Decoupage Ideas for Tables

Travelin' Time

• If you enjoy travel, foreign lands, landmarks or even vintage maps, a travel-themed decoupaged table can be an interesting conversation piece in your home. Collect maps from subway and underground travel stations, bus maps, or even tourist-area maps from places you've visited or would like to visit. Another option would be vintage maps from either your own city or classic travel destinations. You could also cut out images from magazines featuring your ideal travel destinations and make a collage. Any combination of these would also work for your decoupage project. Lay out the images and maps in advance before gluing them down to select your ideal layout.

Pretty Paper Mosaic

• You don't need actual tiles to create a table that looks like a mosaic design. You can make a decoupage mosaic with small pieces of colorful paper. Tissue paper is an inexpensive option as it's colorful, easy to work with, and would even look interesting over a glass tabletop, since light can shine through. Origami or washi papers can also be quite beautiful. If you scrapbook, small scraps of this paper can be made into a nice mosaic pattern. Even colors torn from magazine images will work. To make a mosaic design, first think of a pattern, then use torn or cut paper strips of the appropriate colors. Lay out the design before gluing it down to ensure you have enough paper for the job.

In the News

• Newspaper headlines and story clips can also be used to create an interesting decoupaged table. You could cut out bizarre stories from tabloid newspapers to create a humorous or unbelievable news table, full of "Elvis seen in a UFO"-style stories. If you're a fan of a musical artist, sports team or anything else, you could decoupage the entire table with newspaper clippings about your favorite theme. Vintage newspaper or comic book ads would also turn your table into a conversation piece.

Basic Decoupage Info

• Whatever table you use for decoupage should be smooth and clean first. If there are any splinters, sand them off. Clean the entire surface with mild soap and water. Decoupage medium can be made from regular school glue, or you can use a glue made especially for decoupage. Whatever your choice, spread a little of the glue on the back of each paper piece using a damp paintbrush, then coat a little more glue over the top of each piece with the same damp paintbrush. Don't overlook the table edges if the edge is a continuation of the top. When all the paper is glued down, wait for the glue to dry, then seal the table with several coats of polyurethane sealer.