Paper Top Tutorial

by Jasmin

$45

60 Minutes

Easy

This offers a fabulous finish when done right! Here is a quick little tutorial on using paper as a new faux top. The great side to this is, using different crumpling techniques and different stains can give you many varied outcomes! The only limit is your fear to experiment. After all, it's only paper. If you don't like it, change it! Recipe and instructions are on the photos as you browse them. Hope it helps and have fun with it!!!

paper top tutorial, painted furniture, Here is the final look when applied to a piece of furniture I have also seen a great tutorial on Hometalk here using it for flooring

Here is the final look when applied to a piece of furniture. I have also seen a great tutorial on Hometalk here using it for flooring

Here is a closeup after 4 coats of a polyurethane

paper top tutorial, painted furniture, I chose to use a woodglue that dries clear you can use almost any crafting glue though I figured the wood glue would dry harder

I chose to use a woodglue that dries clear, you can use almost any crafting glue though. I figured the wood glue would dry harder.

paper top tutorial, painted furniture, The jist of this technique is to use brown paper or paper bags Crumple them up and soak them in a 50 50 glue to water ratio then smooth them out how you want them to appear on your piece

The jist of this technique is to use brown paper, or paper bags. Crumple them up and soak them in a 50-50 glue to water ratio, then smooth them out how you want them to appear on your piece.

paper top tutorial, painted furniture, Here it is once the paper has been placed and waiting to dry Make sure when you are smoothing the paper onto the surface that you really take the time to make sure all the air bubbles are out

Here it is once the paper has been placed and waiting to dry. Make sure when you are smoothing the paper onto the surface that you really take the time to make sure all the air bubbles are out.

paper top tutorial, painted furniture, Once it has been applied simply walk away for 24 hours and let it dry and cure and then choose any stain you like and stain it And again walk away for 24 hours and let it cure If you want it darker add more stain after

Once it has been applied, simply walk away for 24 hours and let it dry and cure and then choose any stain you like and stain it. And again, walk away for 24 hours and let it cure. If you want it darker, add more stain after.

paper top tutorial, painted furniture, I stripped the top right clean to allow the glue to seep into the wood grain for better adhesion I m not sure how much of a difference it makes in the long run but this was just a personal choice

I stripped the top right clean to allow the glue to seep into the wood grain for better adhesion. I'm not sure how much of a difference it makes in the long run, but this was just a personal choice.

paper top tutorial, painted furniture, It REFUSED to open hence why I got the piece so cheap however with pieces this old the secret is simply putting the drawers in the right hole Once they were out they went back in smoothly and open fine now

It REFUSED to open! hence why I got the piece so cheap. however, with pieces this old, the secret is, simply putting the drawers in the right hole! Once they were out, they went back in smoothly and open fine now!

Enjoyed the project?

You can do it! Saved to your projects

Frequently asked questions

Have a question about this project?

Ask a Question

Comments

Join the conversation

2 of 30 comments

Sandy Hartnett on Nov 30, 2015
I Love this technique. I did my living room floor in varying shades of Burgundies. It looks like marble I love it I will be posting pictures when I can. I have my own method that I used for this affect.

3 Reply
Joyce on Aug 28, 2018

I'm inspired....gonna try this on my kitchen cabinets.

Like Reply