DIY coffee table decor

Unlike bulky furniture, which we easily replace when it gets old and worn out, it is more difficult to part with a coffee table. This statement is confirmed by the huge amount of video materials that give advice and clearly show what can be done to make the coffee table useful. It’s paradoxical, but most of us perceive this furniture as something “native”, so cozy and compact and giving “new life”. How? They decorate it in various ways to suit any style, which we will talk about in more detail.

New life for an old coffee table

As you know, demand creates supply, so a large number of various options for decorating a table with your own hands are publicly available. It turns out that if you have the mindset to “create”, and have shards of tiles, pebbles, paint and even banal wallpaper on hand, you can turn an old coffee table into a real masterpiece.

As mentioned earlier, there are many different techniques, but we will talk about one such as decoupage; you can see examples in the photo.

Types of decoupage

This is a decor that involves applying appliqués made of fabric or paper to the surface of an object. You can also find the definition that this is an imitation of painting. One of the types is artistic. This term is applied to a product that has been artificially aged, with the addition of a “spider web effect”; this technique is used by experienced craftsmen who know how to draw.

A simpler type that is actively gaining popularity is the napkin type. The name applies to decoupage using napkins, newspaper clippings, photographs and “paper media”. Decoupage using fabric or lace is also distinguished as a separate type. It is the last two types that we will focus on. DIY coffee table decor begins with choosing the material for decoupage.

Selecting an image

If we use napkins, it is easier. You can take several of them from the finished package, and they will be identical in the same theme and color scheme. There will also be no difficulties when using newspaper clippings. It is more difficult to select photographs.

IMPORTANT. Photos must have a general theme and here you need to adhere to the rule: do not combine color and black and white photographs.

Surface preparation

Take coarse sandpaper and carefully remove the previous coating from the surface of the coffee table. You can put it on a kitchen rolling pin like a roll.

IMPORTANT: It is advisable to carry out this stage wearing a medical gauze mask and plastic glasses. Cleaning products may enter the respiratory tract and eyes, and these precautions are a good idea.

Algorithm of actions

So, the tabletop is prepared, let's move on to the next steps.

• Let's putty.
• We apply primer.
• We paint. To do this, we use exclusively acrylic paint, which must be applied in three layers. After applying each, let it absorb.

NOTE.After each of the above stages, our future product must be left to dry for at least four and a half hours.

• Apply a solution of glue and water. We take the proportions as much as glue and water.

Let's move on to preparing the drawing. To do this, we carefully tear off the fragments we need from the napkins (with our hands, not with scissors). With the bright side, we place one at a time on a thick film and treat it with pure glue. After which, we turn the film over along with the pattern onto the prepared tabletop.

• This is how we deal with each element. We wait until everything dries.

IMPORTANT. The glue must be applied with a wide brush.

• We cover the surface with paint again, but this time we achieve a slight coloring of the contours of our drawings. This way the transition will look more natural.
• The final stage is varnishing.

Decoupage with fabric

We follow the entire algorithm, as for decoupage with napkins, up to and including the moment when we apply the solution of glue and water. Next, the procedure will be as follows:

• a scarf with patterns, the fabric (possibly of a uniform shade) is smoothed well with an iron and placed on the tabletop.
• securely fasten the ends of the scarf under the tabletop.
• Apply glue with a wide brush.

IMPORTANT. We distribute the glue from the center to the corners of the scarf. Don't forget to glue the ends of the scarf under the tabletop.

• After our coating has dried thoroughly, we cover it with transparent varnish. You will need about eight layers, each of which must first be dried.

NOTE. It is advisable to dry layers of glue and varnish outside, as toxic fumes may be released.

Well, as we can see, bringing the table back to life is not easy, but making it an excellent element of apartment decor is not at all difficult, just complete the decoration described. Be bold and your works will delight both you and your guests.