Tips for Fixing Up a Wooden Dining Room Table from a Thrift Store
Dining room tables are really expensive if you buy them new. A much cheaper option is to get a dining room table from a thrift store and fix it up yourself. Finding dining room tables at thrift stores is fairly easy and there are usually quite a few to choose from.
Usually, though, the problem is that they are either worn or outdated looking and probably won’t match with the rest of your decor.
The good news is that with some elbow grease, imagination and creativity you can turn even the ugliest thrift store dining table into a beautiful table you will be proud to have in your dining room. Here are some ideas on how to spruce up an old dining room table.
When you are shopping for your dining room table at a thrift store you should pay attention to a couple of things. First, you want to make sure that the table itself is in good shape, that it doesn’t rock back and forth and that the construction is sturdy.
When you look at tables, try to just look at the general shape and size of the table and don’t get too caught up on details like scuffed or worn paint or stains on the table since these things can be covered or refinished.
You are looking for a table that will fit nicely in your room, accommodate all of your chairs and in a style that fits with the rest of the decor in your room. Keep an open mind and try to envision how the table would look if it was refinished to match your room.
Once you have found the perfect table you should take it home and start by giving it a good cleaning. The table may just be covered in dust, however it could also have old grease or grime on it so cleaning it well is a good first step.
Once the table is clean you can decide how you want to fix it up. Do you want to stain it or paint it? Take a good look at the wood of the table and try to see the condition of the wood itself. If it is heavily stained or scarred you probably want to consider painting the table. If it is just slightly marred then you can probably sand it down enough to apply a new coat of stain.
If you are just going to paint the table, you should sand it with medium to fine grit sandpaper to remove as many scuffs or dings as possible and get the surface nice and smooth. Wipe off any dust leftover from the sanding using a tack cloth.
Choose a paint color that matches your room as well as the other furniture in your room. You can either paint the table a solid color or use different colors to accent any unusual details. If you want to get really creative and are artistic you can also paint a design on the table.
Paint the table in the colors of your choice. Once the paint has dried apply a clear sealer to help protect the surface. Allow it to dry thoroughly and you are ready to enjoy your new table.
If you decide to stain the table instead you will need to remove the old finish and get it back down to the bare wood so it will accept the stain. You can accomplish this relatively quickly by using a stripper to remove the old finish. Be sure to choose a stripper that is designed to work with the existing finish and follow the safety and disposal instructions carefully since strippers are quite toxic.
After using the stripper to remove the majority of the old finish you will still need to use sandpaper to smooth the surface and remove any finish that was left behind after the stripper.
When the table is back down to bare wood you can apply a stain in the color of your choosing. Gel stains are probably the easiest to use and give good results with most woods. When you are done staining the table apply a protective finish and allow it to dry.
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