How do I refinish a wood dining room table?

You could always refinish the wood top and paint the legs.

How you refinish the table depends on it's current condition and what look you are hoping to achieve. If you want something unique you could stencil over the wood top and then seal that image. That would update the table and at the same time keep some of the wood grain but that is assuming that is what you want to do.

Yes, Ann, that's exactly what I'm going to do to mine! For high use areas I would NOT recommend chalk paint. I painted a guest bed with Annie Sloan and it has little chips all over it and it is rarely used. I love Valspar Furniture paint. It dries rock hard and it's self leveling too boot!! No brush strokes. Here is a pic of my coffee table I did just like I'd like to do my dining room table. I also included a close-up of the leg so y'all could see how nice it comes out. Maybe Debbie will like the look. You can always use a lighter stain on top if you don't like the dark.

Wood is never dated and goes in any decor,painting can be trendy (trends always change)wood is timeless Painting it with anything will lower the antique value. "Dated"maybe it needs taken care of. Just cleaned well and oiled or revarnished instead, to breathe some new lustre/life into it.

Yes - Lynn is correct!