Ideas for Refinishing an End Table

Staining

• If you like a traditional look, stain your end table. This process involves stripping the piece down to bare wood, then sanding, staining and sealing the bare wood. Staining highlights the beauty of wood by letting the lovely wood grain patterns show through. Wood stain is available in many shades, from natural browns to nontraditional brights.

Painting

• Painting opens up a world of options. You can choose from all the colors of the rainbow, paint your table one solid color, many colors or free-hand any sort of artwork you like. Paint your table a base color, covering your base color with a few coats of second color, then distressing the table and sanding the edges slightly so that your base color peaks through in a few places. For an end table that goes in a playroom, paint it a base color, and let your kids go crazy with free-hand pictures, handprints or splatter painting.

Stenciling

• While stencilling can technically fall into either the staining or painting category, it gets special mention because it is relatively easy to do yet yields gorgeous results. Stenciling involves simply placing and holding a stencil on your table, then painting or staining inside the stencil's cutouts for almost instant and fail-safe artwork. When you stencil with stain, it gives your piece the look of intricate inlaid wood. Stenciling with paint is an easy option if you'd like to add some sort of design or pattern to your piece but don't feel that your artistic skills are up to the task.

Metal Leafing

• If you feel the shimmer of silver or gold calling your name, consider metal leafing. In this process, you first cover your table with a spray or liquid adhesive, the press very thin sheets of metal onto the adhesive so that the metal adheres to the table. While you can use metallic paint to achieve a similar look with less effort, metal leafing provides a finish that is richer, deeper and more texturally interesting.

Decoupage

• If you're in the mood for something really different, try decoupage. This method is on the time-consuming side, but when you're finished, you're guaranteed to have a focal point and a conversation piece. This method involves cutting paper, such as wrapping paper or magazine photos, and applying it to the table with a decoupage medium. You could cover your table in attractive images, or use solid-color wrapping paper to create interesting patterns. From whimsical and funky to artistically elegant, this method lets you use your creativity to its fullest.