How to Paint a Wooden End Table

You've found a beautiful wooden end table at a flea market or garage sale--beautiful, that is, except for its poor finish. Whether it was previously painted or has been varnished, it's still simple to repaint a wooden end table. You can paint a table to match any decor, from Victorian to contemporary--just select colors that are appropriate to the time period. Adding faux marbling or stenciled designs add further flair.

Paint stripper or sander
Rags
Dropcloth
Gloss or matte paint in one or more colors
Paintbrush
Faux marbleizing kit, stencils, stencil paint and brushes (optional)
Varnish

Instructions

- 1
  Strip any old paint or finishes from the table, using the paint stripper and rags and placing a dropcloth under the table. Follow the directions on the paint stripper. A more environmentally friendly alternative is to use a sander. Sand the end table and wipe down with a damp rag.
- 2
  Paint the end table with a base coat of paint with a paintbrush. Allow to dry and apply a second coat, if desired. You may wish to sand, with a fine sandpaper, in between coats. For design variations, consider painting the table top one color, and the legs of the end table a coordinating color.
- 3
  Apply marbleizing from the faux marbleizing kit to the top of the table, if desired, following the directions on the kit. If stenciling, stencil designs on the top of the table. Add some complementary designs to the legs of the table for a more interesting effect, or allow the design to overlap the edges of the tabletop. Allow all decorative paint to dry.
- 4
  Varnish the end table, if desired. Follow the directions for the varnish. Allow to dry.

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