form a hard coating that does not scratch with a fingernail after drying. So you will be sure that the countertop will have an excellent fresh look for a long time.

Restoration of polished furniture, performed by specialists, is not cheap, so many home craftsmen try to cope with such a difficult task on their own. The main thing is to carry out the restoration in accordance with the recommendations of professionals.

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Refresh dull polish

In the process of use, polished furniture facades lose their former luster. Spots and scratches appear on them, so the furniture becomes dull. To update a polished surface, two methods can be used:

  • Furniture restoration in a specialized workshop. Masters perform two types of work: restoration of damaged areas and subsequent polishing. This time-consuming restoration procedure cannot be performed independently without the necessary skills and experience. Specialists remove the top layer of varnish, eliminate all irregularities and dirt, and only after that proceed to polishing. To update the surface in the workshops use a special varnish and sanding paper. The final stage is polishing with wax or polishing paste.
  • Do-it-yourself polishing. This procedure must be carried out regularly so that the furniture does not lose its luster. To do this, you will need to purchase special tools that polish furniture at home. We apply a little polish to the surface and rub it thoroughly with a flannel napkin. If for some reason you cannot purchase a special product, you can use linseed oil or white wax.

Polishing is the easiest and most affordable way to update your furniture with your own hands. Constant care and respect will allow you to significantly extend the life of polished products.

How to restore polish

If scratches appear on polished furniture, they can be eliminated using special or improvised means. The most common options:

  1. Rub the damaged area with walnut kernels. After 10 minutes, carefully polish the surface with a cloth.
  2. Shoe cream will help to cope with minor damage. You need to choose the right color, carefully apply the composition to the problematic surface and polish with a soft flannel cloth. This defect can also be eliminated with a marker of a suitable color.
  3. Scratches on polished furniture are removed using special products designed to care for furniture.

In the event of a chip, it is necessary first of all to determine the composition of the polishing. It can be traditional varnish, shellac, polyurethane or varnish. The composition is determined experimentally. To do this, you need to drop alcohol on the surface and follow the reaction. Polish or polyurethane will not react to alcohol, shellac will absorb liquid, and varnish will swell. Chip is processed by polishing the desired type. After complete drying, the restored surface is polished with a cloth. Before applying polishing, the chipped area must be carefully sanded.

Painting polished furniture

How to paint polished furniture yourself? You can re-coat the surface with varnish or repaint it in a different color.

Training

Before restoring furniture, it is necessary to carry out preparatory work. The first thing to do is to remove the polish from the old furniture. For this you will need:

  • special polish remover;
  • metal wool;
  • sandpaper;
  • paper napkins;
  • putty knife;
  • wide brush.

In the hardware store, you will be offered two types of polish remover:

  • thick;
  • liquid.

A thick composition is great for a vertical surface, and a liquid one can be used in hard-to-reach places.


Step-by-step instruction:

  1. Pour the composition from the bottle into any convenient dish. Take a brush and apply the mixture to the surface.
  2. The packaging indicates the duration of the composition, after which the top layer becomes soft and can be easily removed with a spatula. Old polishing must be removed only in the direction of the wood fibers. If you are unable to remove all of the polish, repeat the procedure. You can use an old toothbrush to clean hard-to-reach surfaces.
  3. We remove the remnants of polishing and thick composition from the surface with metal wool.
  4. Apply a thin layer of product to the cleaned surface and wipe with paper towels.
  5. We clean the bumps with coarse sandpaper.

When performing restoration work, safety rules must be observed. Removal of polishing should be carried out in a ventilated area. You will also need a respirator and rubber gloves for work.

Primer

After removing the polish, cracks and chips may appear. They can be eliminated with fine-grained putty on wood. The dried mixture is cleaned with sandpaper. If you want to restore furniture with high quality, be sure to apply a primer to the surface. It provides reliable protection against paint peeling.

Painting

The painting process must be carried out carefully and slowly. Make sure that after applying the paint there are no gaps and smudges. Most often, two coats of paint are enough, but sometimes, if the surface is badly damaged, a third coat has to be applied. Do not forget that each next layer can be applied after the previous one dries.

The better the work is done, the better the final result. The most important thing is to choose a good paint. It can be stain, varnish, alkyd paint or acrylic in a spray can.

To restore the painted surface to its former shine, you need to apply several layers of varnish on it. This is a lengthy and laborious process that can take several days.

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