Any ideas how to refinish or coverup this table top?

Beth Hall
by Beth Hall
I found this table and four chairs at Goodwill for 40.00- the chairs were easy to spraypaint, but the table top has "blisters" from the underlying particle board. Any ideas how I could revive the top?
  27 answers
  • MsMyra M MsMyra M on Mar 09, 2014
    I would find some type of print that compliments your passion (s) in life. Even news print ... I might use old music sheets...mod podge them ....then finish with a heavy coat or 2 of polyurethane.
  • Erica Martin Erica Martin on Mar 09, 2014
    How about a cool fabric covered with a glass top?
  • Janet Smith Janet Smith on Mar 09, 2014
    You could add a thin piece of plywood to the top to give you a smooth surface. Use a router to "round the edges" or sand very smooth. Then paint the whole thing your favorite color.
  • Debbie Harris Debbie Harris on Mar 09, 2014
    Easiest is to have Lowes or Home Depot cut you a piece of plywood 1/2 inch larger than the existing top all the way around. Sand this one so the bumps are gone. Attach the new one they make an iron-on edge for the plywood get it. Doesn't cost a lot iron it on according to the directions. Re-paint the whole thing then maybe stencil some special words or something on the top to go with your decor. OR You could sand it and mosaic tile the top of it.
    • Patricia W Patricia W on Mar 10, 2014
      @Debbie Harris We used the iron on wood strips from home depot. Worked well.
  • Adrianne C Adrianne C on Mar 10, 2014
    Would be great with a large, centered graphic on the top!
  • MM&D MM&D on Mar 10, 2014
    You could do some kind of faux weathered look which would blend everything in and make it look purposeful. If you wanted to go industrial or more modern, it might also be cool with a sheet of stainless screwed onto the top. Of course, I don't know how much that would cost because I haven't done it before. ;)
  • Beth Hall Beth Hall on Mar 10, 2014
    Thanks everyone- alot of good ideas and options I didnt think about- Ill repost the finished project soon.
  • Gail Salminen Gail Salminen on Mar 10, 2014
    @The Hall Group I had a table with similar trouble. I did the brown paper technique on it and it looks great. http://www.hometalk.com/diy/paint/furniture/roadside-rescue-table-and-brown-paper-2160844
  • Shelley Shelley on Mar 10, 2014
    I covered a rescued piece using old cook books. It is a movable island to give me additional counter space.
  • Victoria Larsen Stencils Victoria Larsen Stencils on Mar 10, 2014
    I love stencils for this type of project because with an intense pattern and pretty color, the new design completely disguises the flaws.
  • Dandelion Patina Dandelion Patina on Mar 10, 2014
    I would buy a piece of wood and apply over the top of the existing-making the top a bit larger. Then you can use your creativity to finish off the top of your table. Chalk paint is a great option for adhesion.
  • Southeast Solar Co Southeast Solar Co on Mar 10, 2014
    Depending upon how good the table is, you can go to a granite place and get a beautiful granite top and bond it to the table. This will not only last for a very long time, but can be used for almost anything!
  • Cindy Cindy on Mar 11, 2014
    I agree with the brown paper technique. I just did it to my kitchen table and I love it. It makes a very durable surface.
  • Centrd Centrd on Mar 11, 2014
    I've been seeing a lot of diy projects that add weathered wood planks to a table top like yours...either buy the wood new (Home Center will cut to size) and stain it with any number of graying techniques, or use pallet wood, which may already look weathered. You'll then have the option of extending the size of the table top if you wish, or keep it the same. In the pictures below you can see various examples of upcycling with reclaimed wood. The coffee table was upcycled using wood cut at Lowes. One DIYer recycled Ikea bed slats for her new table top, and anther woman used thin wood strips from an old garden trellis she had. Each photo has a link with it to see how they did it.
  • Crafty2you Crafty2you on Mar 11, 2014
    Where can you get brown paper bags at? I wanted to use the brown paper bag technique on an old desk top. You sure can't get paper bags in the stores anymore.
    • See 4 previous
    • Crafty2you Crafty2you on Mar 14, 2014
      @Cindy Thank you Cindy for your help. I have had others reply, and I appreciate all of them, everyone is so helpful on here.
  • Kelly S Kelly S on Mar 11, 2014
    You can buy brown craft or parcel wrapping paper at most any store. I'm saving the white paper that stores use to wrap breakables in before they bag it.
  • Theresa Hughes Theresa Hughes on Mar 11, 2014
    I would turn it into a gaming table paint on cards layed out and chips stacked turn it into something fun
  • Liliana Wells Liliana Wells on Mar 11, 2014
    I like the idea the brown paper bag technique and the playing cards, if you want to use it as a gaming table. These would be the most cost effective methods. The other methods are nice too; but then you start talking about a lot more money.
  • Evelyn Evelyn on Mar 12, 2014
    Did you consider mosaic tiles. I've done that and it turned out good.
  • Crafty2you Crafty2you on Mar 13, 2014
    @ Gail, thank you so much for your response, I found my answer after snooping around another are in Hometalk, and it was the rolls of brown paper. You did help by telling me it could be found at Walmart though, most likely cheaper than most places.
  • Kim Rose Kim Rose on Mar 17, 2014
    I think a pretty mosaic would be nice...to make clean-up easier after eating, I would use some larger tile squares...just make sure the tiles are all the same thickness as it will be easier to grout. (If you choose to have broken tiles, I break the tiles between two pieces of thick cardboard in a box to keep fragments from flying into my face...and wear glasses)
  • Debi Baughman Debi Baughman on Aug 28, 2014
    Turn it into a white or chalk board where the medium comes off easily
  • Cindy Cindy on Aug 29, 2014
    Here's another table I did with the brown paper technique...The table top had holes drilled in it.
  • Missy Missy on Nov 09, 2016
    Get new wood, faux paint or one step stain or paint
  • Cover it with a peel and stick wallpaper that coordinates with your chairs. It's heavier and more durable than contact paper and comes in literally thousands of patterns!

  • Mogie Mogie on May 01, 2023

    Get a beautiful piece of wood and cut it to fit over the top. Sort of like a wig for the table.